World Cleanup Day 2027 Opens Global Host Call
Governments, NGOs and companies can apply to host the 2027 observance through 15 February 2027.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Home Cleaning
UN-Habitat has opened a call for expressions of interest for hosting the global observance of World Cleanup Day in 2027. The call runs from 2 November 2026 to 15 February 2027, and interested governments, organizations and institutions can apply by email.
Why it matters
World Cleanup Day is observed each year on 20 September, and the host city or country leads the global event's logistics in collaboration with UN-Habitat. For households, the observance centers on community-led waste solutions, a theme that bears on how neighborhoods handle litter, recycling and shared cleanup efforts. The call is open now, which is why applicants are being sought ahead of the 2027 observance.
The call is open from 2 November 2026 to 15 February 2027, and the proposed 2027 theme is 'Clean Communities, Inclusive Cities: Community-Led Waste Solutions.' The observance has been hosted by Norway (2024), Kenya (2025) and China (2026).
The players
UN-Habitat
The United Nations agency for human settlements, which leads global mobilization and outreach for World Cleanup Day and promotes sustainable urban development.
United Nations General Assembly
The UN's main deliberative body, which established World Cleanup Day in 2023.
The details
Expressions of interest are submitted by email to wastewisecities@un.org, copying unhabitat-events@un.org, with the subject line 'Expression of interest to host global observance of World Cleanup Day 2027.' Eligible applicants include national, regional and local governments, private sector organizations, non-governmental organizations, foundations and educational institutions. Prospective hosts must show relevant experience, organizational capacity, and the ability to provide financial and in-kind contributions, and private sector organizations are preferably registered with the UN Global Compact. UN-Habitat will lead global mobilization and outreach, including live streaming on UN Web TV.
Timeline
20 September: World Cleanup Day is observed every year.
2 November 2026: The call for expressions of interest opens.
15 February 2027: The deadline to submit expressions of interest closes.
The Big Picture
The 2027 call builds on the 2023 United Nations General Assembly resolution that created World Cleanup Day, extending a rotating host model already used in Norway (2024), Kenya (2025) and China (2026).
Households interested in community cleanup can watch for local organizations and municipalities that take part in World Cleanup Day each 20 September. Residents can also consider joining neighborhood waste reduction or litter pickup efforts already active where they live.
The takeaway
Community-led waste solutions are at the center of the 2027 observance, which makes local cleanup a practical way for households to take part. Keep an eye on the 20 September date each year to join nearby efforts.
Further reading
For more on keeping shared spaces clean, explore our Home Cleaning coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Unhabitat.
