Events
The Sustainable Cities Festival 2026
The Sustainable Cities Festival is back for its third year, bringing together communities, businesses, students and city-shapers to imagine and build better futures for our cities.
Taking place at the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability at the University of East London, the festival celebrates the Royal Docks as a place of ideas, creativity and action, where local knowledge and industry leaders meets innovation.
Over three days, you’ll find practical workshops, inspiring talks, site tours and relaxed networking, all designed to spark ideas, build connections and explore what sustainable city life can look like in practice.
About the festival
The Sustainable Cities Festival is a university-wide initiative rooted in UEL’s role in the Royal Docks and East London.
It brings people together from different backgrounds, residents, community groups, businesses, researchers, students and policymakers to share ideas, learn from each other and explore real solutions to the challenges facing cities today.
Whether you’re interested in skills, jobs, enterprise, community action or the future of your local area, the festival offers welcoming and accessible ways to get involved.
Festival Themes & Programme Highlights
You can attend one day or join us across all three.
- Day 1 – Skills for Sustainable Growth
- Day 2 – Sustainable Start-Ups
- Day 3 – Sustainable Communities
Why Attend?
- Explore how cities are responding to climate, health and inequality challenges and what this means for policy, investment and delivery on the ground
- Learn directly from organisations piloting real projects and place-based solutions in East London
- Discover emerging green skills, workforce needs and future career pathways shaping the next generation of talent
- Connect with businesses, start-ups, community organisations, researchers and public-sector partners working across the urban system
- Gain insight into regeneration, innovation and community wealth building in the Royal Docks
- Take part in conversations shaping practical, collaborative approaches to sustainable urban futures, locally and beyond
Who Is It For?
The festival is open to everyone, including:
- Local residents and community groups
- businesses, employers and start-ups
- Students and graduates
- Researchers, practitioners and policymakers
No specialist knowledge is needed, events are designed to be friendly, practical and easy to join.
For your visit
Places To Stay
Travelodge London ExCeL
A good budget choice, eight minutes walk from the ExCeL centre.
New Arrival
Business
Royal Albert Dock
This new commercial heart for London will stretch from Royal Albert DLR almost as far as Cyprus.
Art & Culture
Making Space: Take Your Place
This final part of Jessie Brennan’s public art series was created in collaboration with the sports communities at Royal Docks Adventure.
