The National League of Cities is providing a space for 3,000 local leaders to connect and learn at its annual City Summit in Salt Lake City from Nov. 20 – 22, 2025. City Summit is the premier event for local leaders and advocates from across the United States – mayors, councilmembers and city staff – to congregate and learn from one another.
What’s in store?
Expect immersive learning experiences: executive education sessions, mobile tours, and 30+ workshops covering the issues that matter most to cities today. This year’s conference theme, Creating Opportunity in Uncertainty, taps into the shifting and complex environment in which local governments now operate.
Not to Miss Highlights of City Summit 2025:
- Governing Amid Disruption: Attendees will explore strategies and attend sessions focused on managing federal uncertainty, budget stress, and governmental challenges.
- Leadership Through Adversity: A theme across the conference: how mayors and councils build trust, maintain services, and pivot in crisis. Attendees will hear from Tim Shriver, co-founder of the Dignity Index as well as Utah Governor Spencer Cox and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on why dignity and civility matter now more than ever.
- Innovation & Resilience: Workshops will cover infrastructure, climate adaptation, equity, civic technology, public safety, and community health. Angela F. Williams, CEO and president of United Way Worldwide will headline the Saturday Closing Session and discuss the power of partnerships and how leaders can build their resilience.
- Networking & Strategy Exchange: Attendees can connect with peers, federal policymakers, subject matter experts, and thought leaders throughout the conference. These opportunities are made available through NLC’s caucuses, which provide a space for elected leaders to connect with peers from similar backgrounds or serving similar communities to our federal policy committees. Learn how you can get involved, even if you’re not at City Summit.
Inspiring & Powerful General Sessions
A collection of keynote speakers will headline the General Sessions. Laura Evans, Emmy-award winning journalist, will emcee the three General Sessions.
- Thursday: Kick off with a timely discussion on AI in local government—how cities can harness technology for community impact.
- Friday: Hear from Tim Shriver and Governors Spencer Cox and Michelle Lujan Grisham on why civility still matters and how local leaders can help bridge divides.
- Saturday: Angela Williams closes the event with a powerful message on resilience and building strong communities.
City Summit empowers municipal leaders with practical tools, best practices, and peer insights to adapt and lead in dynamic times. Missing this year’s City Summit? Save the date for 2026 in Nashville, TN.
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