Translated by Andrés Martínez Forero
Bogotá, My City, My Home and Barranquilla hosted leaders from across Latin America, the Caribbean and beyond for a discussion on the challenges facing cities and public institutions. From September 2 to 4, mayors and international experts gathered for the IDB Cities Network Meeting, organized in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
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The event brought cities together to share experiences and explore solutions to some of today’s most pressing urban challenges. It also gave mayors an opportunity to learn firsthand about the progress and priorities of Bogotá’s Development Plan, Bogotá Camina Segura.
Mayor of Bogotá Carlos Fernando Galán announced a series of major initiatives for Bogotá and the broader region, covering mobility, technology, water, employment, economic opportunity and sustainability.
Leaders and experts representing more than 50 cities came to Colombia to exchange ideas on high-impact plans and strategies for driving urban transformation.
The Bogotá City Government showcased successful initiatives and ambitious projects, giving participants a firsthand look at how Bogotá is emerging as a testing ground for innovative urban governance.
2026 Mayors’ Meeting
The Mayors’ Meeting is the IDB Cities Network’s main annual gathering and one of the Bank’s key forums for discussing urban development. The 2026 edition took place from September 2 to 4.
- It promotes the exchange of knowledge, experiences and lessons learned among cities and local governments.
- It helps build capacity through conferences, workshops, hands-on exercises, field visits and technical resources developed for participating mayors.
- It encourages cross-sector collaboration within the Bank, bringing together different IDB departments and divisions to design and advance the initiative.
Learn more in this post by the Mayor of Bogotá on X:
Mañana arranca el Encuentro de la Red de Ciudades del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo 2026 en Bogotá y Barranquilla.
— Carlos F. Galán (@CarlosFGalan) September 1, 2026
Alcaldes y expertos internacionales de más de 40 ciudades llegan a Colombia para hablar de lo que realmente transforma a las ciudades.
Es un honor liderar… pic.twitter.com/Uc5a016Xh9
Following the meeting, participating mayors identified actions to strengthen their institutions, sustain urban transformation, and boost productivity and economic growth in their cities.
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Bogotá welcomed leaders from around the world to discuss how cities are responding to social challenges. Watch the opening remarks by Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán:
"Más de 50 ciudades se reúnen en Bogotá para hablar de los retos que enfrentamos y las soluciones que necesitamos. Compartir experiencias también es construir ciudades más fuertes y preparadas para el futuro", dijo el alcalde @CarlosFGalan en la inauguración del Encuentro de… pic.twitter.com/HUVxix7MdX
— Alcaldía de Bogotá (@Bogota) September 2, 2026
*This article was created using information provided by the Bogotá’s International Relations Office and curated by a journalist from Portal Bogotá. For suggestions, questions, or more information, visit Bogotá Te Escucha: https://bogota.gov.co/sdqs/
