Fès wins Mayors Challenge 2026 award and $1 million for urban innovation

The Moroccan city is among the twenty-four global winners announced this Tuesday by the philanthropic organization. This international distinction recognizes municipalities’ efforts to modernize their administrations through bold, creative and proactive solutions designed to address residents’ direct needs.

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This year’s selected projects stand out for their sophisticated integration of artificial intelligence combined with the “wisdom of residents.” The goal is to use cutting-edge tools to deliver municipal services proactively, thereby strengthening the relationship between administrations and the people they serve.

Each winner will receive one million dollars to implement its program, along with technical support from experts. Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, emphasized that these initiatives aim to test new ideas that could be replicated in other cities around the world.
A global network for urban experimentation

The Mayors Challenge gives cities a crucial space for experimentation, which is often difficult to finance solely through public funds. This approach enables city governments to test, learn from and adapt innovative solutions to address complex local issues, ranging from resource management to urban planning.

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Fès shares this award with leading international cities such as Barcelona, Toronto, Rio de Janeiro and Budapest. This diverse list reflects a global determination to transform local governance through technological innovation and active community participation in infrastructure management.