AIVP has officially launched the call for applications for the 2026 edition of the Antoine Rufenacht Prize, the international accolade dedicated to urban and port development projects that redefine the vital relationship between the city and its waterfront.
The Prize pays tribute to the avant-garde vision of Antoine Rufenacht, the former Mayor of Le Havre and founding chairman of AIVP, who viewed the port city as a unique laboratory for systemic innovation. He spent his career transcending the boundaries between port and city, understing that a city’s influence and a port’s appeal are indissociable.
In an era where climate change, energy transitions, and social shifts demand a complete reimagining of our coastal and riverine landscapes, the Prize celebrates the projects that bridge the gap between industrial necessity and urban well-being, rewarding the authorities that mirror this visionary approach and turning port-city interfaces into breeding grounds for social, economic, and environmental innovation.
The competition is open to port authorities and local or regional governments from all over the world, regardless of whether they are maritime or riverine, or whether they are current AIVP members. Deadline for submitting applications is July 31, 2026.
To be eligible, initiatives must have been completed within the last three years and be located within a port-city interface or a former port site. The candidates must demonstrate how their vision aligns with the AIVP Agenda 2030 – adapted from the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals specifically for the port context and officially submitted to the UN in 2019 – showing a commitment to sustainable development goals such as biodiversity protection, renewed governance, or the enhancement of port culture and identity. identity.
The Official Prize Ceremony will take place at the AIVP World Conference in Dunkirk (November 3–6, 2026) where the winner will be celebrated in front of an international audience of peers and stakeholders. Winners and finalists benefit from global visibility within the AIVP network, with their projects highlighted as “best practices” to be emulated worldwide.
For port cities striving to become more attractive, resilient, and integrated, the Antoine Rufenacht Prize is the ultimate platform to showcase how the synergy between water and land can put innovative cities on the global map of sustainable development.
More Information
https://aivp-rufenacht-prize.org/en/