Media

Press, accreditation and media resources for AI in the City 2026.

By the Numbers

350+ Attendees

3 Days

30+ Sessions

50+ Speakers

Schedule

Programme

Day 2 (24 September) is the congress day. The detailed programmes for Day 1 (23 September) and Day 3 (25 September) will be announced soon.

11:30-12:00 Welcome Lunch is ready; pull up a chair at your partner's table. Read more → Main Stage Main Hall

12:00-12:30 Opening Lunch Willem-Frederik Metzelaar and Jan-Willem Wesselink Reception by Willem-Frederik Metzelaar (Regional Director W… Read more → Main Stage Main Hall

13:00-17:00 Workshop: Design and knowledge Experts to be announced Who designs the AI layer - with what profile, authority and… Read more → Workshop Multiple Rooms

13:00-17:00 Workshop: (Technical) architecture Experts to be announced How do small tools work together without a central brain … Read more → Workshop Multiple Rooms

13:00-17:00 Workshop: Sovereignty Experts to be announced Where is the boundary between city optimalisation and con… Read more → Workshop Multiple Rooms

13:00-17:00 Workshop: Market and financing Experts to be announced How does European mesh tech get a fair chance against big t… Read more → Workshop Multiple Rooms

13:00-17:00 Workshop: Transition and pace Experts to be announced Who steers the transition and how do latecomers learn from … Read more → Workshop Multiple Rooms

19:00-20:00 Doors open for Walking Diner Read more → Main Stage Main Hall

20:00 Walking Diner Over dinner, we’ll discuss the day’s events and relate them… Read more → Main Stage Main Hall

10:00 Welcome Carla Kranenborg-van Eerd (Alderman, Municipality of Breda) In Breda, residents have been intensively involved for almo… Read more → Main Stage Main Hall

10:30 National keynote speaker Speaker to be announced The Netherlands faces one of the greatest spatial challenge… Read more → Main Stage Main Hall

11:00 International Keynote Speaker Professor Jordi Linares (Polytechnic University of Valencia) Design the city as an organism : From Smart Infrastructure to Agent-Driven Urban Life Read more → Main Stage Main Hall

12:00 Workshop: Make the invisible city visible with Geospatial Knowledge Graphs Tanya Baycheva-Merger (ICLEI Europe) Spatial planning is about analysis and decision-making. Bu… Read more → Workshop Multiple Rooms

12:00 Workshop: Residents in the driving seat — deciding together on AI in your city Mike de Kreek and Tessa Steenkamp (Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, HvA) Who actually decides which AI applications come to your cit… Read more → Workshop Multiple Rooms

12:00 Demo: Spatial, economic and social Judith Oosterom & Luuk van Schendel (Surplus), Jim van Hekke (Scape Agency), Chris Deblaere (Araani) Three demos about specific AI applications and challenges.L… Read more → Demo Multiple Rooms

12:00 Demo: Autonomous and democratic Citney and others Three demos on specific AI applications and challenges.Loca… Read more → Demo Multiple Rooms

12:00 Local AI Walk: Recognize the challenge Municipality of The Hague Many AI applications run on large data centers far outside … Read more → Excursion Breda City

12:00 Local AI Walk: Data sovereignty and -continuity David Yewdineh (KPN) Many AI applications run on large data centers far outside… Read more → Excursion Breda City

12:00 Pitches: Social Nina Kramer (Avans Hogeschool), Tai Wei Kan (INBO) and Maarit Kahila (Maptionnaire) Three pitches on specific AI applications and challenges.Lo… Read more → Pitch Multiple Rooms

12:00 Pitches: Economic Kees Kerstens (Municipality of Breda), Edwin Kuipers (Dutch AI Factory) and others Three pitches on specific AI applications and challenges.Lo… Read more → Pitch Multiple Rooms

12:00 Lecture: How to design within the AI Act and how that relates to the Affordable Housing Act Jonas Guigonnat (Europe Direct – Platform 31) and others The AI Act is often presented as compliance, a list of obli… Read more → Lecture Hall 1

12:00 Lecture: From European AI strategy to economic opportunities for your city Jan Wester (Director LDT CitiVERSE EDIC) and others The European Commission is working hard on a new European A… Read more → Lecture Hall 1

12:45 Networking Lunch Connect with colleagues, researchers, companies, and governments. Read more → Break Exhibition Hall

13:45 Workshop: Social — Local Experts to be announced New technologies in smart cities, AI, sustainable energy, and mobility. Read more → Workshop Multiple Rooms

13:45 Workshop: Economic — European Sabine Müller (Greater Zürich Area) From Research to Economic Value: This is how Zürich is stre… Read more → Workshop Multiple Rooms

13:45 Demo: Spatial, economic and social Judith Oosterom & Luuk van Schendel (Surplus), Jim van Hekke (Scape Agency) and others Three demos on new technologies in smart cities, AI, sustai… Read more → Demo Multiple Rooms

13:45 Demo: Autonomous and democratic Experts to be announced New technologies in smart cities, AI, sustainable energy, a… Read more → Demo Multiple Rooms

13:45 Local AI Walk: How do you set up the local infrastructure and what energy savings does it deliver? Edwin Teljeur (NL Labelstudio) Many AI applications run on large data centers far outside … Read more → Excursion Breda City

13:45 Local AI Walk: How do you connect the local AI to the local energy grid and other networks? Devin Diran (TNO) Many AI applications run on large data centers far outside … Read more → Excursion Breda City

13:45 Pitches: Spatial Lars van Vianen (Starling) and others Three pitches on specific AI applications and challenges.Lo… Read more → Pitch Multiple Rooms

13:45 Pitches: Autonomous Kees van Dam & Daan de Coninck (Avans Hogeschool), Jeroen Steenbakkers (Argaleo) and others Three pitches on specific AI applications and challenges.Lo… Read more → Pitch Multiple Rooms

13:45 Lecture: How do you build a European marketplace? Mildo van Staden (Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations), Lotte and Lennart (SAIdkick) Building a European marketplace where we, as a government, … Read more → Lecture Multiple Rooms

13:45 Lecture: Self-assessment Tooling 'How do you measure your city's AI readiness?' Stefano Marta (OECD) Is your city ready for AI, and what does 'ready' actually m… Read more → Lecture Multiple Rooms

14:30 Break Coffee and informal networking. Read more → Break Foyer

14:45 The Great AI in the City Vibe Coding Experiment As a conclusion to the AI in the City Congress you get to work yourself. Read more → Main Stage Main Hall

16:30 Networking Drinks End the congress day with drinks and new connections. Read more → Networking Rooftop Terrace

18:00 Closing ELBA\REC & Bredata Thank you and see you tomorrow for excursions! Read more → Main Stage Main Hall

Press accreditation

Apply for press accreditation

Journalists, photographers and media professionals can apply for free press accreditation to attend AI in the City 2026 in Breda. Email Jan-Willem Wesselink with your name, outlet and a short note on what you would like to cover.

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For press and media

Media kit AI in the City 2026

Working on an article, broadcast or publication about AI in the City? Download the media kit here, including our logo, banners in various sizes and a ready-to-use advertising page. Need something specific that isn't included? Feel free to get in touch.

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