Congress 2026
AI in the City – A working visit to the city of the future
On September 23, 24, and 25, 2026, we will be hosting the third edition of the AI in the City Congress in Breda, the Netherlands. And starting this year, we’re expanding our reach internationally. Because just as the challenge is European, so are the solutions. During AI in the City 2026, we’ll learn how fellow Europeans are using AI to tackle the major challenges to keep their cities, regions, towns, and villages across Europe livable. Come to Breda in September and leave after three days with new insights, a network of European partners, and a concrete plan to implement AI in your city.
Context
About three-quarters of all Europeans, over half a billion people, live in urban areas. From the Randstad to Rome and from Barcelona to Berlin. In many countries, these metropolitan regions are surrounded by a ring of medium-sized cities such as Breda, Bruges, and Brighton. Governments across Europe are faced with the challenge of accommodating the growth of these cities while simultaneously maintaining a pleasant, safe, and healthy living environment.
This challenge is complex. For example, the housing shortage is putting pressure on the livability, mobility, and infrastructure of existing cities. The implementation of new plans is being impacted by environmental regulations, grid congestion, and slow permitting procedures. And the existing city also demands significant attention. Simultaneously, the energy transition demands acceleration, but it is struggling with a lack of space, limited support, and tight implementation capacity. Climate adaptation is necessary, but is not yet sufficiently structurally anchored in European and local policies. Meanwhile, certainties are under pressure: access to sufficient drinking water, protection against flooding, or drought and heat stress, are no longer guaranteed. In solving all these challenges, good contact with residents and businesses is essential. Yet, many Europeans experience government as distant, inaccessible, and bureaucratic. Moreover, virtually all sectors—from healthcare and education to construction and public administration—are facing significant staff shortages. These shortages hinder not only policy implementation but also the innovation capacity of cities.
AI as an opportunity for livable European cities
AI offers opportunities to address these challenges. Increasingly, data is available, which can be analyzed using AI systems to gain insight into the functioning of cities and regions. This enables governments to make better decisions and improve policy, decision-making, and implementation. For example, AI is already being used in several European cities to route traffic more intelligently through the city, in citizen participation programs, and to combat grid congestion.
During the “AI in the City” congress, we will discover these opportunities and learn to apply them in our own context. We will also learn how AI is changing and improving spatial planning in various ways.
The congress will achieve this by sharing the experiences of top speakers from Europe (and beyond). How are they using AI to keep their cities livable? We will do this in small sessions, with ample opportunity for interaction. The congress thus offers the opportunity to forge new partnerships with colleagues, researchers, companies, and governments from across Europe. During AI in the City, companies, startups, and tech experts present new technologies in smart cities, AI, sustainable energy, and mobility. Hands-on in workshops, because you learn by experiencing.
Learning by experience in three days
AI in the City has a three-day program.
Day 1 – September 23 – Ecosystem Day – Long live the ecosystem. We’re collaborating with several international networks that are organizing their own events in Breda on this day. This way, the city will gradually fill up with AI professionals from all over Europe. In the evening, we’ll organize the AI in the City Walking Dinner.
Day 2 – September 24 – Congress Day – Today we’re organizing the AI in the City Congress 2026 – A working visit to the city of the future.
Day 3 – September 25 – Excursion Day – On an excursion in the Netherlands and Flanders – We’ll visit interesting “AI in the City” examples in Breda and beyond. This way, we’ll learn from Dutch experiences in practice. During the excursions, you’ll visit projects where AI is already being applied – from smart lighting to data-driven urban planning.
AI in the City Congress Time Schedule on September 24th
10:00 AM – Welcome
11:00 AM – International Keynote Speaker
11:30 AM – International Highlights
12:00 PM – In-depth Sessions
12:45 PM – Networking Lunch
1:30 PM – Practical Pitches
2:15 PM – Break
2:30 PM – AI Outdoor Experience
4:15 PM – Your Vision for the Day
4:45 PM – Networking Drinks
6:00 PM – Closing
Target audience
AI in the City focuses on three target groups:
>> Professionals from across Europe who are interested in this topic but are not experts – A congress will be organized for them.
>> Residents of Breda – A dedicated program will be organized for them, just as in 2024 (during the first edition of AI in the City).
>> Experts in this topic – We will organize expert sessions for them.
>> Administrators from G40 municipalities working on this topic.
In Breda, a leader in applying AI in the city
Of course, we’re also organizing this edition of AI in the City in Breda. This is already the third time. And rightly so. Breda has embraced AI and is teaching the city how to use it to solve urban problems.
Breda is located between Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Eindhoven, just an hour from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. It’s the ideal home base for the excursions on September 25th.
Moreover, Breda is a wonderful city to spend a few days in. The historic city center, the hospitality, vibrant restaurants, and fine hotels offer a pleasant setting for both formal and informal meetings, as well as for the AI in the City events.
What makes this event unique?
AI in the City is the only European conference where spatial planning policy, technology, and practice converge in an interactive, three-day program. Collaboration and application are central. You won’t just listen; you’ll experience how AI works in practice – during excursions in Breda and surrounding cities and in hands-on workshops with European colleagues.
What you’ll take home:
New partnerships with cities, companies, and researchers from across Europe.
Concrete plans: for AI applications in your own field, based on real-world cases.
Inspiration and tools: to get started with smart city solutions right away.
For whom?
Whether you’re a professional, administrator, expert, or resident: this conference offers a tailored program for everyone. With special attention to citizen engagement and the local ecosystem, in addition to the professional tracks.
By whom?
As in the first two editions, AI in the City is a collaboration between the Municipality of Breda – Bredata and ELBA\REC. Bredata’s goal is for Breda to be a city with optimal digital capabilities by 2030, where the human dimension is paramount. ELBA\REC has been organizing trade events for over 20 years and has been working on the theme of smart city since 2016, including organizing the City Deal on AI.
Building on what was already good
We are proud of the satisfied participants of the first two editions. Most participants found the congress content informative, inspiring, and relevant. The varied topics and the provision of new insights contributed to the positive evaluation of the congress.
In short: AI in the City is no ordinary congress; it’s a working visit to the future of cities and spatial planning – with immediately usable results.
Become a partner of AI in the City 2026
As a partner, you contribute to the success of AI in the City Congress and reflect that on your organization. We offer three partner packages.
>> Gold – €25,000 – You will serve on the program committee and contribute to the content of AI in the City Congress 2026. You will host the AI in the City Dinner on December 23rd. You can organize an excursion on September 25th. You have the opportunity to organize your own meeting on September 23rd. Your logo will be featured in the event’s communications. You will receive 20 tickets for yourself and your contacts. There is room for a maximum of three gold partners.
>> Silver – €15,000 – You can organize an excursion on September 25th. You have the opportunity to organize your own meeting on September 23rd. Your logo will be featured in the event’s communications. You will receive 15 tickets for yourself and your contacts. There is room for a maximum of 6 silver partners.
>> Bronze – €5,000 – You have the opportunity to organize your own meeting on September 23rd. Your logo will be featured in the event’s materials. You will receive 10 tickets for yourself and your contacts. There is room for 9 bronze partners.
The amounts mentioned are exclusive of VAT.
What’s included in the package?
Your own meeting – On September 23rd, we are organizing International Ecosystem Day. We will be holding this at a conference center in Breda. As a partner, you can organize your own meetup there. We will provide the venue and lunch (20 lunches are included in your package), you invite your international contacts, and you are responsible for the content of your meeting.
AI in the City Dinner – On the evening of September 23rd, we will hold the AI in the City Walking Dinner. As a gold partner, you will host this dinner. You will open the dinner and invite 10 guests. We will take care of the other guests. We will conclude the evening with a dance party.
Excursions – On September 25th, we’re organizing excursions to interesting “AI in the City” examples in Breda and beyond. This way, we’ll learn from Dutch experiences in practice. We’ll handle the registration process, transportation, and lunch. You’re in charge of the content.
Tickets for the AI in the City Congress – Each package includes tickets for the AI in the City Congress on September 24th. These tickets provide access to the conference and can also be purchased separately for €350 (excluding VAT).
Contact us
For questions, please contact Jan-Willem Wesselink of the City Deal “Een slimme stad, zo doe je dat” (j.wesselink@elba-rec.nl) or call +31 33 8700 100.
