Press release -
Ljubljana Prepares To Host The Better-Cities Event
Slovenian ‘CityChangers’ are joining forces for Urban Future in March 2026.
September 24, 2025 | Ljubljana, Slovenia – On Tuesday Slovenian stakeholders gathered at Center Rog for the official Urban Future 2026 kick-off, where Ljubljana proudly confirmed its role as the next host city of Europe’s largest event for urban changemakers.
The thriving city of Ljubljana will host Urban Future 2026 (UF26) – The Better-Cities Event from March 24-27, 2026. Attracting over 2,000 participants annually, Urban Future has become the go-to event for passionate city advocates, offering a week of workshops, field trips, and discussions centered on one vital question: How can we create better, more sustainable cities?
Urban Future shines a spotlight on cities where sustainability isn’t just a plan – but a practice. In 2026, the event will gather architects, planners, city staff, cycling advocates, mobility disruptors, and public sector pioneers – all united by one passion: making cities greener, more liveable, and more human.
In Ljubljana, that practice has meant putting citizens first for over a decade: strategically pedestrianizing the city centre, transforming former roads into vibrant public spaces, and becoming a hotspot for international travellers.
A Landmark Event for Ljubljana and Slovenia
Urban Future’s debut in Slovenia marks a milestone for the country’s urban innovation movement. Ljubljana is following successful editions in cities such as Łódź, Rotterdam, Stuttgart, Helsingborg, Oslo and Vienna.
“We selected Ljubljana because it has become a European model for urban liveability, earning its European Green Capital title by backing bold ideas with action: from its expansive car-free zone and riverside promenades to deep commitments to circularity, climate adaptation, and community-driven planning,” says Gerald Babel-Sutter, CEO and Co-Founder of Urban Future.
In his opening address at the event, the Mayor of the City of Ljubljana, Zoran Janković, stated that hosting the Urban Future conference represents recognition of the city’s achievements to date, as well as encouragement for the further development of sustainable solutions that improve the quality of life for all residents. Among other things, he highlighted projects aimed at increasing green spaces in the city, specifically pointing out a new park in Šiška, which will be created on the site of the current LPP depot. This will be the third largest park in Ljubljana.
Gerald likes to stress that Urban Future is not just an event, but a movement: “Our goal is to accelerate the transition to sustainable cities by giving people knowledge, inspiration, and networks to act. The future of cities is created by people, not PowerPoint presentations!”
Kick-Starting the Movement: Local CityChangers are getting on board
In preparation for the main event, Slovenian urban innovators are already mobilizing. The pre-event gathering at Center Rog in Lubljana on September 23 brought together around 70 participants from various sectors, setting the tone for the dynamic exchanges expected at Urban Future 2026.
Zoran Janković, Mayor of Ljubljana, proudly opened the kick-off event with words on the selection of Ljubljana as the host city. He also encouraged Slovenian change-makers to take the stage in March to showcase their “green soul.” Around 20 local organizations have already committed to participating in UF26.
Thanks to its exceptional environmental awareness, Ljubljana has managed to preserve its green character to the present day. It proudly holds the title of European Green Capital 2016.
Gerald Babel-Sutter pointed out, “The biggest hurdle is to get started. But once you take the first step, you realize you’re not alone – there are thousands of people around the world doing the same. We connect them.”
Designing the Future of Urban Life
At the kick-off event, Urban Future unveiled more information on the core themes that will be spotlighted during the conference:
- City Centers – Examining bold transformations, their ripple effects, and whether our fixation on city cores is justified.
- Tactical Urbanism – From pop-ups to permanent change, exploring how tactical interventions are reshaping cities and engaging citizens.
- Circularity – With Slovenia and Ljubljana at the forefront, uncovering what makes circular strategies succeed and the partnerships driving them.
- One final theme – will be announced in December!
These themes aim to foster collaboration across various sectors — from municipalities and creative start-ups to NGOs and leading businesses — uniting all those working to accelerate the transition to greener, more resilient urban environments.
Adding a national perspective
The City of Celje – a long-standing Urban Future participant – highlighted the benefits of being part of this community: “Celje has been with Urban Future since its beginnings. Every year we return home with new insights, valuable contacts, and a renewed drive to make our city better. To see Ljubljana hosting in 2026 is a huge inspiration for all Slovenian cities.”
Change is coming
Change in cities always comes down to people – the so-called CityChangers. These are not only mayors or urban planners, but passionate individuals who dare to reshape their environment.
True transformation happens when citizens see themselves as co-creators, not just users, of urban space. That’s why Urban Future empowers people from every profession and background to become CityChangers. Everyone is welcome.
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About Urban Future
Urban Future is Europe’s most inspiring event for city changemakers – those working to create more sustainable and resilient cities. Since its inception in Graz in 2014, the event has become a critical platform for mayors, architects, mobility experts, urban planners, scientists, and other professionals dedicated to urban transformation. United by their shared passion for better cities, these changemakers come together to inspire, collaborate, and accelerate sustainable solutions for the urban world.
For more information, visit urban-future.org.
