Ljubljana shows how people-friendly city centers, reduced traffic, and a strong focus on public space work in practice. A car-free historic city center and plenty of green spaces are part of everyday life there. This makes the city the perfect location for the Urban Future Conference 2026.
Become part of the Berlin delegation, exchange experiences, and use the Berlin Lounge hosted by CityLAB Berlin and Berlin Partner for Business and Technology as a meeting point. Use the discount code for the Berlin delegation and save 50 percent on your ticket.
You can find us in the main program:
25.03., 14:00 – 15:30, Room Ljubljana: This Changes Everything. How cities can harness AI for positive change, Dr. Benjamin Seibel (Director, CityLAB Berlin), Catherine De Wolf (Professorin, ETH Zürich), Jonas Hiller (Research und Project Manager, Toni Piëch Foundation), moderated by Michael Shank (Director of Programs, Albert Einstein Institution)
AI is quietly rewriting job descriptions, business models and maybe even your city’s paperwork. This session zooms out to look at the big shifts AI is triggering in the economy and society, then zooms back in to ask: what does this actually mean for cities? Yes, there are risks – but there’s also a flipside, from smoother admin processes to smarter, more circular construction systems. Through real-world examples, we explore how cities can stop worrying about AI taking over and start using it to get things done.
26.03., 11:00 – 12:30, Room Łódź.: When the Cameras Are Gone: How leaders drive change – everyday, Dr. Benjamin Seibel (Director, CityLAB Berlin), Anna Wierzbicka (Director, City of Łódź), Victor Neustetter (Leadership & Management Expert, Office of the Executive at WienIT), Gregor Deleja (Director of municipal administration, Municipality of Celje ) moderated by Perle Laouenan-Catchpole (Moderator, Masters in Moderation)
When the cameras are gone, the real work fun begins. Transformation doesn’t happen through big announcements – it happens in daily routines and in the countless small and big decisions made inside city hall. It depends on people driving change at every level, from civil servants and team leaders to project managers and department heads. This session explores how to build a true culture of collaboration that enables cities to change. Lesson one: to truly transform a city, you first have to transform yourself as a leader.
26.03., 14.00 – 15.30, Room Helsingborg: Service Design in Action – How to design better public services, Dr. Niklas Kossow (Smart City & Government Innovation Lead, CityLAB Berlin), Lisa Schmechel (Project Manager Administrative Innovation, CityLAB Berlin), Yannick Müller (Strategic Partnerships, CityLAB Berlin), Monika Tominšek (Advisor to the Mayor of Celje and Head of Development, Projects and Economy Office)
Service design helps cities develop public projects that actually work for people. In this session, practitioners share concrete examples from digital and urban projects where service design tools were used to understand needs, involve users, and test solutions early. Join in to see how these methods support participation and acceptance of change – and try out a simple exercise to explore how service design can be applied in their own daily work.
All sessions will be held in English.
Would you like to participate?
- Join the Berlin delegation → Let us know briefly that you’re in! (info@citylab-berlin.org)
- Get the discounted €399 ticket → Use the code BerlinDelegation UF26 at the end of the booking process: Tickets
More Information about the conference.
Photo: Green Ljubljana © dunja wedam
