Utopian Hours Festival Lands in Rotterdam for Its Tenth Anniversary

The international city-making festival Utopian Hours held its Ten Years Edition in Rotterdam on May 28-29, 2026, at the Groot Handelsgebouw. Founded in Turin in 2016 by Luca Ballarini and Giacomo Biraghi of Stratosferica, the event has become a leading European platform for urban innovation. Rotterdam was chosen for its post-industrial transformation and experimental urban culture, which organizers say naturally aligned with the festival's ethos. The program featured a 'best of' lineup including architect and filmmaker Liam Young, urban strategist Majora Carter, Matt Grunbaum of Field Operations (High Line, New York), Baharash Bagherian of URB, and Philipp Rode of LSE Cities. Key themes included climate resilience, water management, CO₂ emissions, public space, gender-inclusive spaces, and the gap between knowledge and policy implementation. The festival also hosted working tables for professionals to discuss real-world obstacles in urban transformation. Over its decade, Utopian Hours has hosted more than 500 speakers globally. The second part of the anniversary edition will take place in Turin on October 16-17, 2026, at La Centrale Lavazza.