Shaping Urban Horizons.
Key Placemaking Conferences to Know in 2024
Urban landscapes are changing faster than most practitioners can track, and the conferences happening this year reflect that urgency. From downtown revitalization forums in the US to smart city expos drawing tens of thousands of professionals across four continents, 2024 is a year worth showing up for. This guide covers the events most relevant to place managers, BID leaders, urban designers, and economic development professionals. Each entry has enough detail to help you decide which ones deserve a spot on your calendar.
The best ideas in placemaking travel from room to room before they travel anywhere else.
Conferences are where the field updates itself. New frameworks get stress-tested, case studies get shared before they become articles, and the conversations in the hallways are often more useful than the ones on stage. Knowing which rooms to be in matters, and this year the calendar is particularly rich.
US and Canada placemaking conferences.
For downtown practitioners in North America, this year brings several events worth clearing the calendar for. Whether you manage a BID, lead economic development for a mid-size city, or work in community engagement, there is a room here where the conversations will be directly relevant to the work you are doing.
The events below span retail and housing policy, public safety, community building, district revitalization, and the operational questions that come up when you are trying to keep a downtown alive and thriving. Between them, they cover nearly every dimension of the work, from the grassroots to the global.
At a glance
West Coast Urban District Forum
San Diego, CA · Feb 28 – Mar 1
2024 Annual BIA Conference
Mississauga, ON · Apr 28 – May 1
BIABC Conference 2024
Kamloops, BC · Apr 28 – May 1
South East Urban District Forum
Memphis, TN · May 1–3
Main Street Now Conference
Birmingham, AL · May 6–8
4th International Placemaking Week
Baltimore, MD · Jun 5–8
IDA 70th Annual Conference
Seattle, WA · Sep 11–13
West Coast Urban District Forum
The West Coast Urban District Forum focuses on resilience in urban areas. It explores how communities, businesses, and tourism adapt to changing urban economies. The event will share best practices for sustaining and growing strong communities, discussing topics like retail, housing, transportation, public safety, and homelessness. Industry leaders and community thought leaders will provide insights on these issues.
Date
Feb 28 – Mar 1, 2024
Location
San Diego, CA
Format
Talks, Networking
Registration
$225 – $525
Theme
Pillars of Resiliency
Credits
LPM, AICP (CM)
2024 Annual BIA Conference
The 2024 Annual BIA Conference is an important event for Business Improvement Areas (BIAs). It focuses on training, keynotes, workshops, and networking for BIA members to enhance their leadership skills and community impact. The conference will provide informative sessions, awards, and trade show exhibits, offering BIA staff and board members a comprehensive learning and networking experience.
Date
Apr 28 – May 1, 2024
Location
Mississauga, ON
Attendance
1000
Registration
$420 – $1,025
Format
Sessions, Gala, Tours, Trade Show
Credits
Check with organizers
BIABC Conference 2024
The BIABC Conference 2024 is co-hosted by Kamloops Central BIA and Kamloops North Shore BIA and promises a comprehensive gathering for district members, offering valuable networking and learning opportunities.
Date
Apr 28 – May 1, 2024
Location
Kamloops, BC
Registration
$375 – $1,000
Format
Keynote, Sessions, Mobile Tour, Tradeshow
Theme
Business Improvement
Credits
Check with organizers
South East Urban District Forum
The details of the South East Urban District Forum have not yet been released, but it is assumed that the event will share best practices for sustaining and growing strong communities, discussing topics like retail, housing, transportation, public safety, and homelessness, with industry leaders and community thought leaders providing insights on these issues.
Date
May 1–3, 2024
Location
Memphis, TN
Credits
LPM, AICP (CM)
Details
Agenda to be announced
Main Street Now Conference
The Main Street Now Conference focuses on revitalizing commercial districts. It will offer sessions on community-building, civic infrastructure, and local economies. The event features educational sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities for district revitalization practitioners, civic leaders, and students.
Date
May 6–8, 2024
Location
Birmingham, AL
Attendance
2000
Registration
$199 – $775
Format
Panels, Workshops, Networking
Themes
Welcoming and Belonging, Connectivity, Local Economies
4th International Placemaking Week
The International Placemaking Week emphasizes cultural heritage and public space innovation through community-led efforts and collaborative urban revitalization. Supported by the T. Rowe Price Foundation, it highlights the impact of collective placemaking in creating vibrant, inclusive environments, underscoring the importance of engagement and creativity in urban landscape transformation.
Date
Jun 5–8, 2024
Location
Baltimore, MD
Attendance
2500
Format
Plenary, Breakout Sessions, Workshops
IDA 70th Annual Conference & Marketplace
The IDA 70th Annual Conference and Marketplace, organized by the International Downtown Association, is set to bring together professionals and leaders in urban district management and development. It offers a platform for attendees to engage in learning, networking, and exploring innovative solutions that drive the success and transformation of city centers. The conference is an opportunity to connect with peers, gain insights from industry leaders, and discover new strategies and tools for revitalizing downtown areas.
Date
Sep 11–13, 2024
Location
Seattle, WA
Attendance
1000+
Credits
LPM, AICP (CM)
Taking your district’s story to a conference this year?
District360 helps downtown teams build the reports and data that make those conversations worth having. Heading to any of the events this year with your numbers in order is a significant advantage.
None of the teams doing this well are running elaborate instruments.
The smart cities conference circuit operates at a different scale than the downtown district forums above. These events draw tens of thousands of attendees from dozens of countries, and the agenda ranges from digital infrastructure and AI to mobility, clean energy, and sustainable urban development. For place managers curious about where technology is taking the built environment, these are the rooms where those futures are being debated and demonstrated.
Smart Cities India Expo
The Smart Cities India Expo is a large-scale event showcasing the integration of transformative technologies in urban development. It focuses on various domains like green buildings, renewable energy, clean environment, urban mobility, and smart ICT solutions. It serves as a thriving hub for engagement, uniting emerging entrepreneurs, industry stakeholders, technology experts, incubators, and investors. The expo showcases solutions in the realms of DeepTech, Telecom, Fintech, AI, IoT, Smart Cities (ICT), Smart Buildings, Cleantech, Smart Energy, Smart Mobility, Water Management, and more. The expo is expected to attract industry leaders, government officials, and stakeholders from more than 40 countries.
Date
Jan 17–19, 2024
Location
New Delhi, India
Attendance
55,000+
Theme
Innovation Driving Sustainability
eMobility Expo World Congress
The eMobility Expo World Congress serves as a pivotal gathering for the development of the eMobility sector. It aims to address the challenges and changes in the economic and geopolitical landscapes, focusing on sustainable mobility. The event brings together innovative solutions and the latest trends to enhance the sustainability of transportation, in line with Europe's goal to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.
Date
Feb 13–15, 2024
Location
Valencia, Spain
Attendance
6000
Format
Panels, Conferences, Exhibitions
Smart City Expo Latam Congress
The Smart City Expo Latam Congress aims to transform Latin American cities into more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable environments through leadership and community commitment. Its goal is to bring together accredited cities from 45 countries, institutions, companies, speakers, and mayors from Mexico and Latin America. It focuses on smart urban themes that care for sustainable territories and digital connectivity. It will feature discussions on urban spaces, intelligent destinations, caring cities, climate change, connected society, and digital transformation.
Date
Feb 27–29, 2024
Location
Mérida, Mexico
Attendance
21,000 in-person, ~30,000 online
Theme
Inclusive and Sustainable Urban Environments
Smart City Summit Lower Rhine
The Smart City Summit Lower Rhine invites experts, businesses, and stakeholders for an exchange on future digital urban development. The event will showcase innovative digital solutions and feature keynotes and panels from experienced professionals in smart city initiatives. It offers a unique platform for networking and exploring cutting-edge digital technologies that influence future cities.
Date
Feb 29, 2024
Location
Mönchengladbach, Germany
Theme
Digital and Green Transformation
Format
Workshops, Networking, Panels, Keynotes
Smart City Summit and Expo
The Smart City Summit and Expo is a comprehensive event focusing on digital and green transformation in smart city industries. It offers a unique platform for global city leaders and stakeholders to explore net zero solutions and digital innovations, featuring a variety of conferences and seminars. The event emphasizes themes like digital transformation, smart startups, and global networking in smart city development.
Date
Mar 19–22, 2024
Location
Taipei, Taiwan
Theme
Digital Urban Development
Format
Conferences, Seminars, Startup Showcases, B2B Matchmaking
African Smart Cities Congress
The African Smart Cities Congress is a key event for urban innovation. It connects leaders from various sectors to explore sustainable urban planning, renewable energy integration, and digital inclusion. The congress addresses challenges like climate resilience and data-driven urban services, aiming to transform cities through innovative solutions and community engagement.
Date
Mar 21–23, 2024
Location
Lilongwe, Malawi
Theme
Urban Innovation and Sustainable Development
Format
Conferences, Exhibitions, Discussions
Smart City Asia 2024 Exhibition
The Smart City Asia 2024 Exhibition is a leading event focusing on smart city technologies. It brings together businesses and experts to showcase innovative solutions in areas like digital transformation, urban development, and sustainable technologies. The event is a convergence point for industry leaders and offers opportunities for networking and exploring new trends in the smart city domain.
Date
Apr 17–19, 2024
Location
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Attendance
17000
Format
Conferences, Forums, Workshops
Nordic Edge Expo
The Nordic Edge Expo focuses on urban challenges and smart solutions for cities. The event includes a full-day conference, workshops, and side events, designed for innovators, leaders, and citizens committed to sustainable urban development. Attendees can expect inspiration from experts, networking opportunities, and tools for green transition changemakers.
Date
May 6–8, 2024
Location
Stavanger, Norway
Theme
Urban Challenges and Smart Solutions
Format
Conferences, Workshops, Side Events
Mobility Solutions Show
The Mobility Solutions Show is an exhibition for urban and peri-urban mobility solutions. It presents new mobility trends and gathers public and private sector actors, addressing all types of transport for goods and people, including terrestrial, maritime, and aerial.
Date
May 29–31, 2024
Location
Toulouse, France
Attendance
1500
Theme
Urban and Peri-Urban Mobility Solutions
Cities Climate Action Summit
The Cities Climate Action Summit focuses on supporting cities to achieve their net zero strategies through innovation and partnership. It covers policy development, climate financing, and technology deployment, emphasizing energy, built environment, and transport sectors. The summit promotes leadership, equity, and collaboration in addressing urban climate challenges.
Date
Jun 26–27, 2024
Location
London, UK
Attendance
2500
Format
Panel Discussion, Case Studies, Networking
The field is gathering. The question is which conversations you want to be part of.
The range of events this year, from focused regional forums to global expos drawing tens of thousands, reflects how many different kinds of urban challenges practitioners are working on simultaneously. Being selective about which ones you attend is worthwhile. The best conference investment is almost never the biggest event. It is the one where the problems on the agenda most closely match the problems on your desk.
Which conference this year most directly addresses the challenge your district is actively working through right now?
Is there a regional forum on this list where showing up would help you build relationships that a national event cannot offer?
What would you want to walk away from a conference this year with: a framework, a contact, a case study, or a tool?
Frequently asked questions
For day-to-day downtown management, the IDA Annual Conference in Seattle is the field’s flagship gathering and worth prioritizing if you can only attend one event. Main Street Now in Birmingham is a close second for practitioners specifically focused on commercial district revitalization. The West Coast and South East Urban District Forums are excellent for those who want a smaller, more candid regional conversation. The BIA conferences are the right choice if your work is specifically in the Canadian business improvement space.
The downtown district forums are built for practitioners working on the operational, social, and economic challenges of managing a specific place. The smart cities expos tend to be larger, more technology-forward, and focused on what is being built and deployed at scale across urban systems. They are complementary rather than competitive. A practitioner who attends both in a given year tends to leave with a useful combination of street-level operational insight and a longer view of where urban technology is heading.
Size of district is less relevant than what you are trying to learn. The most useful international events for smaller districts tend to be the more focused ones, like the Nordic Edge Expo or the Smart City Summit Lower Rhine, rather than the flagship expos that cover dozens of verticals simultaneously. Going to a large expo without a specific question to answer tends to produce a lot of business cards and not much else. Knowing what you want to come home with shapes which events are worth the travel.
Identify the one problem you most want to make progress on, and use that to filter every session, conversation, and hallway opportunity you encounter. Conferences reward people who show up with a specific question. The practitioners who get the most out of events like IDA or Main Street Now are usually the ones who have spent time before arriving figuring out exactly what they need to take home.
Heading to a conference this year and want your district's data to back you up?
We are happy to talk through what that looks like.
