NGIN’s biennial summit bringing together leaders from Small and Midsized Cities across the country to dive into innovative practices, strengthen networks, and champion new pathways for locally driven, community-centered economic growth. 

Thank you for joining us at Cityscapes 2026.

Building on the success of the inaugural Summit in Durham, North Carolina, Cityscapes 2026 brought hundreds of economic development, community, and local government leaders to New Orleans for three days of learning, connection, and action. This year’s Summit featured more than 20 mainstage and breakout sessions, six tours and site visits, two conversation dinners, and a Makers Market showcasing more than 15 local small businesses.

2026 Tracks and Sessions

Programming explored topics like community wealth-building, innovative investment models, the future of work, technology, and partnership-driven economic growth through three content tracks: Community Wealth & Ownership, Capital & Investment, and the Future of Economic Development.

R E S O U R C E S

View Session Materials and Resources

Want to dive deeper into the ideas shared at Cityscapes 2026? Explore our resource library for presentation slides, tools, guides, and session materials.

Our 2026 Keynote Speaker—Bill Bynum and Speaker Lineup

Based in Jackson, Mississippi, Bill serves as CEO of Hope Enterprise Corporation and Hope Credit Union, where he has spent decades expanding economic opportunity across the Deep South. His leadership bridges finance, policy, and grassroots impact—bringing real pathways for communities to thrive. At Cityscapes, Bill shared insights on investing in people and place, and what it takes to create lasting economic progress in small and midsized cities.

Feel the Energy of Cityscapes Through Our 2026 Recap Video

From thought-provoking discussions to moments of connection across sectors and communities, the video captures what it looked like when leaders from across the country came together to ignite innovations and power economies.

Read Insights from Cityscapes 2026

Our Headline Sponsor

The Cityscapes Summit is made possible through the generous support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, our headline sponsor and a key funder of NGIN’s Small & Midsized Cities Hub. Their commitment to healthy, thriving communities helps make this gathering possible.

Additional Sponsors

Your Cityscapes Insider Access

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