63rd INTERNATIONAL MAKING CITIES LIVABLE (IMCL)
"Regenerative Architecture and Urbanism:
Recovery and Resilience After an Age of Disruption"
Riga and Jelgava, Latvia, July 6-10, 2026
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.
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​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.
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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.
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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.”
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ABOUT THE VENUE: The conference location is Jelgava Palace in Jelgava, Latvia. The hotels are Hotel Jelgava (in Jelgava) and Radisson Old Town Riga (in Riga). Both cities also offer many other excellent hotel choices at a range of prices.
DEADLINES:
Abstracts are due no later than March 1, 2026
Notifications will occur by April 1, 2026
Speaker registration is required by May 1, 2026
Papers must be submitted for the e-reader by July 1, 2026
Registration is strictly limited and will be made on a first-come, first-served basis
REGISTRATION FEES:
Accepted speaker registration for one conference is $795.00
Early Bird registration for one conference (non-speaker) also $795.00 (through May 31)
Discount registration (non-speaker) is $895.00 (through April 30)
Full participant (non-speaker) registration is $995.00 (after May 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 Tours of Riga
5PM Welcome Reception (TBC)
Tuesday, July 7
9AM Bus to Jelgava (included in registration)
10AM Tours of Jelgava and workshop venues, meetings with stakeholders
Wednesday, July 8
8AM Registration
9AM-5:30PM Conference
7PM Evening Activity (TBC)
Thursday, July 9
8AM Registration
9AM-5:30PM Conference
7PM Evening Activity (TBC)
Friday, July 10
8AM Registration
9AM-5:30PM Conference
7PM Evening Activity (TBC)
Saturday, July 11
Travel day, optional touring
Bus to Riga (included in registration)
To submit abstracts, please visit: https://www.imcl.online/cfa26.
To register, please visit: https://www.imcl.online/events/63rd-international-making-cities-livable
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We hope you can join us for an inspiring and important gathering!
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ABOVE: Historic wooden buildings of Jelgava
ABOVE: Riga and Jelgava during our IMCL preparation trip in February 2025.