Malaga: Nicosia will participate from January 22 to 24, 2025, at the URBACT Cities After Dark meeting to be held in M¡laga, Spain. Held within the scope of the URBACT IV programme, the event aims to assess progress, explore challenges, and define innovative strategies for sustainable night-time city management. The meeting will bring together representatives from European cities, international experts, and local stakeholders, and notable figures such as the Night Mayors of Amsterdam and New York City, a Nicosia Municipality press release said.
According to Cyprus News Agency, URBACT Cities After Dark is a transnational network that brings together European cities committed to promoting sustainable and inclusive nocturnal urban development. Under the theme “Night-time Economy for Sustainable Growth,” this project, led by Braga, involves ten European cities, including Paris (France), Tallinn (Estonia), Varna (Bulgaria), Genoa (Italy), Malaga (Spain), Nicosia (Cyprus), Piraeus (Greece), Zadar (Croatia), and Budva (Montenegro).
The event will serve as the epicenter of discussions on the night-time economy and urban attractiveness with the fifth transnational meeting of the URBACT Cities After Dark network. Highlights include the opening session on January 22, featuring a dialogue on the impact of the night-time economy on urban attractiveness with experts such as Simone d’Antonio, Lead Expert of the Cities After Dark network, and local professionals from M¡laga.
On the same day, the public event “M¡laga 24/7” will focus on sustainable practices for the night-time economy, with contributions from experts like Andreina Seijas and Simone d’Antonio, as well as insights from the Night Mayors of Amsterdam and New York City.
The programme also includes technical visits and case studies, such as a walking tour of the SOHO M¡laga project, an urban recovery strategy, along with visits to cultural and business night-time spaces. These initiatives showcase how cities are adapting their night-time strategies to accommodate diverse sectoral dynamics, from entertainment and tourism to public safety and local community engagement.
A key topic of discussion will be the complex relationship between local nightlife and overtourism. The meeting will explore how cities can strike a balance between fostering vibrant night-time economies and mitigating the negative impacts of excessive tourism, ensuring that urban life remains sustainable for both residents and visitors.
On January 23, a review of the progress of Integrated Action Plans (IAPs) will focus on thematic integration and economic development, while on the final day, January 24, partner cities will participate in a peer review of the first drafts of the IAPs. This will allow cities to share experiences and learn from each other’s approaches to managing the challenges and opportunities of their night-time economies.