Our annual event - called a Congress - has long been CNU’s largest and most significant program, and our prime opportunity to further the practice of New Urbanism by convening to discuss, debate, and learn from one another. The Congress is unique among conferences or gatherings in the following ways:
- Context Matters. We move the location of our Congress every year not just so our attendees can see new things. We encourage our attendees to examine and learn from new cities and regions; to see the unique ways in which advocates and practitioners in the local host city have faced issues; and identify commonalities that can inspire change in our attendees’ practice, and to look with fresh eyes onto local problem-solving opportunities.
- Collaboration in a Problem Space. We develop a Focus, or problem space, that highlights an issue or topic in the local context that could benefit from the brain power of hundreds of New Urbanist practitioners across disciplines. The Focus allows the Congress to bring a question, or set of issues, to the forefront of the content - providing education and collaboration that helps evolve the collective practice of New Urbanism.
- Multidisciplinary Perspectives. The annual Congress is one of the only professional gatherings that cuts across disciplines - our attendees include planners and urban designers, architects and landscape architects, traffic and building engineers, developers and real estate professionals, academics and researchers, and those with expertise in market or research analysis. The opportunity to rub shoulders with someone from a discipline outside your own - and markedly change the way you practice - is unique to CNU’s Congress.
- Integration of Design and Policy. A foundational aspect of New Urbanist practice is in understanding the integration and intersection of design and policy. Good yet siloed design lacks the power to provide the environmental, economic, and social benefits that are otherwise possible. Design must be integrated with policy interventions to be able to genuinely deliver walkable, sustainable, and more equity-supportive urbanism.
Hosting an annual Congress is an incredible partnership between CNU’s staff and a dedicated local host committee with an opportunity to catalyze significant change in - and highlight the progress of - your city or region.
Interested in hosting a future Congress? You can now review and respond to the RFP for CNU 34 (to be held in 2026). Or reach out to congress@cnu.org to get more information if you're not quite ready for 2026.
