Manchester to host global conference on AI in city government
City leaders and public servants from around the world will gather in Greater Manchester on 16-17 June to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping local government services.
The Global AI Cities 2026 event takes place at Old Trafford Stadium and is co-hosted by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. It brings together officials managing AI projects across cities to share practical lessons on building responsible systems that serve residents and businesses.
Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, said the conference offers "a truly unique partnership opportunity" to discuss how AI can deliver inclusive growth and improve public services.
Two-day format: closed summit and open conference
Tuesday 16 June features an invitation-only summit for senior digital leaders. Discussions will focus on how cities are using AI to build resilience, the role of data quality in AI projects, building public trust in government AI systems, and the skills cities need to make AI work at scale.
Wednesday 17 June opens to all public servants at no cost. Sessions cover practical topics: improving local services with AI, supporting local economic growth, making city data usable for AI projects, and getting procurement decisions right.
The second day also examines how AI changes cybersecurity risks for government organisations and how to build trust among staff and residents to scale successful projects.
Who's speaking
Confirmed speakers include Christine Bellamy from the UK Government Digital Service, Richard Henderson (chief information officer for Alberta's government), Rasmus Ry Nielsen (chief digital officer for Aarhus, Denmark), and leaders from Salford City Council and the Turing Innovation Catalyst Manchester.
For government professionals looking to understand how peers are implementing AI in practice, this event offers direct access to those running active projects. AI for Government resources can help you prepare for conversations at the conference.
Registration and further details are available on the event website.
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