Singapore launches mayors fellowship as Wong pushes pragmatic model
What's new: The program was rolled out at the World Cities Summit 2026 as Lawrence Wong argued cities must adapt to tech and geopolitical strain.
Singapore launched a new fellowship for mayors at the World Cities Summit 2026, pairing the initiative with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s call for governments to stay pragmatic as cities face technological change and geopolitical tension. Speaking at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 15, Wong argued that city planning should evolve with changing conditions rather than follow a fixed doctrine. He said Singapore tries policies, keeps what works and drops what does not. Wong used local examples including Gardens by the Bay and the 24 km Rail Corridor, saying the city-state has at times favored public space and long-term quality of life over purely commercial use of scarce land. He also said government spending is less than 20% of gross domestic product.