Łódź Prepares To Host The Better-Cities Event

Polish ‘CityChangers’ are joining forces for Urban Future in May 2025.

October 4, 2024 | Łódź, Poland – The vibrant city of Łódź is set to take center stage from May 21-23, 2025, as it hosts Urban Future 2025 (UF25) – Europe’s most prominent gathering of innovators and changemakers dedicated to building sustainable cities.

Attracting over 2,000 participants annually, Urban Future has become the go-to event for passionate city advocates, offering a week of workshops, field trips, and discussions centered on one vital question: How can we create better, more sustainable cities?

A Landmark Event for Łódź and Poland

For the first time, Poland will play host to Europe’s largest event focused on sustainable urban development, following successful editions in cities such as Rotterdam, Stuttgart, Helsingborg, and Oslo. Urban Future’s debut in Łódź marks a milestone for the country’s urban innovation movement.

"For us, this is an exceptional honor, as it will be the first time this prestigious conference is held in Central and Eastern Europe. I am proud that Łódź will become a platform for the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and inspiration for thousands of participants from around the world who are committed to transformation," says Hanna Zdanowska, Mayor of Łódź.

"The last few months and years have particularly impacted local communities—energy crises, droughts, floods, extreme weather. This proves that the climate crisis and the concentration of problems in cities are not just rhetoric but facts," she added.

Gerald Babel-Sutter, CEO and Co-Founder of Urban Future, points out, “We are thrilled to bring the world’s most passionate urbanists to Łódź because it is a city in transformation, constantly changing on many levels—from a rural area to an industrial hub, through its collapse during the political transition, to its recent revival. And there are people here who focus on action, not just talk. That's what it's all about!"

Such changes wouldn't be possible on this scale without the city's residents. That's why we want to give them the opportunity to participate in the revolution, and we are open to ideas. Anyone can submit proposals to the Environmental Development Department and potentially become an initiator of change," said Anna Wierzbicka, Director of the Environmental Development Department at the City Hall of Łódź.

“This is the chance for Polish changemakers to shine on a global stage!” says Gerald Babel-Sutter, highlighting that around 20 local organizations have already committed to participating in UF25.

Kick-Starting the Movement: Local CityChangers are getting on board

In preparation for the main event, Polish urban innovators are already mobilizing. A recent pre-event gathering at MeMo Mediateka in Łódź brought together around 100 participants from various sectors, setting the tone for the dynamic exchanges expected at Urban Future 2025.

Key figures involved:

• Hanna Zdanowska, Mayor of Łódź
• Karolina Taczalska, CEO of Design Lab Group
• Michał Piernikowski, Director of Łódź Design Festival
• Adam Pustelnik, Deputy Mayor of Łódź
• Anna Wierzbicka, PhD, Director of Environment Management Division, Łódź City Office
• Maciej Riemer, Director of the Ecology and Climate Department, Łódź City Office

Designing the Future of Urban Life

Urban Future’s 2025 edition will spotlight four core themes: Urban Regeneration, Sustainable Business, Retrofitting Buildings, and Driving Change. These themes aim to foster collaboration across various sectors — from municipalities and creative start-ups to NGOs and leading businesses — uniting all those working to accelerate the transition to greener, more resilient urban environments.

"I firmly believe that instead of trying to predict the future, we should design it. Today's world gives us tools, such as the idea of protopia, to create solutions and places that are resilient, and perhaps even antifragile, i.e. those that come out of crises stronger. We can design a better future together." Michał Piernikowski, Director of Łódź Design Festival

"Designing a city is no different from designing anything else. It should start with understanding the needs of its users, developing prototypes, and testing solutions before making them permanent. This approach is key to creating urban spaces that are friendly, efficient, and resilient. Let’s involve the end users of cities in their co-creation, and something extraordinary will emerge!" Karolina Taczalska, CEO of Design Lab Group.