11- 13 November

The Lens of Time

15th Biennale of European Towns and Town Planners, 2026

Organised by the Associação Portuguesa de Urbanistas (APU) and the European Council of Spatial Planners – Conseil européean des urbanistes ( ECTP-CEU), the Biennale brings together spatial planners, researchers, policymakers, and representatives of public authorities from across Europe.

The ECTP-CEU invites spatial planners, researchers, policymakers and representatives of public authorities to submit papers and case studies for the upcoming Biennale. This edition explores "Time" as a vital dimension of space. We seek contributions that address the gap between rapid global shifts and the pace of spatial transformation.

Cities and regions have always evolved alongside cultural, social, environmental, and technological shifts. However, while the world transforms rapidly, the adaptive capacity of cities and their administration often lags behind. This Biennale will examine whether cities, territories and communities can adapt in time to looming urgencies to remain the natural habitat of civilizations.

In an era of constant acceleration and on the verge of a new revolution, how do planners, traditionally the visionaries, anticipate this transformation? This event views urbanism through a temporal lens, treating time not just as a technical variable, but as a political, social, and cultural dimension that shapes how we live and imagine the urban future.

See this year's theme

The Lens of Time

in Spatial Planning

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Biennale Commitee

Meet this year's organisation team

Meet our Keynotes

Jaan Saar

Track 1: Time of the Process (Administrative Agility)

Jaan Saar is an Operational Lead for the LDT CitiVERSE EDIC and the EU-funded BUILD project. A leading expert in digital transformation and construction innovation, he is recognised for his work in developing Estonia's national digital

twin and BIM-based e-construction platform.

At the Biennale will keynote Track 1: Time of the Process (Administrative Agility). His keynote will explore how digital technologies can help make planning systems more agile, efficient and transparent, reducing administrative

delays while improving decision-making across cities and regions.

Kees Christiaanse

Track 2: Time of Execution (Construction & Circularity)

An architect, urban planner and internationally recognised thinker on the future of cities, Kees Christiaanse has shaped the European and global urban agenda through his work on strategic planning, urban regeneration, and the transformation of complex territories.

At the Biennale, he will keynote Track 2: Time of Execution (Construction & Circularity), a theme focused on implementation at the right time. As cities face growing demands for renewal, resilience, and housing, this track explores best practices in construction solutions that can reduce costs and delivery time while enhancing environmental quality.

Henriette Vamberg

Track 3: Time of People (Construction & Circularity)

As Managing Director in Copenhagen, Henriette leads a portfolio focused on city transformation work at Gehl, where she has been a member since the founding in 2000. Her work is deeply rooted in Jan Gehl’s methodology, focusing on evolving urban design strategies through diverse global projects.

At the Biennale, he will keynote Track 3: Time of People (Sovereignty & Rhythms), a theme focused on the way technology reshapes work and frees up human time. This panel will look at best practices in how urban design and public spaces can foster health, wellbeing, and social inclusion for people of all ages in cities.

Wei Yang

Track 4: Time of New Frontiers (AI, Digital and Social Paradigms)

Former President of the Royal Town Planning Institute and founder of the Digital and Task Force for Planning. Wei Yang is an internationally recognised planner and urban designer, she is widely known for advocating the digital transformation of spatial planning while maintaining a strong focus on place-based development and public value.

At the Biennale she will keynote Track 4: Time of New Frontiers (AI, Digital and Social Paradigms). Her keynote will explore how digital technologies, artificial intelligence and systems thinking can help shape a more responsive and future-ready planning profession.