Submitting a session proposal for the 2026 Innovate4Cities Conference (I4C26) is designed to be straightforward, but we know that online platforms can sometimes feel unintuitive. This short guide walks you through the key steps, so you can focus on sharing the knowledge, evidence, and experience that deserve a place on the global urban climate agenda.

This guide walks you through the steps for submitting a session proposal via the GEMS portal. To make the process easier, the session proposal planning template will help you to collaboratively shape your session, gather inputs from partners, and ensure your proposal is aligned with the submission structure.

Step 1: Register for I4C26

All session proposals are submitted through the UN-Habitat GEMS portal, and registration is required before you can apply. Please note that registration applications take a few days.

Step 2: ACCESS THE APPLICATIONS SECTION

Once registered and logged in, you can access the Applications section from the left-hand menu.

Note: While anyone is welcome to submit a session proposal on behalf of multiple people and/or organizations, all specific follow-up communication and logistical information will be shared only with the session submitter.

Step 3: Open the Call for Session Proposals portal ‘Applications’

From the menu, select Applications. Under I4C26 applications, click Apply to open the session proposal form.

Before proceeding, you will be asked to acknowledge a short set of conditions, including:

• How session content may be reflected in conference synthesis products
• The possibility of aligning complementary proposals
• Opportunities to contribute to the IPCC Cities Report Second Order Draft review

Tick each box and click Next.

Step 4: Choose your session type

You will be asked to select one of the following options:

• Research Papers (15 minutes): For evidence-based research drawing on peer-reviewed or grey literature, with clear implications for policy or practice.
  
• Insight to Impact: Research and Practice (60 minutes): For applied, interactive sessions showing how knowledge is translated into action, often with multiple presenters and real-world examples.
  
• Creative Narratives (15 minutes): For storytelling, artistic, or cultural contributions that surface lived experience and inspire collective action.

Step 5: Complete the session details

You will be asked to provide:

• Session title (up to 120 characters)
• Session proposal description (up to 1,200 characters)
• Key objectives, such as knowledge-sharing, partnerships, capacity building, or implementation support

This is your opportunity to clearly explain what knowledge you are bringing, why it matters now and how it can inform implementation in cities.

Step 6: Select themes and GRAA topics

In this step, you will be asked to tag your session proposal to help situate it within the overall I4C26 programme and ensure it is reviewed by the most relevant experts.

First, select up to two conference thematic tracks. These high-level themes reflect the core areas of focus for I4C26, such as multi-level governance and partnerships, housing and infrastructure, digitalisation and AI, justice and equity, or finance and implementation. Selecting the most relevant tracks helps position your session within the broader conference narrative.

Next, select up to five Global Research and Action Agenda (GRAA) topics. The Global Research and Action Agenda on Cities and Climate Change Science (GRAA) is the shared framework developed through the Innovate4Cities process to identify the key knowledge gaps and priorities needed to accelerate city climate action. GRAA topics are organised across four dimensions:

• Delivery approaches (how action happens in practice),
• Justice and equity (who benefits, who leads, and who is included),
• Systems approaches (how sectors such as energy, housing, food, or mobility interact), and
• City-level data, models, and knowledge (the evidence base cities need to plan and act).

Tagging GRAA topics helps to thematically connect your proposal to others working on related challenges, supports programme coherence, and ensures your session contributes to advancing the shared evidence base for urban climate action. These selections are an important part of how the I4C26 programme is curated, reviewed, and brought together into a cohesive set of tracks within the programme.

Step 7: Add presenter and organization details

You will be asked to provide basic information about:

• The submitting organisation
• The session lead
• Presenters (including photo upload and role, such as moderator or presenter)

 You will have the opportunity to update this information if your session is selected.

Step 8: Review and submit

Once all sections are complete, review your application carefully and submit. We will only let the submitter know and this person can return to the Applications tab at any time to check the status of the submission.

 

short video to summarizING THE STEPS:

Need help?

If you encounter technical issues, you can contact the I4C26 Organizing Team via the conference website. 

Session proposals close on 3 March.

We look forward to reviewing your contribution and continuing to build the evidence base for city-led climate action together.