Cagliari to host MedaCity 2026: Mediterranean cities and businesses at the heart of dialogue on innovation, cohesion and peace

Following the success of previous editions, the Mediterranean community will once again come together in Cagliari for MedaCity 2026 - Businesses and Cities of the Mediterranean: Engines of Innovation, Cohesion and Peace. The international forum, dedicated to the role of cities and businesses in the economic and social development of the Euro-Mediterranean region, will take place on 2 October 2026 at the Cagliari Fair Congress Centre.

Promoted by the Cagliari-Oristano Chamber of Commerce and ASCAME, the Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the event will bring together institutional representatives, local authorities, international organisations, Chambers of Commerce, universities, businesses and stakeholders from across the Mediterranean. Discussions will focus on some of the region’s key challenges, including cooperation, investment, urban sustainability, tourism, ports and territorial development.

MedaCity 2026 will be preceded by a day of preparatory activities, including a meeting of the ASCAME Executive Committee. The Association represents more than 100 Chambers of Commerce from across the Mediterranean region. A dedicated discussion will also address the main Euro-Mediterranean cooperation programmes, with particular attention to the future of strategic instruments such as Interreg NEXT MED and PRIMA.

A central focus of this year’s forum will be the new Pact for the Mediterranean, an initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation between the European Union and its Southern Mediterranean partners through concrete development and investment measures. In this context, MedaCity will provide a platform for dialogue between institutions and the business community, with the aim of identifying practical proposals to translate the strategic objectives of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership into tangible opportunities for territories, businesses and citizens.

The programme will feature three thematic sessions addressing key issues for the future of Mediterranean cities. The first will explore the role of financial instruments and investment in supporting cooperation and sustainable development. The second will examine the relationship between tourism and urban identity, focusing on strategies to manage tourism flows while preserving the cultural and social heritage of local communities. The third will consider the role of ports as drivers of urban transformation, economic competitiveness and territorial integration.

Alongside the thematic panels, the programme will also explore the contribution that dialogue and cooperation can make to peace and stability. Cities, businesses and intermediary organisations can play an increasingly important role in building stable and lasting relationships throughout the Mediterranean region.

With MedaCity 2026, Cagliari once again positions itself as a key venue for international dialogue on the Mediterranean, bringing together institutions, businesses and communities committed to advancing innovation, inclusion and cooperation.

For further information: www.meda-city.com

cristano.erriu@caor.camcom.it