Department of Sports, Taipei City Government

Singapore announced the results of the 2026 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize today (24 April), awarding Taipei City the "Special Mention." Widely acclaimed the "Nobel Prize for Cities," this award is one of the most prestigious international honors in the field of urban governance,and Taipei is the first and only city in Taiwan to receive such a distinction.

The Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize is known for its exceptionally high standards and rigorous selection process. Participating cities must first be nominated through an international mechanism and undergo a stringent two-tier review. Organized by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) of Singapore, the evaluation is conducted by an international Nominating Committee and the Prize Council. Candidate cities must undergo a stringent two-tier review that assesses everything from long-term institutional resilience to tangible improvements in citizens' quality of life.

Since its inception in 2010, this biennial honor has been granted to only a handful of cities. Even perennial "livable city" frontrunners like Vancouver, Copenhagen, Sydney, and Boston have previously received Special Mention. Taipei City first applied in 2018 but did not advance to the on-site evaluation. Recognizing that Taipei’s development philosophy aligns closely with the core values of the Prize, "Team Taipei" re-applied for the selection process. Following more than two years of meticulous preparation and amidst intense global competition, Taipei successfully stood out among the world’s leading cities.

The jury noted that Taipei demonstrated concrete achievements in integrated governance across transportation, environmental management, and civic engagement—serving as a model for high-density cities worldwide.  The application highlighted seven core practices: zero-waste transformation, flood management, local business revitalization, green transport integration, sports and vibrant city development, responses to low birth rates, and AI-driven municipal innovation. Collectively, these initiatives showcase the city’s overall governance capabilities across the dimensions of environment, resilience, health, demographics, and technology.

Key highlights include the "Pay-as-You-Throw" garbage fee system, which helped increase recycling rates by over 13 times, achieving zero landfill a decade ahead of schedule. Through flood management, urban revitalization, and green transport integration, Taipei has bolstered its urban resilience. By promoting sports to improve citizen health, the city has seen a 3-fold increase in regular exercise, further driving the "Taipei Dome" economy. To address low birth rates, measures such as social housing, "Happiness Housing," public childcare services, and family-friendly workplaces have effectively eased the burden on households. Finally, the "Three AI Arrows" strategy has advanced smart governance, with the"Cool AI" initiative and the 1999 Citizen Hotline significantly enhancing public service efficiency.

During the on-site evaluation, the jury visited various locations and was impressed by Taipei's detail-oriented governance. A standout moment occurred when elementary school students demonstrated using their student IDs to redeem fresh milk at convenience stores. The jury highly praised the "Fresh Milk for Every Child" programme for its inclusivity, noting how it naturally integrates public services into daily life. They recognized it as an innovative practice combining digital governance with essential municipal services, describing Taipei’s approach as "very smart."

Mayor Chiang Wan-an also presented Taipei’s AI governance strategy to the jury , highlighting the "Dual Engines of AI" framework. This framework bolsters internal governmental decision-making and administrative efficiency while simultaneously driving innovative public services—such as the integration of AI speech-to-text for the 1999 Citizen Hotline. By aligning regulatory frameworks,  platform infrastructure,  and cross-domain applications, Taipei has made AI a key driver for enhancing governance efficiency and urban resilience. The jury unanimously agreed that Taipei has demonstrated a leading edge in AI governance.

Notably, despite the award’s strict requirement for over a decade of proven track record in governance, the jury was deeply impressed by Taipei's recent "people-centric" innovations driven by technology. Initiatives like the "Fresh Milk for Every Child" and "2U Pregnancy Special Car " integrate public services with digital ID, showing that Taipei’s governance goes beyond mere efficiency and performance. By addressing citizens' real-life needs with precision, the city exemplifies modern governance with a human touch.

Mayor Chiang Wan-an also shared his vision to transform Taipei into a "home away from home"—a city that provides an immediate sense of belonging and stands as Asia’s most desirable place to call home. By refining policies and staying responsive to citizens' needs, the city provides a secure haven for citizens to realize their potential and nurture their aspirations. The jury especially commended the philosophy of integrating robust policy frameworks with human-centric warmth. They noted that the Mayor’s concept of "home" resonated deeply with their firsthand experience in Taipei, finding the city’s governance both highly inspiring and worth sharing with the global community.

As an award recipient, Taipei City has officially joined the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Network and is set to showcase its success stories at the 2026 World Cities Summit in Singapore, an opportunity that will significantly elevate Taipei’s global presence. This honor is not only a recognition of past achievement but also the beginning of a new chapter for the future. By sharing the "Taipei Experience," the city is committed to partnering with global peers to build a more sustainable and resilient urban future.

For more information on the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, please visit: