On 5 June, U.S. mayors and senior international officials gather in Paris for the closing side event of Urban7 2026.
How are U.S. cities asserting their international voice at a moment of unprecedented global turbulence?
On Friday, 5 June 2026, the City Diplomacy Lab and the German Marshall Fund of the United States host U.S. mayors and executives from leading international organizations for a morning of dialogue on the growing global engagement of American cities — decisive actors on climate, migration, democratic resilience, and transatlantic cooperation. The event is the closing side event of Urban7 2026, the first U7 International Mayors’ Summit to take place since cities were formally recognized as an official G7 Engagement Group. Free registration required.
As the G7 cities’ Summit concludes in Nancy with the adoption of the Nancy Declaration, the conversation moves to Paris to examine the U.S. perspective — at a moment when American cities are stepping forward as steady, reliable partners on the international stage, advancing climate action, welcoming policies, and cross-border cooperation even when national-level dynamics grow more uncertain. The morning brings together heads of U.S. delegations to Urban7 and senior representatives of international organizations to map what U.S. city diplomacy looks like today, and where it is heading.
The event is moderated by Dr. Lorenzo Kihlgren Grandi, Founding Director of the City Diplomacy Lab and Scientific Coordinator of the Urban7 2026 process.
Speakers
- Steve Patterson, Mayor of Athens (Ohio) — Head of the U.S. Delegation to Urban7 2026
- Dilpreet Sidhu, Deputy Mayor for International Affairs, City of Los Angeles
- José “Chito” Vela III, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Austin
- Elle Bisgaard-Church, Chief of Staff to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (TBC)
- Dario Liguti, Director, Energy, Housing & Land Management, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
- Linda Tinio, Coordinator, UNESCO’s International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities (ICCAR)
- Stefano Marta, Head of Unit, Smart and Sustainable Cities, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
- Paul Costello, Director (interim), GMF Cities
Practical Information
- 📍 Venue: Reid Hall — 4 rue de Chevreuse, 75006 Paris
- 🕘 Schedule: Coffee reception at 9:00 a.m. CEST; program from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
- 🗣 Working language: English
The event is part of the Urban7 2026 process, for which the City Diplomacy Lab serves as Scientific Coordinator.