Question 1

What is Leadership for Cities?

Accepted Answer

Leadership for Cities is an organisation for people who make cities better places to live, connect, and participate. The work is organised around three pillars: The Commons (open, published and experiential work), The Fellowship (Friends and Fellows), and The Circle (a membership of one hundred and fifty, joined by invitation).

Question 2

Where do I start?

Accepted Answer

Start in The Commons — it is open to everyone and needs no membership. If it is useful to you, come in as a Friend of the Fellowship for SGD 18.80 a year.

Question 3

What is The Commons?

Accepted Answer

The Commons is our living library and programme: essays, field notes, films, recaps, collections and gatherings. It is open to everyone, and it grows rather than gets archived.

Question 4

How do I get in touch?

Accepted Answer

Use the contact page. For press enquiries, see the press page.

Question 5

What is the difference between a Friend and a Fellow?

Accepted Answer

Friends come in at SGD 18.80 a year and receive the correspondence and open access to the Commons. Fellows are admitted by application at SGD 188 a year, or SGD 350 for two years, and receive everything a Friend receives plus Fellow-only gatherings and priority on limited-capacity events.

Question 6

I attended the Festival on 17 June 2026. What does that make me?

Accepted Answer

Everyone in the room at the Glass Dome on 17 June 2026 is part of the founding cohort. Paid tickets become founding Fellows; complimentary tickets become Friends. Claim your place with the email address you registered with.

Question 7

Is the Fellowship annual?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Fellow is SGD 188 a year, or SGD 350 for two years, and is by application. Friend is SGD 18.80 a year.

Question 8

What is The Circle?

Accepted Answer

The Circle is a membership of one hundred and fifty people who work on cities — small enough that everyone can know everyone. It meets through the year at the festival, at salons, in programmes, and in the work between.

Question 9

How do I join The Circle?

Accepted Answer

By invitation, and every invitation begins with a conversation. You can introduce yourself at any time; dues are shared on request.

Question 10

Do I need to be a Fellow to join The Circle?

Accepted Answer

No. They are separate. The Fellowship is the individual membership; the Circle is the smaller membership that supplies the rooms, bursaries and mentoring the Fellowship draws on.

Question 11

What is The Art of Citymaking Festival?

Accepted Answer

A one-day, curated gathering exploring how cities evolve as places to live, connect, and participate. It brings together global thinkers, city leaders, and practitioners for a highly interactive and immersive day.

Question 12

When is the next edition?

Accepted Answer

The Festival returns to Singapore in June 2028. The 2026 edition took place on 17 June 2026 at the Glass Dome, Singapore.

Question 13

Can I still see the 2026 programme and speakers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The full 2026 programme and the speaker roster remain published, along with recaps, films and field notes in The Commons.

Question 14

What happened on the day?

Accepted Answer

Doors opened at 09:00 and the programme ran from 10:00 to 20:00 SGT: keynote conversations and panels, film screenings and interactive sessions, an Oxford-style debate presented by The New York Times, the Longevity Table lunch, Dunbar's Mixer and the Citymakers' Social.

Question 15

What was The New York Times Debate?

Accepted Answer

A 60-minute, Oxford-style debate presented by The New York Times — the climax of the day, designed to spark bold ideas on how we measure, live in, and shape the cities we share.

Question 16

What themes does the Festival work with?

Accepted Answer

Three themes: Adaptive Neighbourhoods, Urban Software, and Placemaking & Legacy — covering regenerative urbanism, radical ruralism, cities at scale, circularity, culture, philanthropy, legacy and longevity.

Question 17

Who is in the room?

Accepted Answer

City leaders and policymakers, urban developers and architects, investors, cultural and creative practitioners, and innovation and sustainability champions. About 70% of attendees are senior leaders, in a curated audience of around 250 people.

Question 18

How do I hear about the 2028 edition first?

Accepted Answer

Come in as a Friend or Fellow. Friends and Fellows hear first and get priority where capacity is limited.

Frequently Asked Questions

Leadership for Cities

The Fellowship

The Circle

The Art of Citymaking Festival

Correspondence from the people building better cities.