Torino in northern Italy has been announced as host of the next EU Cities Mission conference on 27-29 May 2026. NetZeroCities caught up with its mayor to ask about the city’s own climate ambitions and why it wished to host the Mission’s annual event.
What motivated the city of Torino to host the 2026 EU Cities Mission conference?
Torino is deeply committed to the transition towards climate neutrality and hosting the Cities Mission Conference 2026 represents for us a unique opportunity to strengthen the dialogue between European cities that share the same vision. Being one of the Mission Cities is an important recognition, but also a responsibility: this is why we want Torino to be a place of concrete discussion, exchange of good practices and building strategic alliances. We firmly believe that only through collaboration between cities and the support of the European Union we can achieve ambitious and, today more than ever, necessary common goals.
What should people know about Torino and about its work to reach its ambitious climate goals? What are you most proud of about this work?
Torino is a city that has been able to transform itself and is experiencing a path of profound change, maintaining its vocation to be a laboratory of urban innovation and sustainability. We actively participate in the Mission Cities pilot programme and we are experimenting with concrete solutions in key sectors such as sustainable mobility, energy efficiency of buildings and renewable energy production. I am particularly proud of the active involvement of our citizens, universities and businesses: our path is a collective and open work, which we want to bring as an example at European level.
How does climate action relate to a future vision for the city? How will these activities change Torino for the people who call it home?
This is not just an environmental challenge, but a great opportunity for urban regeneration and improvement of the quality of life. We are building a greener Torino, with liveable public spaces, more efficient transport, and more sustainable buildings. We want the ecological transition to also be a lever for social and economic inclusion, a tool for creating new opportunities and strengthening the sense of community. In this sense, the fight against climate change is an integral part of our vision of a fairer, more attractive, more inclusive, more forward-looking city.
What would a successful event in 2026 look like to you? What would you like conference guests to take from their time in Torino?
The Cities Mission Conference will be a success if, as we believe, we can create a genuine space for dialogue, inspiration and concrete collaboration between European cities. We hope that participants will return home with practical ideas, new connections and the feeling that together we can truly transform our cities and our Europe. But above all, we hope that they will experience Torino as a lively, welcoming and committed city, capable of combining innovation, history and vision for the future. A place where the process of transformation and change has already started.
