NEWS

         

Urban challenges are growing. So is Metropolis.

Metropolis is the global network of the world’s biggest cities.

As climate change, inequality, and mobility reshape city life, more large cities are joining the network to exchange knowledge, shape global agendas, and collaborate across borders.

Founded in 1985, Metropolis is where mayors and city staff come together to solve shared problems. It’s a platform for practical cooperation—working toward more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities.

Why Cities Join

Drive Local and Global Agendas

Metropolis helps cities influence global urban policy.

Full members get a seat in the Metropolis General Assembly and may join the Board of Directors—shaping the network’s direction and elevating city leadership to the global stage.

Membership opens direct pathways to strategic partners, funding, and peer-reviewed solutions—ensuring access to global resources.

Through a joint membership model, Metropolis members are also part of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), positioning member mayors and local leaders at the heart of the global municipalist movement, where their voices influence debates on the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), care policies, climate, and more. While UCLG spans the full local government spectrum, Metropolis focuses on the unique needs and leadership of large cities.

Gain Strategic Visibility and Support

Metropolis helps cities stand out.

• Spotlights: The Secretariat General runs global campaigns to highlight member city leadership, innovations, and policy achievements that matter globally.
• Recognition: Urban innovation prizes like the Guangzhou International Award foster collective learning, mutual recognition, and global dialogue.
• Platforms: Members are featured at global events and in knowledge hubs that share proven, peer-reviewed practices.
• Funding Access: Since 2023, the Metropolis Investment Forum has connected cities with co-financing for urban projects.

Share Knowledge, Share Progress

Metropolis creates space to learn from one another—and apply what works.

Peer Exchanges

• Solutions Labs foster peer dialogue on shared policy challenges.
• Regional hubs in Seoul, Cairo, and Mashhad offer trainings and study visits focused on local needs.
• The Metropolis Diploma in Internationalization builds staff capacity for global work.

Case Studies & Tools

• Metro Futures maps over 1,700 local strategies, offering city leaders evidence-based insights to guide decision-making.
• Repositories, including Metropolis’ Urban Sustainability Exchange (use) platform, offer spaces to share member-led solutions tailored to local needs—created by and for citymakers in the network.
• Toolkits offer step-by-step guidance for tested strategies.
• The International Fund for Metropolises awards project-based grants of up to €100,000 to support cities in advancing local initiatives.

Who Can Join

• Cities with 1M+ inhabitants
• Capital cities
• Metropolitan authorities or inter-municipal bodies

Not eligible for full membership? We also welcome partnerships and associate members.

Learn more

Schedule a call with our Institutional Relations team by emailing Agnès Bickart, Head of Institutional Relations, at abickart@metropolis.org with subject line: Full Membership Inquiry – Metropolis.