Denksalon 2026 on shrinkage and sustainability transformation in small and midium-sized towns

This year, the Denksalon in the European city of Görlitz/Zgorzelec focuses on the topic "Schrumpfung und Transformation – Mehr Raum für Nachhaltigkeit und Resilienz in Städten und Regionen?" (Shrinkage and Transformation – More Space for Sustainability and Resilience in Cities and Regions?). On 1 and 2 October, the Interdisciplinary Centre for Transformative Urban Regeneration (IZS) will once again host the event at the Silesian Museum in Görlitz to discuss the current challenges and potential of shrinking cities and regions. Registration is open until 18 September 2026.

View of a colorfully designed garage door bearing the inscription #Zukunftsvisionen (visions of the future). — Photo: B. Knoop, IHI Zittau/IZS Görlitz

Many small and medium-sized towns in peripheral areas have been experiencing population decline for decades and are likely to shrink rather than grow in the future. Yet, should this be viewed solely as a shortcoming or a deficit? Or do such conditions also offer advantages and entirely new opportunities for quality of life, participation, and the transformation towards sustainable and resilient spatial structures?

The event will be held in German.

Further information is available in the German version of this webnews or on the event website (in German).

Contact to the organizing team
e-mail: denksalonioer@ioer.de

Background
The annual Denksalon brings together experts from science and practice to discuss current topics of urban regeneration and transformation processes in cities and regions. The Denksalon is characterised by short impulse lectures from different disciplines as well as intensive, smaller discussion rounds in an open atmosphere. The usual distance between speakers and listeners is broken and an open discourse between all participants is made possible. Novel urban development and research perspectives are developed through knowledge exchange between science and practice.

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