Utopian Hours — the international festival of city making that brings to Rotterdam the ideas, projects, and places that are improving life in cities around the world
May 28-29th, 2026
Ten Years Edition / Part 1
Rotterdam, Netherlands
GHG Rotterdam
The leading event in Europe for city makers: meet professionals, city makers, administrators and businesses
GET YOUR PASS!Join the two days of the festival
TICKETS
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Professional Pass
Normal rateJoin with the exclusive benefits of the Professional Pass, fostering networking and knowledge exchange.
€ 395
Buy now! -
Festival Pass
Normal RateAccess all the talks and debates of the international festival of city making, with possibility to reserve your spot for the City Tours.
€ 75
Buy now! -
Professional Pass
Early Bird / Sold outJoin with the exclusive benefits of the Professional Pass, fostering networking and knowledge exchange.
€ 336
Coming soon -
Festival Pass
Early Bird / Sold outAccess all the talks and debates of the international festival of city making, with possibility to reserve your spot for the City Tours.
€ 64
Coming soon
Are you a student? Join the festival with a discount
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Festival Pass - Students
Normal RateYour discounted access to the two days of Utopian Hours. Includes access to book your spot for the City Tours.
€ 45
Buy now! -
Festival Pass - Students
Early Bird / Sold outYour discounted access to the two days of Utopian Hours. Includes access to book your spot for the City Tours.
€ 38
Coming soon
The event for all city lovers
The key actors in the global debate on the future of cities, in Rotterdam
International speakers — Full lineup coming soon
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RomeAndrea D’Antrassi Associate Partner
MAD Architects
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DubaiBaharash Bagherian Founder
URB
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ZurichKhensani Jurczok-de Klerk Founder
matri-archi(tecture)
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Los AngelesLiam Young Speculative Architect / Director
Tomorrow's Thoughts Today
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New YorkMajora Carter CEO & Author
Reclaiming Your Community
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AmsterdamMarjan De Blok Founder
Schoonschip
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New YorkMatt Grunbaum Associate Partner
Field Operations
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LondonPhilipp Rode Executive Director
LSE Cities
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BangaloreRobert Stephens Architect
Urbs Indis / Bombay Imagined
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LondonSarah Castle Co-founding director
IF_DO
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Washington DCScott Kratz Founding Director
11th Street Bridge Park
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KarnatakaSneha Visakha Anthropologist
The Feminist City
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MadridVictor Moreno Filmmaker
The Hidden City
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LjubjanaZala Velkavrh Project Manager
Prostorož
Boston • New York • Londra • Freetown • Dubai • Philadelphia • Bruxelles • Rotterdam • Bratislava • Washington DC • Berlin • Miami • Jakarta • Tallinn • Copenhagen • Teheran • Paris • Johannesburg • Manchester • Amsterdam • Marseille • Palo Alto • Ljubliana • Zurich • Bangkok • Hong Kong • Detroit • The Hague • Denver • Montreal • Helsinki • Toronto • Prague • Basel • Oslo • Barcellona • Arcosanti • Los Angeles • Mumbai • Brisbane • Tel Aviv • Lisbona • Monaco • Vienna
Join with the exclusive benefits of the Professional Pass, fostering networking and knowledge exchange, and including access to:
✶ Two Roundtables and their reports
✶ Free reports of the Roundtables you joined + 50% discount on all other reports
✶ Utopian Hours Exclusive Opening Reception at Fenix Museum
✶ All keynotes and panels
✶ Welcome Kit with a complimentary copy of our “Manifesto for City Making”
✶ Priority access to 2 City Tours
GET YOUR PROFESSIONAL PASS
The Roundtables of Utopian Hours Rotterdam
accessible to Professional Pass holders
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Future-proof Freshwater Systems
A changing climate leads to longer wet periods with more rainfall, as well as extended periods of drought. Especially in spring and summer, freshwater shortages increasingly affect shipping, industry, and urban green spaces. In addition, water quality in open water is deteriorating rapidly, with consequences for ecology and the usability of (open) water. This calls for a different approach.
Roundtable sponsored by the City of Rotterdam / City Maintenance – Water Department -
Decarbonizing the City
Much attention is given to CO₂ and the way we build. That discussion often focuses on architects and builders, yet this only accounts for 15–20% of annual CO₂ emissions. Lifestyle and the way we use buildings represent a much larger share. This means the challenge extends beyond the building itself — it affects the entire urban environment.
Roundtable sponsored by the City of Rotterdam / City Development – Urban Development Department -
Just Green: Climate Action for All
In Rotterdam, multiple challenges related to green and water come together in our Green Water City strategy. We observe that wellbeing, health and social inclusion are crucial factors for achieving our goals. The principle of Just Green aims to enable bottom-up greening, with specific attention to reaching the people who are hardest to engage but often most affected by climate risks such as heat and flooding.
Roundtable sponsored by the City of Rotterdam / City Development – Urban Development Department in collaboration with the Social Department -
Third Places & Community Hubs
Third places are spaces outside home (first place) and work (second place) where people come together informally, relax, meet others and become part of a community. This Roundtable aims to involve creatives and social entrepreneurs to explore how libraries, cafes, and transformed spaces act as vital “social glue,” fostering community connection and rebuilding modern social infrastructure. A discussion that will also lead to an inspiring tour of Rotterdam’s third places.
Roundtable sponsored by the City of Rotterdam / Cultural Department -
Gender-Inclusive Public Space
Gender-inclusive and safe public spaces are highly topical, with many new toolkits and guidelines emerging. The risk is that “quick fixes” dominate, without clarity about what truly works, who the target group is, and how we involve them meaningfully.
Roundtable sponsored by the City of Rotterdam / City Development – Urban Development Department in collaboration with the Social Department
The formats of Utopian Hours 2026
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The Urbanites’ Fair
Getting to know the city’s storytellers
The programme of Utopian Hours Rotterdam also includes a space for magazines, publishers, collectives, informal networks, associations and content creators. A Urbanites’ Fair with some of the best independent organisations involved in urban culture and dissemination, from the Netherlands and beyond. -
Exhibitions
The festival is enriched by exhibitions curated by its guests and the Stratosferica team. The edition in Rotterdam will transform the GHG venue to provide a special experience for all city lovers.
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Movies & Projections
Media addressing urban challenges. A selection of films curated by the Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam
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City Tours
Not only talks and keynotes: during the Utopian Hours festival weekend, special tours of Rotterdam will be organised. Discover the Tours below (soon available to book by all ticket holders with priority access to Professional Pass holders).
The Tours
4 exclusive experiences to discover the city from a different perspective
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Waterfronts as Public Space
A deep dive into the evolving relationship between the city and its waterways, exploring how former industrial banks are being repurposed into inclusive public arenas. We will witness how the water’s edge is becoming a new center of gravity for urban life, blending social interaction with innovative, climate-adaptive design. This journey showcases the transition from a functional port identity to a vibrant, accessible waterfront for all.
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City Landmarks
Bike through the bold visions and monumental structures that have defined the city’s global identity as a pioneer of modern design. This tour explores the landmarks that push the boundaries of urban planning, from daring experimental housing to iconic skyline-defining silhouettes. It is a journey through the physical manifestations of a city that never stops reinventing itself and challenging the status quo of architecture.
Biking tour.
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Third Places
Beyond the boundaries of home and work lies a vital network of spaces dedicated to connection, culture, and collective growth. This tour focuses on the essential role of community hubs and cultural centers in fostering social equity and grassroots innovation. Explore how these shared environments act as the social glue of the city, providing vital platforms for diverse voices, creative exchange, and civic engagement.
Biking tour.
Friday, 29th May | 9:45 — 12:30
Reserve your spot (access code available to Pass holders)
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Urban Green
Explore Rotterdam’s vision for inclusive climate adaptation and the city as a National Park, where urban greening serves as a powerful tool for social equity and to support bottom-up greening initiatives. This tour delves into strategies that ensure that all residents benefit from nature-based solutions. Join us to see how resilient design can foster a more just, healthy, and sustainable city for every citizen.
Biking tour.
Friday, 29th May | 9:45 — 12:30
Reserve your spot (access code available to Pass holders)
Utopian Hours Rotterdam is possible thanks to:
The venue of Utopian Hours Rotterdam
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GHG Rotterdam
What they say about Utopian Hours
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“Utopian Hours brings together an eclectic and diverse group of practitioners, thinkers, and doers who all share one thing in common: a love of cities. The camaraderie and energy throughout the conference are constant reminders of just how small the world is and the work to make cities more inclusive, sustainable, vibrant places is truly a global collective endeavor.”
Ya-Ting Liu /
Chief Public Realm Officer - New York City -
“Such a great festival, Utopian Hours! I was lucky enough to be invited to speak alongside some of the most inspirational and impactful thinkers in City Making. I highly recommend everyone attend in 2025.”
Matt Grunbaum /
Field Operations -
“Experiencing Utopian Hours is something special-the beautifully curated line-up of speakers, the seamless organization, thoughtful branding, top- tier production, and the inspiring community all come together to create an unforgettable event. Truly blown away!”
Nadina Galle /
The Nature of Our Cities -
“Utopian Hours facilitates an exciting cross-pollination of inspiring ideas on urban development, approached from different disciplines and backgrounds. It demonstrates that sustainability and social inclusion are crucial to achieving a livable, future-oriented city.”
Nick Hannes /
Photojournalist and documentary photographer -
“I was lucky enough to spend the weekend in Torino for Utopian Hours—one of the most exciting city-making festivals in the world.”
Sarah Castle /
IF_DO -
“Better cities can only emerge when we truly listen to one another: Utopian Hours is a powerful platform, bridging top architects and planners with grassroots leaders, proving there are diverse ways to make a meaningful impact.”
Januus Juss /
Telliskivi Creative City -
“Utopian Hours is the festival to go to if looking to be inspired by and get immersed in the many dimensions of urban transition and to make new friends”
Roland Kager /
Studio Bereikbaar
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