by 
Ljubljana Forum 2025 — celebrating its 15th edition — brought together city leaders, urban planners, innovators, investors, and academics under one shared vision: creating Cities of Well-being. Over two days at Ljubljana Castle an Hotel City Ljubljana, participants exchanged ideas, shared solutions, and built new connections that will continue to shape urban futures across Europe and beyond.
DAY 1: CITY OF WELL-BEING: SPORTS AND RECREATION INFRASTRUCTURE
Opening Reflections: 15 Years of Vision and Leadership
The Forum opened with inspiring words from people who believed in the vision of Ljubljana Forum from it begining – Mr. Blaž Golob, Chairman of Ljubljana Forum, Mr. Dejan Crnek, Vice Mayor of City Of Ljubljana, Mr. Kyriacos Kakouris, Vice President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Mr. Miran Gajšek State Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, Mr. Miha Murn, President and CEO of AAMI Corporation and moderated by Mr. Jan Kuenne, CEO of Grundig Akademie.
Together, they reaffirmed the Forum’s mission — building smarter, greener, and more inclusive cities that balance growth with human wellbeing.
Architect Peter Lorenz presented the new Ilirija Sports City, a symbol of how sport and recreation can drive sustainable urban transformation.
Round Table of Mayors: Cities of Wellbeing – Challenges and Visions
Mayors from Ljubljana, Dubrovnik, Sarajevo, and Nova Gorica discussed how they integrate sport, recreation, and wellbeing into city planning. Their shared message: wellbeing is not a luxury — it’s essential infrastructure. From green corridors and waterfront revitalizations to community-led sport initiatives, each city presented inspiring examples of leadership in action.
Session III: Cities as Negotiators for the Future
Moderated by Mr. Aleksander Vujović, this session explored how cities balance social and economic interests while ensuring equitable growth.
Experts – Mr. Ibon Zugasti – Director Prospektiker, San Sebastian, Mr. Tijs Beek – Principal – Energy Insights Sproule – Erce, Ms. Marta Bon – Assoc. Professor; University of Ljubljana & Sport LJ, Ms. Rasha Abd El Mawgoud – Senior Manager at Sport Arena Wien and Mr. Mathias Behn Bjørnhof – Facilitator & Founder of Anticipate, Copenhagen highlighted the importance of collaboration and innovation in building resilient communities — from reducing inequalities and designing smart infrastructure to anticipating future wellbeing.
Key takeaways included the need for cross-sector partnerships, accessible recreational spaces, and long-term thinking as tools for inclusive urban progress.
Session IV: City Challenges, Industry Solutions & NGO Participation
Led by Mr. Frane Šesnić, this session showcased the synergy between public governance, private innovation, and civil society.
Mr. Lorenzo Madrid emphasized the importance of Cloud-First policies in digital transformation, Mr. Gašper Žerovnik presented T-2’s Smart City Platform for urban data governance, while Mr. Simon Delakorda stressed the crucial role of NGOs in fostering digital inclusion and e-participation.
Finally, Mr. Brendan McDonagh from the European Investment Bank demonstrated how EIB continues to support smart city projects through advisory and financing solutions.
Session V: Cities Thriving in Europe and the World by 2040
This globally focused discussion featured experts who shared how emerging cities are becoming innovation hubs.
Speakers like Fred Uduma, Vangeli Anastas, Jose Jacob Kayil, Lorenzo Madrid, and Ibon Zugasti highlighted the importance of collaboration between regions and the EU to create a balanced global urban future.
Their shared insight: Europe must not only adapt but lead with purpose — as a connector of ideas, sustainability, and innovation.
Session VI: Vision 2045 – City of Wellbeing & Gen Z Perspectives
The closing session, led by Mathias Behn Bjørnhof and Luka Rep, invited participants into a futures-thinking workshop exploring Ljubljana 2040 – The City of Wellbeing. Using the Three Horizons model, participants envisioned how today’s urban pressures could evolve into sustainable and inclusive solutions.
Generation Z perspectives reminded everyone that the future belongs to the next generation — one that values mental health, equality, green spaces, and meaningful participation in city development.
DAY 2 – COLLABORATION, CONNECTIONS & INSPIRATION
Business Breakfast: Strategic Foresight for Cities
The second day began with an engaging Business Breakfast led by Tijs Beek and Jonathan Buhl, exploring how foresight tools can help cities anticipate transitions and design strategies for resilience. Through the examples of Geneva and Rotterdam, participants gained insights into turning uncertainty into opportunity.
B2B & B2G Meetings
These meetings offered a valuable networking space for participants to connect directly with city leaders, investors, and innovators — fostering collaborations that extend beyond the forum.
Representatives from T-2, Sproule – Erce, EIB, and independent experts like Peter Lorenz and Ibon Zugasti engaged in targeted discussions about future projects and funding opportunities.
Study Visit: Ilirija Sports City
The day concluded with a guided study tour of the new Ilirija Sports City, led by its architect Peter Lorenz.
Participants experienced firsthand how this 25-year project has transformed into a state-of-the-art urban sports citadel — a model of sustainability, inclusivity, and multifunctional design.
Ilirija now stands as a powerful symbol of how architecture can serve wellbeing and community life.
A Look Ahead
The 15th Ljubljana Forum reaffirmed its position as one of Europe’s leading platforms for smart and sustainable city development. With powerful ideas, new partnerships, and actionable foresight, the Forum set a clear message — the future of cities is collaborative, inclusive, and full of promise.
🙏 Thank you to all speakers, moderators, and participants for making Ljubljana Forum 2025 an unforgettable event. Together, we are shaping the cities of the future — one conversation at a time.
📸 You will find all the photos from the event in the following link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/KJXTxXw3pwVRBLea6
