The South African Cities Network (SACN) will host its annual Urban Festival 2026 from 26–30 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 the Cities Support Programme (CSP), UN-Habitat SA Country Office, Metropolis and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) hosting individual sessions.
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.
Here’s what to expect:
Day 1 | Monday, 26 October: Online session hosted by the SACN.
Day 2 | Tuesday, 27 October: Online session hosted by the Cities Support Programme (CSP).
Day 3 | Wednesday, 28 October: Hybrid session hosted by the UN-Habitat South Africa Country Office.
Day 4 | Thursday, 29 October: Online session hosted by Metropolis.
Day 5 | Friday, 30 October: Hybrid session hosted by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA).
Join us from 26–30 October 2026 as we come together to share ideas, spotlight urban innovation, and consider how partnerships and practical action can help regenerate our cities. To view the Urban Festival Concept Note and Programme, click here.
