[Updates by TPO Members]

In Kota Kinabalu, the sea is never far from view. It colours the city’s celebrated sunsets, connects communities across nearby islands and supports tourism, fisheries and maritime livelihoods. This October, it will also become the starting point for an international conversation about the future of coastal cities.

From 10 to 14 October 2026, Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) will host the Kota Kinabalu International Mayors’ Dialogue 2026 (KKIMD 2026)under the theme “Future Coastal Cities: Advancing Blue Economy, Digital Governance and Urban Resilience.” The main dialogue, taking place on 12 and 13 October at the Sabah International Convention Centre, will bring together mayors, city leaders, policymakers, academics and industry representatives to explore how coastal cities can grow while remaining sustainable, resilient and liveable. 

Kota Kinabalu provides a compelling setting for this discussion. Situated within the Coral Triangle, the city combines remarkable marine biodiversity with the opportunities experienced by rapidly growing coastal destinations. Its waterfront, islands and maritime connections are not only visitor attractions—they are also closely linked to food security, employment, community wellbeing and environmental protection.

This direction reflects Sabah’s expanding blue-economy agenda. In June 2025, the Sabah Government established the Sabah Blue Economy Council to coordinate policy, high-impact programmes and implementation of the state’s Blue Economy Policy and Strategy Framework. The State Government has also publicly announced a planned tuna landing port in Kota Kinabalu as its first high-impact blue-economy project. The project remains a forward-looking initiative, but it illustrates Sabah’s ambition to develop its marine resources through investment, technology and value-added maritime industries.

KKIMD 2026 will extend the conversation beyond the conference hall. Its public programme includes an experience focused on sustainable island development and urban placemaking at Gaya Island resort, followed by the Mayor’s Green Legacy Programme at Tun Fuad Stephens Botanical Park. The Dialogue is also expected to culminate in the Kota Kinabalu Declaration—a shared commitment to blue-economy development, digital governance, urban resilience and international cooperation.

Supported by the Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (TPO), KKIMD 2026 presents Kota Kinabalu as more than a gateway to Borneo’s natural wonders. It is a coastal city inviting the world to experience its hospitality while helping shape a greener, smarter and more resilient maritime future.