Hello May 👋 Lots to look forward to this month as we get the ball rolling on the #UrbanismAwards assessment visits, publish a new e-journal and hear from our 2025 YU Small Grants Scheme recipient, Hal Mellen - also, double bank holiday… For more info and registration visit theaou.org/events

Introducing the 2026 #UrbanismAwards finalists! This year's candidates for Great Streets + Spaces, Great Neighbourhood, Great Town / Small City, and European City of the Year were announced in-person last night 🏆 Read the full announcement at theaou.org/finalists

Welcome to March at the AoU! As well as excitement going on behind the scenes, we've got events coming up in Glasgow, London, and online - starting with this Wednesday's 'Urbanism Beyond the Nuclear Family'. For full details and registration, visit theaou.org/events

Later this month we have a new online edition of the Urbanism Book Club, diving into Richard Florida's The Rise of the Creative Class, a provocative reimagination of the drivers of urban and economic transformation in the 21st century. Find out more and register at theaou.org/book-club

Hello February 👋 Lectures, nominations, shortlisting, book club - how will you get stuck in at the AoU this month? More info at theaou.org/events

The Academy of Urbanism is delighted to welcome two new Co-chairs in Matt Lally and Shane Quinn. Matt and Shane @shanequinn.bsky.social step into the role this month, jointly taking over from Andreas Markides. Read the full announcement at theaou.org/new-chairs

This time next week we'll have the first Urbanism Hour of 2026, exploring what it means to design with and for young people and why child-friendly design remains relevant in an ageing London. Book your place at theaou.org/events/designing-with-young-people

It's that time again... join us at next week's Winter Party to beat the January blues, connect with fellow urbanists, and to hear what 2026 has in store at the AoU! Members can register at theaou.org/party Or sign up as a member today to join us there at theaou.org/join

With one month left to nominate for the #UrbanismAwards, where are the places you think the AoU should be learning from? If you need some inspiration, head to theaou.org/2Qs and when you're ready to nominate, visit theaou.org/nominate

Final call for submissions for the 2026 Small Grants Scheme - deadline this Sunday 18 January! Young Urbanists are invited to put forward exciting, innovative, and ambitious projects to be awarded funding of up to £500. For full details and to apply, visit theaou.org/YU-small-grants

New Year's resolution to read more? Look no further. Let the AoU inspire your winter reading list, and why not join us at one of our three upcoming book events? Full details and booking at theaou.org/events

In a month's time we'll be hosting the Founder's Lecture at Cambridge University with Tina Saaby, who will draw on her experience as City Architect of Copenhagen and Gladsaxe to dive into child-friendly urbanism. More info, tickets, and member discounts can be found at theaou.org/lecture

Kicking your feet up this Christmas? Why not do so while having a read of the latest AoU e-journal, themed on digital cities. Have a read at www.theaou.org/resources/he...

Still buzzing from the recent #Womenchangingcities event. Inclusive design isn’t optional. It’s how we unlock real urban change. When we listen to those most overlooked, solutions get smarter, streets get fairer, and cities work better for everyone. @academyofurbanism.bsky.social @dutchcycling.nl

In a week's time we've got our final activity of 2025: The (online) Urbanism Quiz! Friday 12 December at 13:00 BST 🎄 Join us for some fun testing your urbanist trivia mettle - play along solo or round up a team! Register at www.theaou.org/events/urban...

For the next Authors of Urbanism event we'll hear from Johnny Rodger whose recent book examines representations of Housing in the medium of Film. Join us on Tuesday 18 November in Glasgow to find out more and connect with fellow urbanists. More info and tickets at www.theaou.org/events/autho...

The Academy of Urbanism turns 20! Join us this autumn (13 November) to celebrate two decades of learning from place 🎉 Full details and tickets at theaou.org/anniversary

In the Summer 2025 issue of the Here & Now e-journal, Congress Curator Shane Quinn and fellow Board Directors reflect on lessons learnt from this year's Congress in Utrecht, concluding on 6 pointers for other urban centres. Read the detailed piece at www.theaou.org/resources/he...

In 2 weeks we'll be at the @fosterandpartners.bsky.social London campus for our Making Connections lecture, given by Senior Partner Spencer de Grey followed by a led panel discussion led by Young Urbanists Sebastian Bielski and Marta Saniewska. Book your place at www.theaou.org/events/makin...

Having heard from the author herself at our Authors of Urbanism event last week, the next instalment of the AoU's Book Club in Glasgow will take place on Wednesday 24 September, reading May East's What If Women Designed the City? Open to everyone, register at www.theaou.org/events/glasg...

Welcome September 👋 as the new month ushers in a fresh start and a return to focus post-holidays, there's plenty to get stuck in with at the Academy, whether in person or at a distance. For further details and registration, head to theaou.org/events

This Bank Holiday we reached out to some of the AoU community across the country for their suggestions of where to enjoy the long weekend. An Urbanist Guide to the August Bank Holiday: www.theaou.org/articles/ban...

1 week to go until the last Summer of Walking tour for August, taking place down in Bath, Somerset. On Wednesday 27 August, join us in Bath to follow the 10k River Line from west to east, taking in the green space and wildlife. More info and tickets at www.theaou.org/events/SoW-b...

Missing the Urbanism Hour? While our monthly webinar series takes its summer hiatus, AoU Members can catch up on the recorded spring programme in the Members' Corner via www.theaou.org/resources/ca... Or watch live when it returns on Friday 26 September! Register at www.theaou.org/events/socia...

Next weekend the AoU's Summer of Walking continues up in Stirling, Scotland, where we're revisiting the city 15 years after its shortlisting in the Urbanism Awards. Join for a look at how we can achieve successful urbanism in small, historic cities. Register at www.theaou.org/events/SoW-s...

Hello August! Here's a glimpse of what's coming up at the Academy of Urbanism this month, including events in Bath, Glasgow, Lincoln, London, and Stirling. Find out more at theaou.org/events

We enjoyed bringing together some of the AoU network at this week's Members' Summer Party this week in Farringdon. Great chats, great views, great folks! Find out more about AoU membership at www.theaou.org/pages/join-now

Another fab YU Cycle Trip in the books! This time to Brussels and Ghent earlier this month. Huge thanks to organisers Ben and Julie, and everyone who met with the group and showed us round 🚲🇧🇪☀️ To find out more about the Academy's Young Urbanist network, visit theaou.org/yu

In 2 weeks we'll be gathering up on the roof terrace for our Members' Summer Party! Join us there to connect with fellow urbanists while taking in some fab views of the city and cooling down with a drink. Register at www.theaou.org/events/summe...

A glimpse of Congress: Healthy Urban Living in Utrecht this week! Day 3 is underway, with delegates out at workshops and tours before our final plenary this afternoon and the closing party this evening 🪩 What an event it's been so far - we can't wait to share more of the lessons.

Hello June 👋 This month we've got 3 in-person events, in 3 cities, in 3 time zones - join us in Utrecht, Dubai, or Glasgow! Or take part locally / online through the Summer of Walking and with our library of recordings. Full details can be found in the AoU events directory at theaou.org/events

With a growing network of members in the UAE, we're delighted to partner with the RIBA Gulf chapter on An Evening of Urbanism in Dubai, Thursday 19 June 🇦🇪 Manupriam Seth will join to discuss his new book, Discovering Dubai: An Urban Sketcher's Journey. Register at www.theaou.org/events/disco...

What does Healthy Urban Living mean to you? Ahead of Congress we asked some of our speakers and here's what they had to say. There's no one single answer, and we're looking forward to exploring the theme holistically in Utrecht next month, 11-13 June. Programme and tickets at theaou.org/utrecht

We're so looking forward to hearing from these speakers at Congress in Utrecht next month - bringing perspectives from medicine, planning, economics, and food to the central theme of Healthy Urban Living. Find out more about all the speakers at www.theaou.org/pages/congre...

Call for submissions closes next Friday 30 May. Get your ideas in - we'd love to hear from you! Full details at theaou.org/summer-of-walking

In 4 weeks' time we'll be wrapping up Congress: Healthy Urban Living in Utrecht. As well as the event programme, we're really looking forward to spending the week in a brilliant city - think canal side drinks, sunny bike rides, and museums galore. See you there? Full details at theaou.org/utrecht

Join us tomorrow to hear more about the the scope for re-use of retail parks and to contribute your perspectives! 14 May, 8:30 - 10:30, London. Register at www.theaou.org/events/rethi...

A new event for your spring calendar, with the Young Urbanists present: Urbanism at Night. This webinar will explore how urbanism can better respond to the city at night, with speakers Simone D’Antonio, Lutz Leichsenring, and Andreina Seijas J. Register at www.theaou.org/events/yu-ur...

Last chance to make the most of Congress hotel rates! Book your hotel rooms by Sunday 11 May to take advantage of discounted rates for your stay in Utrecht this June. Details can be found along with other frequently asked questions over at theaou.org/congress-FAQs

In a week's time we'll be at @lichfieldsuk.bsky.social for a breakfast event launching their recent research with the AoU into the unrealised potential of retail parks, and how they might help solve London's housing crisis. Weds 14 May, 8:30 - 10:30. Register free at www.theaou.org/events/rethi...

We're excited to be bringing together so many great cities at Congress this June. Hosted in Utrecht, speakers from cities including Bologna, Malmö, and San Sebastián will contribute their perspectives to this year's theme of Healthy Urban Living. Full programme and tickets at theaou.org/utrecht

Sunny weekend reading for the urbanism community ☀️ The Spring 2025 issue of Here & Now explores the theme of Mobility, from bus stops to housing to the new NPPF. Have a read at www.theaou.org/articles/jou...

Just launched: Full programme for #AoUCongress2025! We're delighted to share more details on speakers, learning visits, workshops and more ahead of Congress: Healthy Urban Living in Utrecht this June. To download the full PDF, book tickets, and find answers to FAQs, head to theaou/org/utrecht

At this week's YUs Present: Politics and the Built Environment event we'll be joined by LCA's Emily Clinton for a discussion around how shifts in political landscapes and evolving policies affect the built environment and its design, planning + development Register at www.theaou.org/events/polit...

Tomorrow's Urbanism Hour, the last of the spring season, will look at the the 'why', 'who' and 'how' of urban design as a technical discipline with speakers Dr Philip Black and dR Michael Martin. Friday 25 April (online) with free Member tickets - register at: www.theaou.org/events/urban...

Introducing the AoU Summer of Walking, now open for submissions! From the magical to the mundane, we want to hear tour proposals that explore alternative, interesting, or just plain great urbanism by foot. Deadline 30 May. Full details at www.theaou.org/articles/cal...

Did you know? Congress in Utrecht this June marks the launch of the AoU's 20th anniversary - join us there to start the party! Over on the website Jas Atwal reflects on two decades of Congress - a journey through cities, stories, and shared learning. Have a read at www.theaou.org/articles/20-...

Postcards from Dún Laoghaire 🇮🇪 We loved revisiting our 2022 Great Town winner on a sunny evening ahead of last month's AoU + RIAI Ireland 2050 conference in Dublin - a little springtime treat!

This weekend is the last chance to save up to 50% on Congress 2025! Member Early Bird rates are available until midnight on Monday. We can't wait to explore Healthy Urban Living in Utrecht this June, learning hands-on what the city is doing to achieve this. Tickets and more at theaou.org/utrecht

Re-building Urban Complexity 🧱 This Friday's Urbanism Hour will expand on lessons and themes from Dr Francesca Froy's recent book, Rebuilding Urban Complexity: A Configurational Approach to Postindustrial Cities. Friday 28 March, 13:00 - online. Register at www.theaou.org/events/rebui...