The 11th European Local Government Congress has begun in Kraków and will last for two days. Among the main topics of debate are the role of culture and art in supporting youth, as well as the challenges and opportunities associated with the development of artificial intelligence for local governments. Participants emphasize that local governments cannot shy away from new technologies and must actively shape their implementation. The congress includes representatives of local authorities from across Europe, including delegations from individual Polish counties, who are sharing their experiences.
Local government congress in Kraków
On March 5-6, 2026, the 11th European Local Government Congress is taking place in Kraków, gathering representatives of local authorities from across the continent to exchange experiences and debate key topics.
Art as support for youth
Congress participants point to culture and art as real and effective tools for psychological and social support for young people, helping them cope with the challenges of modern times.
Local governments and artificial intelligence
A leading theme is the relationship of local governments with technology, particularly artificial intelligence. It is emphasized that local authorities cannot shy away from it but must consciously implement it to improve services.
Participants from Poland and Europe
The event includes numerous Polish delegations, e.g., from Biłgoraj County, who are presenting local initiatives and projects on an international forum, highlighting the importance of interregional cooperation.
The 11th European Local Government Congress has been inaugurated in Kraków, a two-day forum bringing together representatives of local authorities from across Europe. The main axes of debate are the role of culture in social development and the inevitable technological transformation brought by artificial intelligence tools. Participants emphasize that local governments have a duty to actively shape this future, not passively wait for it. The European Local Government Congress has been held since 2016, initially under the name Polish Local Government Congress, as a platform for dialogue between representatives of local authorities, experts, and business. The event has evolved into an international forum focusing on common challenges for European municipalities, cities, and regions, such as digital transformation, sustainable development, and social cohesion. One of the key panels of the congress was dedicated to the potential of art as a tool for supporting youth. Speakers argued that engagement in artistic activities can be a real form of psychological and social support, building resilience among young people against problems such as isolation, uncertainty, or mental health crises. This topic fits into a broader discussion about the responsibility of local governments for building social capital and creating inclusive public spaces. „We cannot and do not want to escape from artificial intelligence.” — Debate participant The second, dominant theme is the inevitability of the revolution related to artificial intelligence. Congress participants agree that local governments must move from an observer's stance to being active creators of policies and services based on AI. The debate covers both opportunities, such as optimizing city management (smart city), personalization of social services, or combating digital exclusion, as well as challenges, including issues of ethics, algorithm transparency, data protection, and the need to improve digital competencies of both officials and residents. Numerous Polish delegations are participating in the congress, including representatives from Biłgoraj County, who are sharing experiences from locally implemented projects, emphasizing the value of exchanging good practices between regions. The event serves not only for discussion but also for establishing partnership contacts that could result in future cross-border cooperation.