The AIVP is launching its call for presentations for the 21st edition of its World Conference, which will take place in Dunkirk from 3 to 6 November 2026, under the theme:
Cities and Ports in Motion: Time for Action!
Applications
The application form must be completed in one of AIVP’s three official languages: French, English or Spanish. The maximum length of the abstract should be 800 characters.
All sections of the form must be completed in full. Submissions made outside the form will not be accepted.
AIVP’s mission is to share original information and innovative case studies for sustainable port cities. The organization will prioritize new presentations and projects that have not been shared in previous AIVP World conferences. We will also emphasize the diversity of approaches from different regions of the world in our conference.
Themes
The 2026 Cities and Ports World Conference forms part of AIVP’s 2030 Agenda. Papers may refer to this, mentioning the relevant objectives of the Agenda.
Three interrelated thematic tracks are offered. Each abstract should primarily align with one main track, though it may also reference relevant subtopics or a second track if appropriate. The keywords below are provided as inspiration to guide your submission and to foster meaningful exchanges among stakeholders in port cities.
Focus on the three themes
Track A: Sharing knowledge and risks
In this section, we wish to discuss how port and urban stakeholders can define new approaches to cooperation; how they share the responsibility inherent in their roles; and what the most innovative methods are for disseminating and sharing the knowledge generated in these areas.
Key words: Civic and stakeholder engagement, Institutional cooperation, Public-private partnerships, Knowledge and data sharing, Innovative, multi-level, and collaborative governance, Risk management and institutional resilience, Shared financing
Track B: Sharing solutions to improve our environment
In this session, we aim to present technical, financial, and social best practices that help create a better environment for everyone within port areas, for both citizens and nature.
Keywords: Climate resilience, Healthy environments, Environmental protection, Circular economy and water, Biodiversity and pollution reduction, Energy transition, Nature-based solutions, Low-tech cities, Climate-specific financing and financial mechanisms
Track C: Sharing spaces and land use
The presentations on this topic will seek to address how to reconcile the various port and urban activities taking place within the port-city area, given the scarcity of land.
Keywords: Mixed-use development, Shared use of waterways, Land-use planning and spatial planning tools, Public spaces, Urban and landscape integration, Accessibility and mobility of goods and people, City-port interfaces, passengers, and ferries, Reindustrialization
The call for abstracts for the 21st Edition of the AIVP Cities and Ports World Conference is open until 23:59 CEST on May 22.
Each proposal will be carefully reviewed by the AIVP team. All candidates will be informed of the results at the end of June.
Particular attention will be given to contributions that have not already been presented at previous AIVP conferences, as well as to the diversity of approaches from different regions of the world.
Conditions of participation
Selected speakers undertake to attend the conference and to register at the preferential rate reserved for them, set at €770 (excluding VAT).
Contact
Please feel free to contact the AIVP team if you have any questions before submitting your abstract: aivp@aivp.org
