The South African Cities Network (SACN) will host its annual Urban Festival 2026 from 26–29 October 2026.
Held during Urban Month and leading up to World Cities Day on 31 October, the festival will bring together voices and perspectives from across the urban development sector. Under the theme “Regenerating the City”, the festival will move beyond traditional conference formats to showcase the people, partnerships and practical innovations contributing to more inclusive, resilient and sustainable urban futures.
SACN hosts Urban Festival 2026 in partnership with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), with individual sessions co-hosted with the Cities Support Programme (CSP), UN-Habitat Country Office and Country Programme RSA and Metropolis.
Taking place primarily online, the festival will feature a series of short, engaging sessions designed to encourage conversation, storytelling and knowledge exchange among urban practitioners, policymakers, researchers, partners and other stakeholders in South Africa and beyond.
Join us from 26–29 October 2026 as we come together to share ideas, spotlight urban innovation, and consider how partnerships and practical action can help regenerate our cities.
