Barcelona hosted the first edition of the Cities for Talent Meeting in 2023, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of Barcelona International Community Day. Organized by Barcelona International Welcome, this two-day event brought together leading experts and professionals from cities and regions with innovative programs for attracting and retaining international talent.
The meeting served as a platform for dialogue and collaboration among cities recognized for their success in talent strategies. Participants exchanged best practices, addressed common challenges, explored solutions, and strengthened cooperation to advance inclusive and sustainable models for international talent integration.
The success of this inaugural edition inspired participants to establish Cities for Talent as an annual event, rotating among the host cities of the network members.
Between 28 and 30 October 2025, Bologna hosted the Cities for Talent Meeting – an international gathering organised by the Metropolitan City and the Municipality of Bologna, in collaboration with ART-ER and the Bologna for Talent initiative.
In October 2024 a three-day congress took place in the Utrecht Region (NL) to foster an environment of exchange and collaboration, sharing best practices and growing a network to support the international community.
