23, 24 and 25 September 2026

AI in the City

Creating Real Value

23, 24 and 25 September 2026

Come to Breda and discover how cities in Brabant, the Netherlands and Europe are using AI to tackle major urban challenges. Go home with new insights, European partners and a concrete plan to apply AI in your own city.

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Background and reason

Cities face a complex challenge

About three-quarters of all Europeans — over half a billion people — live in urban areas. From the Randstad to Rome and from Barcelona to Berlin. Governments across Europe face the challenge of accommodating the growth of these cities while maintaining a pleasant, safe, and healthy living environment.

This challenge is complex. The housing shortage is putting pressure on the livability, mobility, and infrastructure of existing cities. The energy transition demands acceleration, but struggles with lack of space, limited support, and tight implementation capacity. Climate adaptation is necessary, but not yet sufficiently anchored in policy. Meanwhile, governments face significant staff shortages — also limiting the innovation capacity of cities.

What makes this event unique?

AI in the City is the only European event where spatial planning, policy, technology, and practice converge in an interactive, three-day programme. Collaboration and application are central. You won't just listen — you'll experience how AI works in practice, during excursions in Breda and surrounding cities and in hands-on workshops with European colleagues.

What you'll take home

New partnerships with cities, companies, and researchers from across Europe.

Concrete plans for AI applications in your own field, based on real-world cases.

Inspiration and practical tools to get started with smart city solutions right away.

Previous editions

2024

The city as a laboratory

On 12 September 2024, we organised the first edition of AI in the City in Breda. Spread across the city centre — the Lutheran Church, the Nieuwe Veste, the Waalse Kerk, and the Film House — participants explored how AI can transform urban life. Through keynotes, workshops, and an inspiration expo, we examined both the opportunities and the risks. Keynote speaker Jarmo Eskelinen, executive director at the University of Edinburgh and smart city pioneer, set the tone: the real challenge is not the technology itself, but the speed of innovation versus the traditions of the city. Over 225 attendees rated the congress an average of 8.8 out of 10.

View 2024 edition →

2025

Doing it together

On 18 September 2025, the second edition took place at MEZZ in Breda. With AI tools and AI experts everywhere, we focused on a sharper question: how do we actually put that knowledge to work for liveable cities? Philosopher Rens van der Vorst challenged participants to reflect on whether we remain ourselves with AI. The highlight of the day was the signing of the City Deal on AI, in which governments, knowledge institutions, and businesses committed to responsible, collaborative AI deployment for urban challenges. In a serious game centred on the Breda redevelopment area 't Zoet, participants worked hands-on with real urban problems.

View 2025 edition →

By whom?

As in the first two editions, AI in the City is a collaboration between the Municipality of Breda, Bredata, and ELBA\REC. Bredata's goal is for Breda to be a city with optimal digital capabilities by 2030, where the human dimension is paramount. ELBA\REC has been organising trade events for over 20 years and has been working on smart city themes since 2016, including organising the City Deal on AI.

In Breda — a leader in applying AI in the city

Of course, we're organising this edition of AI in the City in Breda — for the third time. And rightly so. Breda has embraced AI and is demonstrating how it can be used to solve urban challenges. Breda is located between Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Eindhoven — just an hour from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The ideal base for the excursions on 25 September. Moreover, Breda is a wonderful city to spend a few days in: the historic city centre, warm hospitality, and vibrant restaurants offer a pleasant setting for both formal and informal meetings. As they say in Breda: "We don't just love life intensely here, we try to make it a little more beautiful. Together."

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