Does your city or region deserve more recognition for new transport, street design, or policy improvements that increase mobility and improve quality-of-life for your residents? The Sustainable Transport Award is a unique, global recognition conferred by a committee of international experts in sustainable transport and development that supports the often-unrecognized progress happening on-the- ground.

ITDP and the STA Committee invites our network to nominate a city for the 2027 Award. This year, nominations will close May 22, 2026 — see more details in the application form available here. Anyone with city contacts and details of projects can submit a nomination, which can take as little as a few minutes. If your city is selected for the second round, more details will be requested.

Since 2005, the Sustainable Transport Award has recognized courageous leadership and vision in sustainable transportation and urban livability. These strategies should improve mobility for all residents, reduce transport-related greenhouse and air pollution emissions, and enhance safety and access for cyclists and pedestrians. Nominations are welcome from any interested parties, but typically include government, civil society organizations, and academic institutions.

Nominations must include verifiable project data and contact information for the city. Cities of all sizes from all over the world have been recognized by the committee for best practices in sustainable transport. A complete list of winning cities with details on their win is available here. Past winners include major global cities such as:

• Mexico City, México
• San Francisco, United States
• Ahmedabad, India
• Bogotá, Colombia
• Paris, France
• Dakar, Senegal
• Tianjin, China

The 2026 STA was awarded to Salvador, Brazil, for the city’s interventions to promote public transport through the expansion of its bus rapid transit (BRT) system and transit-oriented planning. Salvador is joined by two STA honorable mentions — Kochi, India, and Santiago, Chile — which are also being recognized for elevating unique forms of electric, low-emission, and accessible public transport in their regions. 

To continue the celebration and share the stories of these winning cities throughout 2026, ITDP and the STA team will also host the 2026 STA Series, a virtual webinar series that dives deeper into the elements and policies that earned these cities the STA recognition. These will be complemented by the release of case study publications from ITDP and city agencies. Subscribe to the Sustainable Transport Bulletin for new updates on these events.