2 June 2025 - Guimarães, Portugal
Adaptation alone is no longer enough. As climate risks become more frequent, interconnected and disruptive, cities need resilience strategies that are integrated across sectors, institutions and communities. The challenge sits at the heart of EURESFO 2026, taking place on 17–19 June in Guimarães, Portugal, European Green Capital 2026. Co-organised by ICLEI Europe, the European Environment Agency and Município de Guimarães, the 13th edition of the Forum will focus on "Moving beyond adaptation: integrated approaches to resilience" and what this shift means for Europe's cities and regions.
Inspired by Guimarães' long-standing commitment to embedding sustainability into its cultural fabric, EURESFO 2026 will place special emphasis on the leadership and innovation of small and medium-sized cities. The forum will explore how their close connection to citizens enables bottom-up strategies and offer valuable lessons for climate resilience efforts worldwide. Participants will examine Guimarães' own "One Planet City" vision, which brings together citizens, academia and the private sector in pursuit of a sustainable future.
The forum will also unpack the evolving European legislative landscape, including the forthcoming EU Climate Resilience and Risk Management Integrated Framework and the Nature Restoration Regulation. Nature-based solutions will remain a central point of discussion, alongside emerging financing models for adaptation and resilience. Building on previous editions, EURESFO 2026 will maintain a strong focus on people-centred approaches that prioritise health, wellbeing and justice, while addressing pressing hazards such as wildfires, extreme heat, droughts and flooding.
Vasileios-Panagiotis Latinos, Head of Resilience and Climate Adaptation at ICLEI, noted:
“Adaptation has brought us a long way, but it is no longer sufficient on its own. The challenges our cities face today demand resilience that is integrated: across governance levels, across communities, and across an increasingly complex landscape of climate risks. Guimarães, Europe’s Green Capital, is a fitting home for that conversation. A city that has made sustainability central to its identity, its ‘One Planet City’ vision, uniting citizens, academia and the private sector, is a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when a whole community moves in the same direction.
“Adaptation has brought us a long way, but it is no longer sufficient on its own. The challenges our cities face today demand resilience that is integrated: across governance levels, across communities, and across an increasingly complex landscape of climate risks. Guimarães, Europe’s Green Capital, is a fitting home for that conversation. A city that has made sustainability central to its identity, its ‘One Planet City’ vision, uniting citizens, academia and the private sector, is a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when a whole community moves in the same direction.
At EURESFO 2026, we build on that spirit: bringing together policymakers, city leaders and experts to navigate the evolving EU legislative landscape, explore nature-based and people-centred approaches, and turn global ambition into local action.”
As part of the forum, site visits will allow participants to explore four showcase projects: the Latito Hill & District C regeneration; the Guimarães Biocultural Corridor, featuring retention basins and the Guimagym gymnastics academy; sustainable soil initiatives at the Community Garden, Veiga de Creixomil and the Landscape Laboratory; and the natural landscape of Penha Mountain.
Ricardo Araújo, Mayor of Guimarães, noted:
“There could hardly be a more opportune moment for Guimarães to host the European Urban Resilience Forum - precisely in the year we hold the title of European Green Capital and embrace the ambition of making our municipality a true benchmark for quality of life, with real and direct impact on people's daily lives. This moment is fully aligned with our environmental strategy and places Guimarães at the epicentre of global solutions to climate and social challenges.
More than a space for debate, I am convinced that EURESFO will be a platform for action - one capable of connecting the ecological transition to people's quality of life. It is with great enthusiasm that we take on the responsibility of hosting a forum that brings together municipal representatives and experts from different countries united by a shared path: leading by example, and proving that social cohesion and sustainability can coexist in building a better and safer future for all.”
The full programme is available at: urbanresilienceforum.eu/programme
A broad coalition of partners also contributed to the organisation of the 2026 edition of the Forum, including the REGILIENCE+, Regions4Climate, Pathways2Resilience, CARDIMED, MULTICLIMACT, RescueME, Commit2Green, CLIMATEFIT, NBRACER, Land4Climate, AdaptationHubs, ReCreate, Urban ReLeaf and CO-WATERS projects.
About EURESFO: EURESFO is an annual platform that brings together city representatives, experts, and stakeholders to discuss strategies for adapting to climate change, managing disasters, and building urban resilience. Organised by ICLEI Europe and the European Environment Agency (EEA) since 2013, EURESFO fosters open and interactive exchanges on pressing urban resilience challenges.
About ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability: ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network of more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125 countries, we influence sustainability policy and drive local action for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development. ICLEI Europe provides members in Europe, the Middle East and West Asia with a voice on European and international stages, a platform to connect with peers, and tools to drive positive environmental, economic and social change. ICLEI Europe works closely with an extended network of local and regional governments and partners on a broad range of topics.
