The Eurocities Annual Conference 2026 will mark the 40th anniversary of the network, celebrating four decades of collaboration between European cities and reaffirming their role as engines of democracy, peace, and innovation. Set in Utrecht, the conference will bring together mayors, city leaders, European institutions, and academics to reflect on past achievements and chart a shared urban vision for the coming decades.

Cities have always been spaces where diversity, innovation, and coexistence flourish. In a world marked by geopolitical tensions, climate crises, and digital disruption, cities continue to embody hope — places where collective life, cooperation, and creativity generate inclusive, sustainable, and peaceful societies.

Plenary Themes

The plenary sessions will combine:

• Looking back: how the role of cities in European governance has evolved since the 1980s; lessons from the Pact of Amsterdam; and the changing nature of city leadership and national-local relations.
• Looking ahead: how cities can defend peace and democracy, drive Europe’s response to climate and digital shifts, and ensure citizens remain central to Europe’s urban future.
   

Parallel sessions

Three thematic sessions will address the most pressing challenges for cities today:

1. Cities leading the fight against poverty – exploring local innovations to tackle rising poverty and social exclusion, connecting city action with the EU’s forthcoming Anti-Poverty Strategy.
2. Cities driving climate action in a shifting Europe – examining how cities can sustain ambitious green policies despite changing EU and national priorities.
3. Financing Europe’s future: cities and the next EU budget – analysing the 2026 MFF negotiations and their implications for cities’ capacity to deliver on Europe’s green, digital, and social goals.

Sharing Horizons – Eurocities mayors summit

The conference will end with a Eurocities Mayors’ Summit, reaffirming the network’s role as a defender of democracy, solidarity, and city diplomacy. Discussions will focus on leadership, the rule of law, and the role of cities in strengthening democratic resilience and cross-border cooperation.
The closing message will be clear: democracy begins in cities, and Europe’s future depends on empowering them.