Energy Cities’ Annual Forum 2026 programme unveiled: nurturing the roots for a better future

The third edition of Grafting Cities is approaching, and the programme has been unveiled. In a time when democracy is at risk, it offers the opportunity to connect and network to discuss today’s challenges and build resilient democratic roots to ensure a fair and sustainable future.

The forum is more than a conference, it is the place where municipalities, organisations and individuals can come together, share experiences and forge partnerships to keep advancing in the transition towards climate neutrality. This year it will be hosted by Guimarães, European Green Capital 2026.

Three days to connect and get inspired

The forum will take place on the 28th, 29th and 30th of April. The first day will start with the welcome fair, which will offer a space for local initiatives to showcase their solutions. It will be followed by a networking cocktail where participants will come together and get ready for the next day. Participants available in the afternoon before the fair can join the European Affordable Housing Initiative seminar or join tourist visits organised by the municipality.

The second day will be devoted to the six thematic journeys focusing on local governance, fossil-free cities, community energy, affordable housing, circular economy and food security. They will be divided into two parts, an introduction of the topic and a site visit in the morning and a collective intelligence workshop in the afternoon:

• Journey 1: The seed: building climate governance from the ground up. It will offer a walk through Bairro C – Compromisso Carbono Zero (District C- Zero Carbon Commitment), a model of cultural production and urban innovation.

• Journey 2: The habitat: scaling affordable housing through procurement and partnerships. It will include a visit to an affordable social housing project for student linked to Universidade do Minho, showcasing an ambitious Nearly Zero-Energy Building (NZEB20+) approach.

• Journey 3: The leaf: communities driving the shift to fossil-free heating and cooling. It will include a visit to GUIMAGYM, a newly built public sports facility that has fully decarbonised its heating and cooling systems by using renewable sources.

• Journey 4: The pollinator: cities and citizens enabling a fair energy transition for all. It will show Guimarães’ first energy community, which is municipality-owned.

• Journey 5: The fruit: cultivating food autonomy & security in times of crisis. It will offer a visit to Horta Pedagógica de Guimarães, a 10-hectare community garden located in the city’s peri-urban wetland area.

• Journey 6: The canopy: tackling textiles and boosting sufficiency. It will showcase circular and sustainable textile manufacturing facilities.

The day will end with a convivial moment for all participants, followed by Energy Cities General Assembly, reserved to Energy Cities members. In the evening, the gala dinner, which will take will be a special moment to come together and celebrate the strong connections we are building to defend Europe’s democracy and green transition.

The third day will also offer inspiring moments; the session City’s stories will showcase the wins and the challenges cities are experiencing in their transformation to becoming fairer and more sustainable. In parallel, the Mayor’s Club session, reserved to elected representatives, will offer a space for a closed-door discussion on the key role of decentralised energy production to democracies and resilience. The day will end with a matchmaking session for Energy Cities’ members and a touristic visit to the city for non-members and a common lunch to share reflections on the learnings from three amazing days together.

Get ready for Guimarães

Registrations are open so you can secure your spot and start preparing your trip to Guimarães. We have gathered all the information about transport to get to the city and different accommodation options on the infopack. If you would like to prologue your stay after the forum, you will find also find information about Guimarães’ history and culture and its must-sees.

If you would like to contribute to the forum and show your commitment to the green transition, you can join as a sponsor. Our packages will allow you to showcase your organisation’s vision and work.

We look forward to seeing you in Guimarães! Register and secure your spot on one of the journeys, the number of places available is limited!