Urban Transitions Mission
Global Innovation Summit 2026

3 November 2026 | Viladecans, Spain

Join the Urban Transitions Mission (UTM) in the run-up to COP31 for a high-level global convening to explore the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation for sustainable, inclusive, and net-zero urban futures.

UTM is hosting its annual
Global Innovation Summit in Viladecans, Spain,
on November 3, 2026.

The summit is focusing on
“Accelerating Urban Transitions: Scaling Impact with AI and Digital Innovation.”

UTM Global Innovation Summit 2026:

Accelerating Urban Transitions: Scaling Impact with AI and Digital Innovation

Supported by the European Commission, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM), the Municipality of Viladecans and Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the Summit will gather hundreds of participants accelerating urban transitions.

Join the Urban Transitions Mission (UTM) of Mission Innovation (MI) for a landmark event dedicated to exploring the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation. This global convening will spotlight how cutting-edge digital solutions and Artificial Intelligence are becoming levers to accelerate climate action by revolutionizing city planning, unlocking new investment pathways, and accelerating the journey toward net-zero, climate-resilient, and inclusive cities.

This high-level gathering will bring together the UTM community, local leaders, national policymakers, international organizations, innovators, technology pioneers, financial institutions, and academic experts to explore how to harness AI as a force for public good.

“We should not ask ourselves: what can AI do to help cities? We should ask: what is our goal and how do we reach it? How do we decarbonize our energy and transport system? How do we futureproof our infrastructures and make our cities more resilient? And then look at AI as a tool at our disposal to reach our target — evaluated against a clear purpose,”

Giorgia Rambelli, Director the Urban Transitions Mission

As a growing global cohort of 145 cities across 52 countries, UTM is focused on one shared, urgent question:

how do we get to net-zero, resilient and inclusive communities?

Too often, conversations about urban AI begin with the technology and work backwards.

The 2026 UTM Global Innovation Summit aims to flip this narrative, beyond tech solutionism in favour of a people-centered approach where AI acts in service of a clear purpose.

Through engaging discussions, live simulations, and real-life city experiences, attendees will gain actionable insights on deploying digital tools to optimize urban transitions.

From simulating nature-based solutions to supporting the decarbonization of the energy system, the Summit will highlight strategies that balance technological speed with ethical responsibility and social impact.

Discover how the synergy of AI and Digital Innovation can transform the pulse of the city and offer scalable solutions for urban transitions. Whether you are a city leader, a tech innovator, or a financial stakeholder, this summit offers a unique platform to forge the partnerships that will define the intelligent, resilient, and inclusive cities of tomorrow.

SUMMIT AGENDA

Explore the UTM Global Innovation Summit 2026 agenda, filled with interactive sessions, workshops, and presentations. Participants will engage with urban planners, policymakers, and global leaders who are at the forefront of urban transformation.

3rd November 2026

Morning plenary sessions, followed by three parallel afternoon workshops on resource-efficient design, smart cities, and digital interconnectedness. A mayoral panel will come together for a reality-check on current and future urban transitions. The day will conclude with an evening reception for all in-person attendees.

09:00 | Welcome & Icebreaker

09:10 | Setting the Scene: the role of digital innovation for sustainable urban futures

09:35 | Reality-Check: digital solutions as catalyzer or a risk for holistic urban transitions

10:25 | UTM in Action: planning and foresight for resource-efficient urban systems and infrastructures

11:15 | Coffee Break

11:30 | UTM in Action: brokering solutions and connecting innovation leaders & providers

Parallel workshops

R&I Strategies for Scalable application of AI in cities
Moving from “Ego-system” to “Eco-system” Analytics
The future of AI for data modelling & investment planning

12:35 | UTM in Action: investing in People-Centered Cities

13:00 | Lunch Break

14:30 | UTM in Action: brokering solutions and connecting innovation leaders & providers

Parallel workshops:

Bridging the Science-to-City Gap for urban transitions
UTM + AI x City Climate Action Hackathon: scaling AI for local impact
Addressing environmental impacts and net-positives of AI

15:30 | Break

15:50 | UTM in Action: defining governance for people-centred AI in cities

16:40 | Reality-check: planning and accelerating risk response resilience and integrated decarbonization through digital solutions

17:30 | UTM looks ahead: Stocktaking & way forward

17:50 | Closing Remarks

19:00-22:00 | Mingling and exchanging:
Reception for the UTM Community

Visit the detailed agenda here.

DEEP-DIVE SESSIONS

5th November

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS

During the afternoon, three parallel workshops were held, giving participants the opportunity to dive deeper into specific areas of urban sustainability. These workshops were designed to provide practical insights and foster collaborative problem-solving

Workshop 1: Resource-Efficient Urban Design – Explore strategies to optimize resource use while ensuring sustainable city growth.
Workshop 2: Digital Technologies for Interconnected Cities – Discover how digital innovations are creating smarter, more resilient urban ecosystems.
Workshop 3: Financing Sustainable Urban Transitions – Learn about innovative financing models that can drive the urban transition to a net-zero future.

For a detailed schedule, download the full agenda here.

For selected cities only:

8th-9th October

STUDY TOUR TO THE TO SIGNIFY’S OUTDOOR LIGHTING APPLICATION CENTER (OLAC)

As part of the Summit, participating cities also had the opportunity to join the Study Tour at Signify’s Outdoor Lighting Application Center (OLAC) which provided them with a practical exploration of how innovative outdoor lighting solutions can support cities’ decarbonization efforts, while enhancing safety and well-being and safeguarding circularity and biodiversity needs.

The Study Tour at Signify’s Outdoor Lighting Application Center (OLAC) provides participants with a practical exploration of how innovative outdoor lighting solutions can support cities’ decarbonization efforts. During the workshop, facilitated by Signify experts, attendees will focus on identifying key topics of interest, sharing best practices and solutions already implemented or planned, and collaboratively drafting a high-level plan to address these challenges.

For a detailed schedule, download the full agenda here.

WHAT TO EXPECT

At this summit, you can expect a departure from traditional tech-centric conversations. Instead of falling into “tech solutionism,” the event will champion a “purpose-first” approach that prioritises community needs and looks at technology as a tool to serve the city.

Expect bold ideas, dense conversations, real-world case studies and actionable pathways to accelerate urban transition.

Together, we will explore:

Predictive Foresight over Reactive Management
Overcoming Digital Hurdles
Scalable governance
Accelerated implementation of net-zero transitions
Prioritized people-centered, inclusive developments

Highlights will include:

Reality-check panels
UTM co-creation in action
Investing in AI for people-centered cities
Brokering solutions and connecting innovation leaders & providers
Data & digital solutions to accelerate impact
Stocktaking & way forward
Interactive workshops and partnership matchmaking
Viladecans as a host city, building solutions around community needs

WHO is ATTENDing

Urban policymakers and planners
National policymakers
International organizations
Innovators
Tech pioneers and digital solution providers
Researchers, think tanks, and academics
Financial institutions

With well over a couple hundreds of participants expected, whether you are leading a city, deploying innovating solutions, exploring AI as a force for public good, this summit is your chance to collaborate, learn, and act to help create human-centred cities.

SESSIONS

Interactive formats include:

Mayors’ roundtables and policymaker panel
Technical deep dives on blended finance and digital risk tools
Regional and thematic breakout sessions
Networking opportunities and knowledge exchanges

Agenda highlights and speakers updates coming soon.

WHY JOIN

The transition to climate-smart, inclusive cities will not happen without you.
The UTM Innovation Summit is where vision meets capital, where policy meets practice, and where global ideas become local solutions.

Come for innovative ideas and leave with potential partners for new initiatives.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please don’t hesitate to reach us out to our email address: utm@globalcovenantofmayors.org

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Participation in the UTM Global Innovation Summit is free of charge, and you can join either in person or virtually, but previous registration is mandatory. The event will take place in English, with no interpretation services provided, so proficiency in English is required to fully engage in the sessions.

To attend, all participants must complete the registration form, where you will be asked to indicate whether you will join in person or online. For in-person attendees, additional information will be required to gain access to the venue, including your preferences for the afternoon workshops and whether you wish to join the evening reception on 3rd november.

Due to venue capacity, early registration is encouraged.

Don’t miss the chance to be part of this transformative event!

Deadline to register for in-person attendance is Wednesday 2nd October.

Information for in-site participants:

The UTM Global Innovation Summit will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Below is a list of important logistical details to help plan your attendance:

VENUE & LOCATION: