2026 Working-Level Officials Meeting in Sapporo

From January 19th to 20th, 2026, The World Winter Cities Association for Mayors 2026 Working-Level Officials Meeting was held in Sapporo, Japan.

 

Period

Monday, January 19th – Tuesday, January 20th, 2026

 

Venue

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo (Sapporo, Japan)

 

Participants

• Member Cities: 17 People from 4 Cities from 3 Countries
  Rovaniemi (Finland), Sapporo (Japan), Inje, Taebaek (Korea)

Observers: 5 people from 2 Organizations
CityNet Secretariat, World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC)

 

Meeting Contents

1) Report on The 20th World Winter Cities Conference for Mayors
The Report on the 20th Mayors Conference held in Sapporo in December of 2024 was given by the City of Sapporo.

2) Discussion on the Proposal for The 21st Mayors Conference in Rovaniemi

A discussion on the proposal for The 21st Mayors Conference to be held in Rovaniemi, Finland in September of 2026 was held, and the proposal was approved as it was originally planned. The overview of the proposal is as follows:

• • • Dates: Tuesday, September 8th to Thursday, September 10th, 2026

  • Venue: Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus

  • Main Theme: Sustainable Urban Innovation and Healthy Active Lifestyles in Winter Cities

    • Sub-theme 1: Urban Innovation for Climate Friendly Winter Cities

    • Sub-theme 2: Healthy Active Lifestyles in Winter Cities

•  

Special Lectures

1) World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center Special Lecture
Mr. John Kher Kaw of The World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center, a hub for gathering and dispersal of knowledge (Knowledge Hub), gave a lecture on the theme “Livable Cities for a Livable Planet”.

2) CityNet Secretariat Special Lecture
Mr. Jaebok Lee and Mr. Chris Di Gennaro of the Citynet Secretariat, a non-profit international organization that aims to improve on and solve urban problems faced in the Asia-Pacific region, gave presentations on the initiatives of CityNet and leading case studies from Korea and The City of Seoul.

 

City Tour

A city tour to the following facilities and projects within the City of Sapporo that were chosen with their connection to the proposed themes for the 21st Mayors Conference in Rovaniemi in mind was conducted.

Tour Locations

• Sapporo Station Minamiguchi Energy Center
• Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway (Chikaho)
• Hokkaido Bank Curling Stadium

  etc.

Related Events

Along with the Working-Level Official Meeting, an event was also held to introduce the activities of the WWCAM and the member cities. 

WWCAM Panel Exhibition
For 7 days from January 16th to 22nd, a Panel Exhibition was held at Aurora Square in the Sapporo Chikagai Aurora Town (Underground Shopping Mall). Citizens and tourists alike were able to view the activities and overviews of the WWCAM and the member cities at the exhibition.