EVERYBODY PLANS ... SOMETIMES
Cherish Heritage, Plan Now, Create a Better Future!

As urban and regional landscapes become more complex, planning is no longer a linear process. It is adaptive, participatory, and often unpredictable. In urban and regional development, planning is both a discipline and a gamble. This conference gathers thinkers and doers to navigate the space between vision and reality – shaping futures one decision at a time. For three decades, the REAL CORP conference series has been at the forefront of exploring the profound impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on urban and regional development. As we navigate an era of unprecedented change, marked by rapid technological advancements, evolving societal structures, and pressing environmental challenges, REAL CORP 2026 invites researchers, practitioners, experts, activists and policymakers to contribute to the discourse on “Cherish Heritage, Plan Now, Create a Better Future!”

We are witnessing a paradigm shift in how our cities and regions function, are planned, and are experienced. From the pervasive influence of artificial intelligence and big data analytics to the imperative of climate resilience and inclusive governance, urban and regional landscapes are undergoing continuous metamorphosis. REAL CORP 2026 provides a vital platform to critically examine these transformations, share innovative solutions, and collectively envision sustainable and equitable futures.

The REAL CORP 2026 research question is: does technology and especially AI really revolutionise everything? Even CITIES, the biggest invention of mankind?

New technologies and especially AI lead to many changes in all aspects of life, including in cities and regions and, of course, in planning processes. Still cities and regions are not primarily a playground for “new technologies” but the main goal is to have sustainable, resilient and above all livable environments. The soul of a livable future often lies in adequate density, adaptive reuse, green infrastructure, and places where communities thrive, with eco-conscious urban design, human-scale architecture, and inclusive public spaces! All this has to be planned, created, maintained and eventually renewed.

Planning is always an effort of many contributors and planners have to be part of all urban planning efforts – be it as experts, visionaries, strategists, co-ordinators, moderators and mediators, advocates and sometimes opposers. LET’S PLAN TOGETHER!