Living & Inclusion:

Designing Cities for Everyone at Smart City Expo World Congress 2026

Fostering more inclusive and equitable places to live

Urban life is being redesigned around people: inclusive spaces, strong social systems, digital equity and cultural vitality are becoming the foundations of thriving, human‑centered cities.

Discover policies, services and tech that reduce inequality and promote wellbeing

Gain insights into health, equality, education, and social inclusion from experts

Access premier networking to establish valuable connections and partnerships

2026 Industry Partners Leading the Way in the Sector

Highlights from Living & Inclusion Discussions

Public Spaces, Accessibility, Human Rights & Safety

Health, Aging Populations & Social Care Systems

Social Inclusion, Equality, Gender Parity & Digital Rights

Culture, Night-time Economy, Leisure, Tourism & Education

Community Development & Citizen Engagement

The urban ecosystem in motion

1000 +

ATTENDEES

500 +

EXHIBITORS

50 +

SPEAKERS

50 +

CITIES

20 +

COUNTRIES

Join the Living & Inclusion Program at the Smart City Expo 2026

KEY ISSUES AT THE CENTER OF THE DEBATE

Livable Cities

Designing for people

Livable Cities
Human-centered design, accessible public spaces and everyday services are not just amenities – they are the building blocks of belonging. How do cities create places where people genuinely want to live?

With a focus on: Accessibility, Community Engagement, Economic Vitality, Inclusive Public Spaces, Physical Security

Caring Cities

Wellbeing at every stage of life

Caring Cities
Urban health systems, social services and age-friendly strategies are redefining what it means to live well in a city – for children, aging populations and everyone in between.

With a focus on: Quality of Life, Health, Silver Economy, Aging Populations, Children, Social Care Systems, Community Development.

Digital Equity

Access, skills and rights for all

Digital Equity
In the digital age, opportunity is unevenly distributed. Addressing the divides in access, literacy and rights that define who benefits from urban innovation and who gets left behind.

With a focus on: Digital Divide, Social Inclusion, Equality, AI Workforce Transformation, Digital Rights.

Creative Cities

Culture as urban force

Creative Cities
Education, civic life, creative industries and responsible tourism are not the backdrop to urban development. They are its engine. How cultural ecosystems build identity, care and quality of life from within.

With a focus on: Culture, Urban Identity, Civic Engagement, Creative Ecosystems, Night-time Economy, Sustainable Tourism.

All You Need to Know About the Living & Inclusion Program

2026 CONGRESS

SPEAKERS ON STAGE

Meet some of the experts who will share their insights at SCEWC26:

Mehmet Kalyoncu
—

Founder, Humane Urbanism Foundation

Supreet K Singh
—

CoFounder and CEO, Red Dot Foundation

Jenny Lindström Beijar
—

Founder and Managing Director, Our Normal Association

Juliet Chika Chinemelu
—

Urban Planner, Lecturer and Executive Director, Women in Distress Organisation (WIDO)

Laura Jones
—

Global Head of Health and Wellbeing, Save the Children International

Corey Gray
—

Global President and Chair, Smart Cities Council

2026 PARTICIPANTS

ATTENDEE PROFILES

Discover some of the roles specializing in Living & Inclusion who will be attending our 2026 edition:

Chairman Committee of Education,Science, Culture and Sport Affairs
Commissioner for Housing Policy
Deputy Mayor for Social Rights
Director of Housing
Director of Public Services and Healthcare
Director of Social Services
Head of Circular Economy
Head of People Engagement & Social Collaboration
Head of Public Works and Housing Department
Head of Social Economy
Head of Society Affairs
Head of Youth & Education
Manager of the Migrant Assistance Plan
Senior Director of the Division of Social Justice and Racial Equity

PUBLIC SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES

A selection of public sector representatives who will take part in SCEWC26 includes:

Head of the Tourism and Sports Department

City of Dubrovnik

Croatia

Director of the Youth Education and Career Development Center

Rustavi Municipality
Georgia

Head of Department for Public Safety and Regulatory Affairs

City of Mannheim

Germany

Habitat Chief Secretary

District Habitat Secretariat of the Mayor’s Office of Bogota

Colombia

Head of Political Secretariat - Department of Digital Agenda, Legality, Poverty Alleviation

Emilia Romagna Region

Italy

Director of the Office for Urban Dialogue and Innovation

City Council of Toruń

Poland

Vice-President for Attractiveness and Digital Innovation

Grand Paris Metropolis

France

Deputy Mayor for Repairs, Maintenance & Autonomously Implemented Works, Civil Protection, Crisis Management, and Municipal Police

Municipality of Piraeus

Greece

Public Utilities Director

City of North Miami Beach

United States of America

STAGE SESSIONS & SIDE EVENTS

A selection from the extensive program of Stage Sessions & Side Events related to this track that will take place at SCEWC26.

WeMind Summit

WeMind Summit, part of the WeMind International Forum, brings together experts to explore key trends in mental health, longevity and neuroscience. The event covers longevity, care, digital transformation and child and adolescent mental health, fostering knowledge exchange, innovation and collaboration across the international health ecosystem.

Half the City: Why Women's Leadership is the Missing Key to Smarter Urban Futures

What would our cities look like if women's voices shaped every tech decision? This session unites European Mayors and Women in Tech® Global to explore the real-world impact of women in urban governance, digital entrepreneurship, and smart city innovation. Honest, inspiring, and forward-looking, a conversation that challenges cities to do more and shows them how.

Smart Cities Through Smart Communities and the Role of Living Labs

As cities increasingly adopt “smart” solutions, the role of communities in shaping these innovations becomes essential. This panel discusses how Living Labs support smart cities through participation, co-creation, local knowledge, and collective intelligence. Through real experiences and examples, speakers will share how people-centred innovation can help cities become not only more digital, but also more inclusive and resilient in the long-term.