London won 2026 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize in Singapore
Why it matters: Judges cited the Elizabeth Line, a 1,500 sq km clean-air zone and free school meals reaching up to 270,000 students a day.
London won the 2026 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize at the World Cities Summit in Singapore, with Mayor Sadiq Khan accepting the award on June 15. The biennial prize, organized by Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Centre for Liveable Cities, honors cities that show strong governance and long-term urban planning. Judges pointed to London’s overhaul of King’s Cross, the Ultra Low Emission Zone and the Elizabeth Line as evidence of large-scale transformation. They also highlighted universal free school meals as part of a policy mix that linked social, environmental and economic goals. Five cities — Antwerp, Budapest, Guangzhou, Taipei and Tianjin — received special mentions.