International Leaders Convene on Urban Nightlife
Barcelona will host the Barcelona Nit Fòrum Internacional on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, bringing together policymakers and experts from cities including New York, Paris, Amsterdam, Krakow, and the Government of New South Wales. The event, organised by the Barcelona City Council’s Office of Nightlife, takes place at the Fundació Joan Miró from 9.00 to 19.30. The forum aims to address key challenges facing urban nightlife, such as noise, coexistence, mobility, security, and the impact of climate change on nighttime public space use. Discussions will also focus on protecting cultural and economic night-time activities amid urban transformation, particularly through regulatory frameworks like the 'Agent of Change' principle, which places responsibility on new developments to mitigate acoustic and social conflicts.
Roundtables on Coexistence and Sustainability
Six roundtables will explore how cities can balance residents’ right to rest with access to leisure, socialisation, and community life. A session at 11.35h will examine sustainability and new uses of public space at night, featuring Michael Rodrigues, 24-Hour Economy Commissioner for New South Wales; Pierre Rabadan, Deputy Mayor for Tourism and Nightlife in Paris; and Barcelona’s Chief Architect, María Buhigas. Another session will focus on security, coexistence, and measures to prevent sexual harassment in nightlife settings, including strategies for detection and prosecution. Mobility and night-time services will also be discussed, with attention to creating a more connected and accessible 24-hour city.
City Officials to Open and Close Forum
The official opening will be led by Deputy Mayor Albert Batlle, responsible for Prevention, Security, Coexistence, and Internal Affairs, and Carmen Zapata, Barcelona’s Night Commissioner. Zapata described night-time activity as a strategic urban priority, stating that discussions about the night are now central to coexistence, quality of life, and climate adaptation.
Talking about the night today is talking about coexistence, quality of life, and also how cities adapt to climate change.
, Carmen Zapata, Barcelona’s Night Commissioner The working sessions begin at 9.30 with institutional welcome remarks, followed by panel discussions throughout the day. The event concludes at 18.30 with closing remarks by Zapata. Full programme details are available on the Barcelona City Council’s official forum page.
Residents and stakeholders interested in urban policy, nightlife culture, and sustainable city planning can follow outcomes from the forum via the Barcelona City Council Press Office, where summaries and statements will be published following the event.
Primary sources: ajuntament.barcelona.cat, Barcelona City Council Press Room. Reported by El Periódico Barcelona.
