Rio De Janeiro to Host 2026 Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (March 3, 2026)—The city of Rio de Janeiro will host the 2026 Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit from March 30 to April 2 in Copacabana. The event will bring together an international assembly of authorities and organizations to share progress, challenges, and proven strategies to improve health in urban settings, with a special focus on the host city's efforts.

The Summit will gather around 340 participants from 70 cities to discuss policies and interventions to prevent noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries, which account for over 8 out of 10 deaths globally, including heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancer. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage with Rio’s culture, history, and public health system through site visits and local exchanges.

Founded in 2017, the Partnership for Healthy Cities is a global network of more than 70 cities working collaboratively on high-impact public policies and interventions that can save lives. The initiative is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Vital Strategies.

“Rio is thrilled to be hosting public health experts from cities around the world at the 2026 Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit. As a proud member of the global Partnership for Healthy Cities network, Rio de Janeiro is committed to driving real solutions for critical public health challenges. One of many things we in Rio have learned as part of this network is that when cities work together, we can reach our goals faster,” said Deputy-Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Cavaliere. “This Summit is not just about sharing ideas – but also strengthening our collaboration so that we can create healthier, safer cities for everyone.”

Ensuring the health and well-being of residents is an urgent challenge, with more than half of the world’s population now living in cities. Preventable conditions such as heart and lung disease remain the leading causes of death globally. Cities are uniquely positioned to drive structural, evidence-based policies that reduce exposure to health risks and improve daily life for residents.

“Partnering with communities is at the heart of lasting public health impact,” said Kelly Larson, who leads injury prevention programs at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “Rio de Janeiro’s public health initiatives – spanning from tobacco control and healthy school meals to the country’s first Heat Protocol – reflect the city’s commitment to community-driven solutions, making it an ideal host for the 2026 Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit.”

“Cities are on the front line of preventing noncommunicable diseases and injuries,” said Etienne Krug, Director of the Department for Health Determinants, Prevention and Promotion at the World Health Organization. “The Partnership for Healthy Cities shows how evidence-based, city-led action can save lives. We look forward to joining Rio de Janeiro and many other cities that are playing an active role in building healthier, safer communities.”

“Improving public health is a collective responsibility,” said Ariella Rojhani, Director of the Partnership for Healthy Cities. “When cities are supported to lead, solutions reach people quickly and effectively. The Summit in Rio de Janeiro offers a firsthand look at how city leadership is accelerating action that saves lives.”

During the Summit, representatives from the Partnership for Healthy Cities who are recognized for positively impacting the health of their populations will have the opportunity to learn about some of the positive results in improving health achieved by the City of Rio. Among these initiatives are:

• Tobacco Control Program: Comprehensive, free smoking cessation services offered through the municipal health network, including psychosocial support, group counseling, and access to cessation medications.

• Healthy School Food Environments: A school food program promoting health and nutritional standards in municipal schools. Starting with a menu developed by the Annes Dias Nutrition Unit (UNAD), the initiative encourages the consumption of fresh foods in portions differentiated by age groups according to their daily nutritional needs and bans the consumption of ultra-processed foods in municipal schools.

• Heat Protocol: A pioneering, data-driven system designed to mitigate health crises during severe heatwaves. It uses meteorological data to predict risks in advance, triggering actions such as opening cooling centers and hydration stations, and issuing public warnings.

During previous Summits in London, Cape Town, and Paris, participants learned about initiatives around the world that enabled significant improvements in the health outcomes and quality of life of their residents:

• Athens, Greece: Expanding access to the opioid overdose reversal agent naloxone in community organizations and among health professionals, as well as generating data on causes of death among injecting drug users to better understand the overdose crisis.

• Bengaluru, India: Reducing tobacco use through stronger enforcement of smoke-free public spaces and a new ban on hookah use in public.

• Mexico City, Mexico: Advancing road safety and active mobility, including the launch of a bike lane on a high-traffic road that resulted in a 275% increase in the number of cyclists, as well as the implementation of shared lanes for cyclists and buses, loading and unloading areas, and improvements in the design and management of roads near schools.

• Montevideo, Uruguay: Establishing nutrition standards for food preparation and sale in government agencies and public universities.

• Dublin, Ireland: Using city data and community input to identify where streets can be made safer for walking and cycling and to guide new investments in bike lanes and pedestrian improvements. This work is helping more residents move safely around the city while strengthening the evidence for healthier, more people-friendly streets.
  

Plenary sessions will be open to press and spokespeople will be available for interviews. A media briefing will be held on Tuesday, March 31. Media must be credentialed to attend and can request credentials by contacting Fernanda Salem, International Communications Advisor for the CIty of Rio, at fernanda.salem@prefeitura.rio.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies:
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2025, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $4.3 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, and X.

About the World Health Organization:
Dedicated to the well-being of all people and guided by science, the World Health Organization leads and champions global efforts to give everyone, everywhere an equal chance at a safe and healthy life. We are the UN agency for health that connects nations, partners and people on the front lines in 150+ locations – leading the world’s response to health emergencies, preventing disease, addressing the root causes of health issues and expanding access to medicines and health care. Our mission is to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. For more information, visit www.who.int and follow WHO on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube.

About Vital Strategies:
Vital Strategies believes every person should be protected by an equitable and effective public health system. We partner with governments, communities and organizations around the world to reimagine public health so that health is supported in all the places we live, work and play. The result is millions of people living longer, healthier lives. To find out more, please visit www.vitalstrategies.org or follow us on LinkedIn.