Place Brand Leaders Yearbook Series
Across cities, regions, and countries, place branding is maturing into a long-term strategic discipline. Each year, the Place Brand Leaders Yearbook highlights places that demonstrate clarity of direction, strong governance, and the ability to turn strategy into visible progress.
The Yearbook series brings together leading examples of city, region, and national place branding; interviews with practitioners and policymakers; and insights from TPBO’s international expert community. Together, the editions document how places strengthen identity, reputation, economic development, and quality of life through strategic alignment and delivery.
Explore the Yearbook editions below and discover how places around the world shape their future with intent.
Explore the Editions
The editions below offer an annual overview of standout initiatives and emerging themes in place branding worldwide. Each Yearbook highlights places that demonstrate strategic clarity, long-term thinking, and visible progress — supported by interviews, expert insights, and curated case examples.
How to Get Involved
Each edition of the Place Brand Leaders Yearbook is built in collaboration with TPBO’s international expert community and the places and people featured. There are several ways to participate in the 2026 edition.
Nominate a place
We welcome your suggestions for cities, regions, and countries that demonstrate clear, long-term place branding excellence – ideally a blend of placemaking and place marketing. To nominate, email editor@placebrandobserver.com.
Suggest a Person to Watch
We are gathering nominations for People to Watch – leaders shaping how places communicate identity, reputation, and direction. No self-nominations, please. Email editor@placebrandobserver.com.
Partner with the Yearbook
A limited number of premium showcases and partnership opportunities are available for organisations wishing to share their work with our international readership. For details, contact editor@placebrandobserver.com.
The 2026 edition is scheduled for publication in late spring. Early conversations help us plan the most relevant mix of places, people, and themes.
The yearbooks provide an invaluable platform for exchanging ideas, inspiration, and ambitions – bringing together global examples of innovation in place branding, soft power, and nation building. As you explore the publications, I invite you to reflect on the opportunities and lessons they present.
Sithembile Ntombela
BRAND SOUTH AFRICAI truly celebrate this new concept of a yearbook in place branding, which undoubtedly highlights the passion with which we engage in all projects. It’s an inspiring and motivating read to continue supporting the growth of our community; I hope this is just the beginning!
Gustavo Konisczcer
FUTUREBRAND HISPANIC AMERICATPBO has established itself as the definitive resource showcasing leadership in place branding worldwide. The Place Brand Leaders Yearbook further solidifies this, providing a new invaluable resource of the world’s most innovative strategies that will hopefully inspire more destinations to use tourism as a means to generate net positive, loocal benefits.
Brian Mullis
EXECUTIVE ADVISORBehind the Series
The Place Brand Leaders Yearbook series is curated in collaboration with local leaders and TPBO’s international expert community. Each edition brings together places chosen for the clarity of their vision, the strength of their governance, and the evidence of progress on the ground.
Each Yearbook is registered with the Swiss National Library, ensuring a permanent record in the national collection and long-term reference value for practitioners and researchers alike.
Rather than focusing on campaigns alone, the Yearbooks look at how strategy, policy, and partnerships come together to shape identity, reputation, and development over time.
Curious about future editions or collaboration opportunities? Write to editor@placebrandobserver.com.