Join us in beautiful Latvia for a premier international, cross-disciplinary gathering of city leaders, academics, practitioners, and NGO heads
Cities and towns across the globe are experiencing unprecedented new disruptions from social, political and environmental forces that are straining our ability to respond effectively. However, ours is far from the first time in history that disruptions have required new responses and new forms of resilience. What can we learn from history, and in particular, European history, that will be applicable to other parts of the world? There are timeless lessons as well as new strategies that cities and towns can employ to cope with stresses and seize opportunities, balancing adaptive innovations with the continuity of heritage and local identity.
The 63rd International Making Cities Livable (IMCL) will gather to examine these questions in the beautiful country of Latvia. At the forefront of current geopolitical tensions, the country has also come through enormous past disruptions, including the devastation and regeneration of its cities. As it has done so, it has sought to build on its own local identity and culture. Today that work continues as Latvian cities emerge from mid-20th century era destruction, followed by reconstruction too often shaped more by the dictates of occupiers than by the needs and desires of local citizens.
The conference will take place in the beautiful cities of Riga and Jelgava to examine two nearby but distinct urban contexts, and to participate in workshops to assess and propose ongoing work to recover and regenerate a more durable, more local, more resilient urban architecture. We will also examine many other parts of the world with similar challenges, as citizens and professionals around the world strive to cope with new environmental, political and technological stresses.
July is an ideal time to travel in Latvia, with typically beautiful summer weather. There are excellent opportunities for side trips to other parts of Latvia, the Baltic States and Europe as a whole. Partners in the conferences (to be confirmed) include The King's Foundation (UK), the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture and Urbanism (UK), the Congress for the New Urbanism (US), UN-Habitat, and several universities, as well as others to be announced.
A video of our preparatory trip in February, 2025.
The International Making Cities Livable (IMCL) conference series, a premier interdisciplinary, cross-border gathering of city leaders, researchers and practitioners established in 1985, invites you to submit an abstract for its upcoming 2026 conference. Our last conference in Potsdam, Germany in October 2025 included cross-sector leaders from the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Attendee comments included “An absolutely fantastic event, with amazing speakers and extremely well organized,” “Wonderful conference!”, “Such rich content!”, “Excellent… High professional level and warm atmosphere”, “I left brimming with ideas and contacts for a great cohort of new colleagues.”
ABOVE: Some of the beautiful places of Riga and Latvia.
ABOUT THE VENUE: As the schedule below shows, we will begin the conference in beautiful Riga on Monday morning, July 6th, meeting at the Radisson Hotel Old Town Riga (TBC). We will spend the first day and night in Riga, and depart for Jelgava the second day, Tuesday, July 7th (transfers will be provided). The hotels are the Radisson Old Town Riga (in Riga) and the Hotel Jelgava (in Jelgava). The main conference location in Jelgava is the Jelgava Palace, just across the river from the hotel (9 minute walk). Both cities also offer many other excellent hotel choices at a range of prices.
Riga and Jelgava both have excellent access to the airport, and both have centrally located train stations. The Radisson Old Town Riga hotel is about 30 minutes by taxi or bus from the airport. The Riga train station is about 15 minutes' walk to the hotel.
Lennard Institute Executive Director Michael Mehaffy made a video "explainer" about the logistics for travel, accommodation, dining and opportunities for local events and night life (left).
For those departing the conference by air, the Riga airport is about 45 minutes by bus or taxi from Jelgava (where we will end the conference). The City of Jelgava will provide a bus to the airport on Saturday at 9:00 AM.
Additional useful links:
Riga Travel Guide: https://www.latvia.travel/en/city/riga
Jelgava travel guide: https://visit.jelgava.lv/en/
REGISTRATION FEES:
Full participant (non-speaker) registration is $995.00 (after June 1)
Student Presenter registration is $395.00 (ID required)
Student (non-speaker) registration is $345.00 (ID required)
Some scholarships may be available – contact us for details.
SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE:
Sunday, July 5
Travel day, Arrive in Riga
Monday, July 6
9AM Welcome session at Riga City Hall and study tours of Riga
4:30 PM Tour and welcome reception at the historic House of the Blackheads
Tuesday, July 7
9AM Bus picks up attendees, stops at the legendary Riga Central Market
12:30 PM Bus arrives in Jelgava (included in registration)
2PM Tours of Jelgava and workshop venues, meetings with stakeholders
5:30PM Welcome Reception at Jelgava Palace
8PM Dinner on your own
Wednesday, July 8
8AM Registration
9AM-5:30PM Conference
7PM Dinner on your own
Thursday, July 9
8AM Registration
9AM-5:30PM Conference
7PM Awards Dinner (ticketed, more information soon)
Friday, July 10
8AM Registration
9AM-5:30PM Conference
5:30PM Closing Reception
8:00PM Dinner on your own
Saturday, July 11
9AM Bus to Riga (included in registration)
Travel day, optional touring
To register, please visit: https://www.imcl.online/events/63rd-international-making-cities-livable
To sign up for optional side tours, please visit this page! https://www.imcl.online/optional-tours
We hope you can join us for an inspiring and important gathering!
ABOVE: Historic wooden buildings of Jelgava
ABOVE: Riga and Jelgava during our IMCL preparation trip in February 2025.
Thanks to our generous sponsors and partners!
