We are excited to host our 2026 Winter Meeting in Washington DC this coming January, which marks over twenty years of MIP meetings. The meeting will take place Friday, January 30 – Saturday, January 31, 2026. We’re working closely with Mayors and partners across the country to put together a dynamic agenda that will you provide you with timely resources to meet the current moment.
Meeting Materials & Resources
New this year: Mayors Resource Fair!
We invite all mayors to a complimentary Networking Hour and Resource Fair immediately following the US Conference of Mayors plenary on January 30th at 1:30pm. Ten mayor-focused organizations will be in attendance and ready to provide you with resources and support to move your city forward. Please view the details on our draft agenda, and reach out with any questions or feedback.
Attending the Meeting? Share your Winter Meeting experience on social media with our social media toolkit!
Leading Under Pressure: Protecting Elected Officials
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Leading Under Pressure: Protecting Elected Officials
How do you fund a bold future when the present is unpredictable? Across the country, forward-looking leaders are realizing that resilience is becoming a new engine for a thriving community. We will explore how treating resilience as a strategy—rather than a safety net—can unlock new forms of capital and signal stability to insurers, investors, and developers who want to build in places preparing for the future. By integrating these principles into budgeting, asset management, and land-use planning, cities can strengthen their balance sheets and accelerate critical projects. Join us for a fiscal playbook designed to turn uncertainty into the foundation for your city to thrive.
Speakers and Presentation Slides:
- Katya Spear, Managing Director, Mayors Innovation Project
- Shannon Hiller, Executive Director, Bridging Divides Initiative
- Isabella Ulloa, Founder & CEO, Public Service Alliance
Presentation Slides Coming Soon
Briefing Book Resources
Coming soon.
Leading Through Uncertainty: A Fiscal Playbook for a Thriving Community
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Leading Through Uncertainty: A Fiscal Playbook for a Thriving Community
How do you fund a bold future when the present is unpredictable? Across the country, forward-looking leaders are realizing that resilience is becoming a new engine for a thriving community. We will explore how treating resilience as a strategy—rather than a safety net—can unlock new forms of capital and signal stability to insurers, investors, and developers who want to build in places preparing for the future. By integrating these principles into budgeting, asset management, and land-use planning, cities can strengthen their balance sheets and accelerate critical projects. Join us for a fiscal playbook designed to turn uncertainty into the foundation for your city to thrive.
Speakers and Presentation Slides:
- Mayor Peter Donovan, Mount Vernon, WA
- Shayne Kavanagh, Government Finance Officers Association
- Matt Posner, The Resiliency Company
Presentation Slides Coming Soon
Briefing Book Resources
Coming soon.
From Crisis to Community Asset: Rebuilding Childcare for Families and Workers
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Speakers & Slides
Childcare expenses are crushing family budgets, pushing thousands below the poverty line. Meanwhile, the childcare workforce struggles with low pay and poor benefits. This panel examines the childcare crisis while showcasing how strategic municipal investments—in training for workers, reducing barriers to starting childcare facilities and worker compensation—are essential to creating social equity, driving workforce participation, and ensuring long-term local economic health.
Speakers and Presentation Slides:
- Moderator: Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati, Moline, IL
- Diane Girouard, Child Care Aware of America
- Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, Hartford, CT
- Mayor Kelly Girtz, Athens-Clarke County, GA
Presentation Slides Coming Soon
Briefing Book Resources
Coming soon.
Building an Age Friendly City: The Imperative of Aging in Place
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Speakers & Slides
As the number of older adults rapidly increases, seniors have become the fastest growing homeless demographic in the nation. This stark reality makes keeping older adults safe, independent, and secure in their homes and communities an urgent municipal priority. This panel will explore successful ‘aging in place’ strategies. We’ll focus on proactive solutions–from ensuring seamless healthcare access and support services to implementing critical eviction prevention and housing stability programs—all aimed at allowing seniors to live independently and comfortably thrive within their communities.
Confirmed Speakers and Presentation Slides:
- AARP Livable Communities, speaker TBD
- Mayor Justin Bibb, City of Cleveland, OH
- Mayor Alyia Gaskins, City of Alexandria, VA
- Shelisa Howard-Martinez, Executive Director, Durham Aging Well
Presentation Slides Coming Soon
Briefing Book Resources:
Coming soon.
Innovation Showcase
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Speakers & Slides
The Innovation Showcase is a beloved MIP tradition. Mayors in attendance have the opportunity to share an innovative policy, program, or other effort that they’ve successfully implemented in a fun and fast-paced 3-minute presentation format. It’s the ultimate embodiment of “Good mayors borrow – great mayors steal” and an opportunity to share and take home good ideas to your city.
If you’re interested in participating in the Innovation Showcase, please indicate your interest in the registration form or reach out to Mary Carr Lee (mary.carrlee@wisc.edu).
Registration, logistics and agenda
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Registration
All US mayors are invited! Other elected local government leaders and staff should confirm with their mayor’s office before registering.
MEMBER CITIES
Mayors and representatives: As always, registration is free for member cities. Not sure if you are a member city? Please see this list of current members.
You do NOT need to be a member city to attend:
NON-MEMBER CITIES
Mayors: $375/person
Council members or city staff: $425/person
Learn more about membership here: https://www.mayorsinnovation.org/join/.
NGOs
If you are with a non-governmental organization, such as a non-profit or academic institution, please contact knspear@mayorsinnovation.org for an invitation. Our NGO rate is $475.
SPONSORS
The primary way we work with for-profit businesses or organizations that contract with cities is through conference sponsorship. Interested in sponsoring? Contact knspear@mayorsinnovation.org.
Travel & Logistics: Hotel Deadline Jan. 8!
Our conference hotel is the Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square, a short walk from our meeting venue, the White House, and the Marriott Marquis. MIP has negotiated a room block at the Sofitel at a rate of just $196+taxes per night. Rooms are available at this rate for 3 days prior to and after our event pending availability – if you wish to extend your stay, we highly recommend booking early. The deadline for booking at this rate is Thursday, January 8th, 2026.
Click here to access our room block, or call (202) 730-8428 and ask for the Mayors innovation Project Room Block.
Our primary conference venue is the LiUNA Conference Center located at 9th Fl, 905 Black Lives Matter Plz NW, Washington, DC 20006.
LiUNA is a 4 minute walk from the Sofitel Lafayette Square.
Agenda
Our Winter meeting includes a mix of policy panels and networking events that highlight and bring to life the innovative policy and partnerships happening in cities across the United States.
Our meeting agenda runs from approximately 2pm on Friday, January 30th through approximately 1 pm on Saturday, January 31st.
Thank you to our generous sponsors!
