CitiesToBe - the urban think lab by Anteverti, a Barcelona-based urban innovation consultancy working with cities and territories worldwide - opens the third edition of its international urban photography competition.

The 26 Edition Theme: 'Third Places'

In 1989, in The Great Good Place, urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg introduced the notion of the "third place": spaces of informal, open and egalitarian social interaction that are neither home nor workplace - open, collective spaces that make possible the encounters and experiences that make urban life fascinating, inspiring and enriching. From the ancient Greek agora to the bar, the library, the square or the café, third places have historically stimulated conversation, the discovery of difference and coexistence. They are spaces of empathy, inclusion, community and democratic life.

Yet in an era of hyper-digitalized relationships, where algorithms guide us through the city - curating places, filtering experiences, and segmenting the conversations we are exposed to - these spaces face new questions. In a turbulent global context marked by conflict, polarization, and growing pressure on collective spaces and shared understanding, what role do third places still play in our cities? Is there still room for them? Are we willing to keep sharing them? What forms might they take in the future? Will they hybridize, or will there be a renewed desire for the archetypal openness of the ancient public square?

The CitiesToBe Photo Award 26 invites photographers from around the world to submit a photographic project - 10 to 20 images - exploring these questions.