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

Introducing the AoU's new Co-chairs

Matt Lally and Shane Quinn step into the role for 2026-2028

theaou.org

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.