|  About the 2026 theme

Urban disasters are becoming more frequent, more complex, and more interconnected. Climate change, aging infrastructure, rapid urbanization, and cascading disruptions can turn local hazards into citywide—and sometimes cross-border—crises. In this context, “safety” is no longer something a single city or country can build alone. It must be strengthened through shared knowledge, shared tools, and shared commitments to act.

The 7th ACUDR 2026 theme, “Smart Cities, Shared Disaster Safety,” emphasizes two ideas that must advance together. First, cities need to become smarter in how they anticipate risk, detect emerging threats, and support faster, more informed decision-making. Second, disaster safety must be shared through international partnerships and continuous knowledge exchange—so that lessons learned in one place can improve preparedness and recovery elsewhere.

This theme highlights AI in practice—not as a showcase of prototypes, but as a set of reliable, field-ready methods that support emergency operations, damage and needs assessment, and recovery planning. It also focuses on early warning that leads to early action, effective last-mile communication, and coordinated response across agencies and communities. Through ACUDR, we aim to connect science, policy, and practice to build safer urban futures—together, across borders.