A celebration of 116 URBACT Good Practices
Hosted in the Centennial Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the 2025 URBACT City Festival showcased 116 URBACT Good Practices selected for their positive local impact, participatory/integrated approach, and potential for transfer. The event was also centered around the launch of the new Call for Transfer Networks, a 30-month methodology designed to support the transfer of these URBACT Good Practices to other European cities.
Three days of learning, exchange, and connection
In the course of three days, participants attended a mix of sessions designed to inspire, connect, and exchange knowledge. The URBACT City Festival opened with an award ceremony celebrating the 116 URBACT Good Practices (selected back in 2024) – the first moment they all came together, and which was marked by music, food, speeches, and enthusiasm to connect.
The Good Practices Marketplace, first in a speed-networking format and then open for bilateral meetings, created a space for city representatives to engage in conversations and make connections. In parallel, the thematic discovery of good practice sessions, led by six experts, offered an opportunity for participants to explore the selected good practices in more depth around topics like housing, green regeneration, urban mobility and many more! “The sessions offered a great mix of practical insights, networking opportunities and visionary thinking”, as mentioned by one of the participants.
According to the post-event evaluation, 96% of respondents (220 out of 229) felt an increase in their knowledge as a result of participating in the URBACT City Festival. Additionally, 98% found the event useful for their future projects and the same percentage said it allowed them to make new connections with other European cities.
A closer look at transfer opportunities
Throughout the event, the Call for Transfer Networks - open from 1 April to 30 June 2025 - was at the center of conversations. Dedicated workshops unraveled the objectives and the application process, but also offered insight from past networks. A plenary session also focused on dialogue with other EU initiatives, addressing challenges cities face when transferring. According to the evaluation, 85% of respondents rated the Transfer Network sessions as good or very good.
“It was very useful for me and helped me better understand how to work with Transfer Networks” as stated by one of the participants.
Creating connections beyond sessions
The programme also featured study visits to four local selected Good Practices, allowing participants to discover the impact of these projects on the ground. Alongside formal sessions, more informal activities were also part of the URBACT City Festival, including national networking around coffee in the mornings, early morning wellness activities, and a farewell party to close the event.
As always, the URBACT City Festival was a collective effort: from the Master of Ceremony, experts and session hosts to volunteers and city representatives who brought energy and ideas to every moment.
While the URBACT City Festival has come to an end, the momentum it created continues through new partnerships and cities preparing for their Transfer Network applications.
Curious to relive the highlights or see what the 2025 URBACT City Festival was all about? Watch the official 2025 URBACT City Festival after movie!
