Insights in action

CONGRESS OVERVIEW

A program packed with high-level discussions, solution-driven talks, and cross-sector collaboration focused on building a more resilient, accessible, and sustainable housing system that works for everyone.

3/11
5/11

BARCELONA

FROM DISCUSSION TO REAL IMPACT

Three days to advance housing solutions for all

A global stage to explore every dimension of the housing crisis through international keynotes, high-level roundtables, expert-led sessions, and more. Learn from best practices in cities worldwide, discover proven solutions that can scale, and join the conversations driving real change.

From planning and finance to construction and regulation, the program tackles the critical challenges and opportunities shaping housing worldwide, featuring leading voices in policy, innovation, finance, social impact, and urban development from across the public, private, and third sectors.

CONGRESS SCHEDULE

3 days of world-class content

SPEAKERS LINEUP

Leading voices on the housing crisis debate

Anacláudia Rossbach

Executive Director, UN-Habitat

Giuseppe Sala

Mayor, City of Milan, Italy

Anne Hidalgo

Former Mayor of Paris and GCoM Global Ambassador

Haris Doukas

Mayor, City of Athens, Greece

Gergely Karácsony

Mayor, City of Budapest, Hungary

Vanessa Alexandra Velasco Bernal

Habitat Chief Secretary, Mayor’s Office of Bogotá, Colombia

Anna Minton

Author and Reader in Architecture at the University of East London

Andre Dickens

Mayor, City of Atlanta, U.S.

Robert Dijksterhuis

Sustainable Building Envoy, Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning, Netherlands

Ana Abrunhosa

Mayor, City of Coimbra, Portugal

Tanguy Desrousseaux

Head of Housing, Cities and Regions Department, Project Directorate, European Investment Bank

Laura Lieto

Deputy Mayor, Councillor for Urban Planning, City of Naples, Italy

Eamon Ryan

Chair of the Housing Advisory Board, European Commission

Tatsuo Igarashi

Mayor, City of Tsukuba, Japan

Luísa Salgueiro

Mayor, City of Matosinhos, Portugal

Charalambos Prountzos

Mayor, City of Nicosia, Cyprus

Bruce Katz

Founder, New Localism Associates

Orna Rosenfeld

Global Advisor on Housing, Living and Inclusion

Hélène Chartier

Director of Urban Planning and Design, C40 Cities

Rogier van den Berg

Global Director, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

Christine Lemaitre

Chief Executive Officer, German Sustainable Building Council

Maria Vassilakou

CEO of Vassilakou Urban Consulting and Vienna’s Former Vice Mayor

Juan Caballero

CEO, Build Change

Manuel B. Aalbers

Professor of Urban and Economic Geography, KU Leuven

Urban Planning & Land Policy

Rethinking how cities allocate land, plan density, and align spatial development with housing demand.

Housing Regulation

Legal frameworks, regulatory reform, and the balance between market dynamism and public interest.

Social and Affordable Housing

Models, financing mechanisms, and governance structures enabling equitable access to decent housing.

Building Innovation

Industrialization, modular construction, and emerging technologies reshaping how we build at scale.

Renovation, Retrofit & Reuse

Urban regeneration, energy retrofit, and adaptive reuse of existing building stock.

KEY TOPICS

An open dialogue to address a shared challenge.

HOWS Barcelona | Housing World Summit

HOMES FOR PEOPLE. CITIES FOR LIFE.

HELP MAKE HOUSING WORK FOR ALL

NOVEMBER 3 – 5, 2026
BARCELONA

Get the latest news and secure your place at the international summit addressing the housing crisis.

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WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF

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CONGRESS OVERVIEW

3/11 5/11

Three days to advance housing solutions for all

3 days of world-class content