METREX Spring conference
10-12 June 2026 , Helsinki metropolitan area
From Polycrisis to Multibenefits – Promoting Holistic Sustainability in Spatial Planning
Rapidly growing metropolitan regions today are facing a polycrisis: sustainability challenges that occur simultaneously and are deeply interconnected.
The METREX Helsinki Conference explores how cities and metropolitan regions can move beyond crisis management towards generating solutions that deliver multiple benefits.
Particular attention is given to:
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Comprehensive and sustainable planning for growing cities and urban regions. We examine how urban growth can be aligned with rapid climate action, stronger biodiversity, and social sustainability.
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Regional-scale planning as a driver of sustainable transformation. We explore the trade-offs and tensions that inevitably arise when balancing environmental, social, and economic objectives.
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The role of knowledge and data. We consider how evidence can support holistic sustainability in planning and assessment, and strengthen climate change adaptation and the resilience of metropolitan regions.
By bringing together planners, researchers, and practitioners, the conference offers a platform to share insights and best practices, and to discuss current challenges. Together, we will deepen our understanding of holistic sustainability in urban planning and explore how well-considered choices can turn challenges into opportunities for more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban regions.
About the hosting region
Helsinki-Uusimaa is at the heart of Northern Europe and at the Baltic Sea. Including the capital city of Helsinki, the region is home to 1.8 million inhabitants, about a third of the entire population of Finland. The region is the driver of international competitiveness, research, and development in the country.
For a more in-depth knowledge, please visit the following websites:
The METREX Helsinki Team, a shared METREX membership of three organisations from the Helsinki metropolitan area, is hosting the conference in Helsinki next summer. While each organisation approaches regional development from its own perspective, they are united by a shared ambition: to foster a Helsinki metropolitan area that is liveable, vibrant and climate-resilient.
The conference provides a platform for shared learning and exchange on how different dimensions of sustainability can be addressed simultaneously in metropolitan development, while also offering participants an experiential introduction to the Helsinki metropolitan area and its most inspiring locations.
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
Day 1
The first day of the conference is dedicated to the work of the METREX Expert Groups. In the evening, the City of Helsinki kindly hosts a reception for conference participants at the beautiful City Hall by the Market Square. The reception is followed by an archipelago cruise, offering a maritime perspective on Helsinki and an introduction to its evolving waterfront areas.
Day 2
The second day is the conference day and takes place at the iconic Oodi Central Library (https://oodihelsinki.fi/en/), located in the heart of Helsinki.
Internationally known for its architecture and its role as a civic meeting place, Oodi provides an inspiring setting for a full day of discussions on holistic sustainability. After the conference sessions, participants are invited to unwind at Uunisaari (https://uunisaari.fi/en/), a small island just off the city centre. The evening begins with a traditional Finnish sauna experience and an opportunity to take a refreshing dip in the Baltic Sea, before culminating in the conference dinner.
Day 3
The third day, the programme continues with thematic sustainability sessions coordinated by the host organisations, and the METREX General Assembly will take place. The morning sessions are followed by lunch and optional thematic excursions.
For accommodation, the local hosts recommend the following easily accessible and sustainable hotels:
- Modern and charming:
Book at Hotel Helka by 10 May 2026 using the promo code METREX2026.
Prices are fixed, ranging from €120/night for a Smart Single Room to €160/night for a Comfort Double Room. - Comfortable:
All Nordic Scandic hotels near the Helsinki main railway station.
Book with the code CGRO to receive a 10% discount on the standard rate, subject to availability.
