What it is
The Eurocities Annual Conference is the yearly meeting of Eurocities, the largest network of European cities, with more than 200 member cities in 38 countries. The 2026 conference took place in Utrecht from 8 to 10 June and marked the network’s 40th anniversary, under the title “Sharing horizons, connecting people”. It brought together mayors, city leaders, European institutions and academics.
The 2024 edition was held in Cluj-Napoca; our reports cover the conference, the debates among urban leaders and the 2024 awards.
How the programme works
The 2026 conference ran over three days and two venues: the Stadskantoor (city office) on 8 June, the Jaarbeurs on 9 and 10 June. The first day had a members-only newcomers session and study visits to Utrecht projects, including the municipal Reuse Centre, the restoration of the medieval wharves, the cycling network and Plan Einstein, Utrecht’s approach to receiving refugees alongside neighbourhood residents, according to the programme.
The plenaries looked back at how the role of cities in European governance has changed since the 1980s, including lessons from the Pact of Amsterdam, and forward at democracy, climate and digital change. Three parallel sessions covered poverty, linked to the EU’s forthcoming Anti-Poverty Strategy, climate action under shifting national and EU priorities, and the negotiations on the next EU budget. The conference closed with a Mayors’ Summit on democracy and city diplomacy.
Who goes and how to take part
The conference is paid. In 2026 the fee was EUR 280 for members from the EU, UK, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, EUR 180 for members from other countries and EUR 380 for non-members, all excluding 21% VAT. Only staff of member local governments qualified for the member rate. Registrations were fully refunded until 18 May and not at all from 19 May.
What came out of the 2026 edition
The Eurocities Awards are presented at the conference. In 2026 the city initiative categories only accepted solutions a city had adapted from somewhere else. Oulu won urban climate action with its Sustainable Future Learning Stream, a climate education model running from early childhood to upper secondary school; Paris came second and Rotterdam third. Stockholm won the category on gendered poverty with its Neighbourhood Mothers project. The City Heroes award went to Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul, imprisoned since March 2025, according to the Eurocities announcement.
Going, or following from home
We could not find the 2027 host city or dates on the Eurocities website. City staff who want to attend should check whether their city is a member: in 2026 the member rate was EUR 100 below the non-member fee.