Urbanistica Podcast is proud to continue its collaboration with Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC), the world’s leading event for cities and urban innovation, taking place in Barcelona on 3–5 November 2026.
Following a successful collaboration in 2025, Urbanistica returns as an ecosystem partner to bring global conversations about urban innovation, sustainability, technology, and people-centered cities to its international audience.
Hosted by urban planner and placemaker Mustafa Sherif, Urbanistica Podcast connects urban professionals, researchers, decision-makers, and changemakers from around the world to explore one fundamental question: How can we create better cities for people?
The World’s Leading Meeting Point for Urban Innovation
Since its launch in 2011, Smart City Expo World Congress has become a global meeting point for city leaders, urban planners, architects, technology companies, researchers, startups, and policymakers.
The 2026 edition, held at Fira Barcelona Gran Via, is expected to welcome more than 25,000 participants, over 1,000 exhibitors, representatives from around 1,000 cities, and 600 international speakers.
Under the theme “Urban Solutions, Real Impact,” this year’s congress focuses on moving beyond ideas and experimentation toward practical, scalable solutions that improve urban life.
Key topics include artificial intelligence, climate resilience, sustainable mobility, affordable housing, energy, governance, infrastructure, and social inclusion.
The event offers three days of inspiring discussions, exhibitions, networking, and opportunities for collaboration across sectors and geographical boundaries.
A Conversation with Ugo Valenti: Beyond Technology, Towards Better Cities
To celebrate the continued collaboration, Mustafa Sherif welcomed Ugo Valenti, Managing Director of Smart City Expo World Congress, back to Urbanistica Podcast for a special conversation about the upcoming edition.
During the episode, Valenti reflects on how the meaning of a “smart city” has evolved over the past 15 years.
What began as conversations about sensors, data collection, and digital infrastructure has developed into a much broader discussion about quality of life, governance, sustainability, and human-centered urban development.
One of the central messages of the conversation is that technology should never become an objective in itself. Instead, innovation must respond to the real needs of citizens and communities.
The discussion also explores the rapidly growing role of artificial intelligence in urban planning and management, including the importance of transparency, trust, cybersecurity, and responsible implementation.
Another important theme is breaking down traditional silos between urban sectors. Challenges related to housing, mobility, energy, climate, and social inclusion are interconnected and require collaboration, strong leadership, and integrated decision-making.
For Valenti, the ambition of Smart City Expo is clear: to create a platform where knowledge, partnerships, and innovation lead to meaningful changes in cities around the world.
Liten to the episode on Spotify here
Bringing Global Urban Conversations to Everyone
Through this collaboration, Urbanistica Podcast aims to make the ideas, experiences, and discussions from Smart City Expo World Congress accessible to a wider global audience.
By connecting with international speakers, innovators, and urban leaders, Urbanistica helps share insights that can inspire professionals and communities far beyond Barcelona.
The ambition is not simply to discuss what future cities could look like, but to explore how we can turn ideas into action.
Because the future of cities is not only about becoming smarter. It is about becoming more inclusive, sustainable, resilient, and human.
Join Urbanistica Podcast at Smart City Expo World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, 3–5 November, and be part of the global conversation about creating better cities for everyone.
Discover the event, speakers, and full programme: www.smartcityexpo.com
