OBJECTIVE This study sought to identify factors associated with survival of pT1 urothelial carcinoma of bladder (UCB) after radical cystectomy (RC). METHODS This study consists of 114 pT1 UCB [primary 83, recurrent 31, none were amenable to transurethral resection (TUR)] treated by radical cystectomy. Survival analysis using Cox regression tests were performed to identify factors associated with survival of pT1 UCB after RC. RESULTS Pelvic lymph node (LN) status, age and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) are associated with survival of pT1 UCB after RC; recurrent pT1 UCB of high grade origin (HGO) tends to have poorer CSS than primary pT1 UCB or recurrent pT1 UCB of low grade origin (LGO) (5-year and 10-year CSS rates was 75% and 73% for primary cases; 77% and 77% for recurrent pT1 UCB of LGO; and 56% and 37% for recurrent pT1 UCB of HGO, p = 0.078). CONCLUSIONS LN status, age and LVI were significantly associated with survival of pT1 UCB after RC. Recurrent pT1 UCB of HGO should be managed with radical cystectomy in a timely fashion given that these cases tend to have poorer CSS than primary pT1 UCB after RC, even if they did not progress to muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).