Forum StadtRaumZukunft 2026

The place marketing conference on the future of our cities – on 06.03.2026 at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce

How can urban development succeed in times of transformation, conflicts of use and rising expectations? How do place marketing, politics and co. cooperate in a sustainable way?

The Forum StadtRaumZukunft is the place marketing conference for all those who not only manage cities, but actively shape them: On March 6, 2026, we will bring together decision-makers and practitioners from the fields of place marketing, urban development, tourism, culture, business and politics. With keynotes, talks, workshops and best practices from the DACH region, StadtRaumZukunft will provide concrete impetus for liveable, resilient cities.

An event organized by:

Logo of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce

In cooperation with:

Logo of Stadtmanufaktur GmbH

When?

Friday, March 06, 2026
09:00 to 17:00
(costs: 115 euros incl. lunch)

Where?

Hamburg Chamber of Commerce
Adolphsplatz 1
20457 Hamburg

Who?

Decision-makers from place marketing, urban development, culture, tourism, business and politics

The program at a glance

StadtRaumZukunft combines inspiration, discussion and practical transfer. Centerpiece of the conference: 2 keynotes, 6 workshops and 20+ speakers

Morning

Perspectives & attitude

  • Welcome and kick-off: Why StadtRaumZukunft? Context, goals and expectations
  • Keynotes – Images of the future and perspectives: Impulses for the future of the city, urban futures and the role of place marketing as a driver of transformation
  • Panel discussion: Pulling together with politics and business – how cities shape change through cooperation

Workshop sessions I

In three parallel workshops, we will delve into the central questions of modern urban design:

  • New financing and partner models between public and private
  • Stakeholder management, control and trust as success factors
  • Participation of underrepresented groups – for more diverse and fairer urban development

Lunch & City Walk

Guided walk through the BIDs in Hamburg’s city center: urban space as a space for learning, experience and discussion
Afternoon

Workshop Session II

In the afternoon, the focus will also be on working together on specific issues. Each workshop starts with three impulses from speakers from practice and research. We then discuss and work on challenges, experiences and solutions to these topics:
  • Thinking place marketing and destination management together
  • Qualification and management of public events as an instrument of urban development
  • Post-economy in the 24-hour city – new opportunities for urban diversity, culture and resilience

Conclusion & outlook

  • Closing keynote: Impulses for the future of urban cooperation
  • Joint reflection: key learnings, open questions, perspectives for UrbanSpaceFuture 2026

Get-together

Space for networking, in-depth discussions and informal talks in the Börsensaal of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce

Before the conference

Pre-opening at St. Pauli

Already in Hamburg the evening before? Meet us on March 5, 2026 for a guided walk through St. Pauli (followed by a get-together). The motto: “Transformation, culture, resistance”.

You can register for the pre-opening here.

After the conference

Results & documentation

After the conference, you will receive all the key findings, discussion points and impulses for action from us by e-mail so that you can benefit from them in the long term.

Any questions about the conference? Write to us: laura.ebeling@stadtmanufaktur.com

“The StadtRaumZukunft forum is the kind of conference we want: An exchange at eye level, lots of practical experience and concrete answers to the challenges facing city makers.”

Thorsten Kausch, Managing Director of Stadtmanufaktur

Thorsten Kausch and Isabell Köster from Stadtmanufaktur talk in the foyer

Our speakers

Experts from practice and research. Doers from politics, culture and business

Martin Knabenreich from Bielefeld Marketing GmbH

Martin Knabenreich

Managing Director of Bielefeld Marketing GmbH; Deputy Chairman of the Bundesverband City- und Stadtmarketing (bcsd)

Anna Bierig from place marketing and tourism Reutlingen GmbH

Anna Bierig

Managing Director of Stadtmarketing und Tourismus Reutlingen GmbH

©️ Dimitri Drofitsch

Claus Hoffmann from Koblenz-Touristik GmbH

Claus Hoffmann

Managing Director of Koblenz-Touristik GmbH and Koblenz-Stadtmarketing GmbH

©️ Koblenz-Touristik GmbH, Désirée von Canal

Verena Kiedaisch from Ellwangen

Verena Kiedaisch

Head of Economic Development and Place Marketing, Managing Director of Pro Ellwangen e. V.

©️ Photo Positive

Isabell Sollmann aus Osnabrück

Isabell Sollmann

Strategy and management at Marketing Osnabrück GmbH; responsible for the Osnabrück brand

Isabell Köster, Project Manager at Stadtmanufaktur GmbH

Isabell Köster

Project manager for strategic narratives at Stadtmanufaktur GmbH

… more speakers will follow shortly

See you in Hamburg in March?
We would be delighted