More than just another conference, Urban Future has built a reputation as one of the world’s most progressive gatherings dedicated to sustainable urban development. Its community includes city leaders, mobility experts, architects, activists, entrepreneurs, and “Urban Unicorns” — the event’s name for bold thinkers and constructive rebels reshaping cities from the inside out. What sets Urban Future apart is its refreshingly practical approach: less theory, more action; less corporate polish, more authentic exchange. The focus is on real stories, tangible solutions, and the people already driving change in their communities.
A venue designed for interaction
At GR Ljubljana Congress and Convention Centre, the event unfolded as a dynamic, multi-layered experience designed to encourage movement, interaction, and spontaneous exchange. The venue combined a large plenary hall, exhibition spaces, networking zones, podcast studios, sponsor activations, and ten parallel conference rooms, all connected through a carefully curated participant flow.
The iconic Marmorna Hall became the beating heart of the event, seamlessly blending the main stage with the exhibition area to create an open and energetic atmosphere throughout the day. Between sessions, attendees moved naturally between workshops, informal meetups, coffee conversations, and interactive installations, giving the entire congress a vibrant festival-like feel
rather than the structure of a traditional conference.
Custom scenography, bold visual branding, and immersive spatial design added another layer to the experience, while flawless coordination of AV production, IT infrastructure, logistics, and catering ensured everything ran effortlessly behind the scenes.
Sustainability beyond the stage
Sustainability was not only a conference topic; it was embedded directly into the operational design of the event itself. Urban Future implemented a series of responsible event practices, including cardboard-based signage systems, reduced plastic use, careful waste separation, and recycling management across all venue operations. Catering followed a fully vegetarian concept, reflecting the event’s commitment to reducing environmental impact while encouraging more sustainable food choices.
Combined with Ljubljana’s reputation as one of Europe’s greenest capitals, the event demonstrated how large-scale international conferences can significantly reduce their environmental footprint while still delivering a high-quality participant experience.
“Working with the GR Ljubljana team throughout the preparation and delivery of Urban Future 2026 was truly one of our best venue experiences. The team was focused, reliable, highly responsive, and always solutions-oriented, with a genuine commitment to making things happen.
What we especially appreciated was the proactive communication and collaborative approach during the entire planning process, which made a complex international event much easier to manage. The support we received from the whole team played an important role in the success of Urban Future 2026 in Ljubljana.”
— Gerald Babel-Sutter, Co-founder & CEO Urban Future
Ljubljana as a living case study
One of the defining elements of Urban Future 2026 was the active role of Ljubljana itself. Rather than serving merely as a host destination, the Slovenian capital became an integral part of the programme. Through curated city experiences, guided tours, and informal exploration, attendees could see firsthand how long-term vision, political commitment, and collaboration with residents have helped shape a more livable city. This connection between the congress content and the destination itself added an authentic layer to the event and reinforced many of the conversations taking place on stage.
The right setting for urban changemakers
Urban Future 2026 highlighted how the right venue can actively shape the atmosphere and success of a congress. With its flexible event spaces, central location, and experience in delivering complex international events, GR Ljubljana Congress and Convention Centre provided the ideal setting for a dynamic, sustainability-driven gathering built around interaction, collaboration, and real-world impact. The event reinforced Ljubljana’s growing reputation as a destination for forward-thinking international meetings. It demonstrated how venue, city, and event concept can come together to create a truly connected congress experience.
