The B40 Youth Summit 2026 was held in Zagreb, Croatia, from 24 to 26 June under the theme “Contemporary Tools for Building Future Cities.” The summit brought together young representatives from B40 member cities, alongside policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs, and technology experts to explore how innovation can contribute to more sustainable, resilient, and future-ready urban environments.
The program commenced on 24 June with a welcome reception, providing participants with an opportunity to network and establish new connections. The official summit program on 25 June opened with welcoming remarks by the Mayor of Zagreb and President of the B40 Network, Tomislav Tomašević, followed by an address from Barbaros Büyüksağnak, Permanent Secretary of the B40 Balkan Cities Network, who highlighted the importance of youth engagement in shaping the future of the Balkans through innovation and cooperation.
Throughout the day, participants took part in expert-led panel discussions on Artificial Intelligence and Digitalization in Smart Cities and Robotics and Coding: Shaping the Future Workforce. The sessions explored the ethical and regulatory dimensions of artificial intelligence, youth participation in technology policymaking, the role of innovation ecosystems, the integration of robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT) into urban infrastructure, and the potential of digital technologies to enhance quality of life.
The program also featured an interactive Design Thinking Workshop, where participants collaborated on citizen-centered approaches to public policy, digital services, and urban solutions for the cities of the future. The summit concluded with a technical visit to the Nikola Tesla Technical Museum, where participants explored Croatia’s scientific and technological heritage, followed by a guided tour of Zagreb’s historic city center.
By fostering dialogue, knowledge exchange, and cross-border collaboration among young leaders, the B40 Youth Summit reaffirmed the network’s commitment to empowering youth and advancing smarter, more inclusive, and sustainable cities across the Balkans.
