At the Smart City Exchange Forum in Tallinn, one message rose above the rest: resilience is no longer a side issue. It is becoming the basic condition of urban survival.
At the Smart City Exchange Forum 2026, held in mid-March in Tallinn, the word resilience gradually shed its conference-polish vagueness and became something far sharper: the organising principle of urban life in an age of overlapping shocks.
Estonian capital’s 2026 budget and master plan aims to create a high-quality living environment with everyday services conveniently accessible to residents.
At a glance:
- Who: Tallinn City Planning Department; Tallinn City Council.
- What: Tallinn is prioritising the creation of a clear planning framework in its 2026 urban planning budget and the development of a high-quality living environment.
- Why: It wants everyday services to be conveniently accessible to residents and the development of urban space to supports a human-centred environment.
- Where: Activities focus on a number of areas across the city, including Pae tn 1 and Pikaliiva tn 69 and surrounding areas, as well as the Kakumäe coastal area.
Read more: EE: Tallinn master plan focuses on human-centred environment
Winning solutions in this year’s competition include improving energy efficiency and indoor climate of buildings, and optimising maintenance of urban greenery.
The City of Tallinn, in partnership with Tehnopol, has awarded a total of €145,000 to six Estonian companies as part of the Tallinnovation competition to develop and test innovative smart city solutions in urban space.
Read more: EE: Tallinn grants €145,000 for progress of smart city solutions
Projects selected span drone pilot training and AI-based mapping of outdoor advertising to biometric identification of pets and smart education analytics.
The Estonian capital of Tallinn has chosen eight new trial projects that support smart city development through the Test in Tallinn programme.
September’s round of applications attracted a record high 29 applications from around the world.
Read more: EE: Tallinn selects latest smart city projects for testing
Tallinn’s 2025 budget emphasises the principles of the approach and an analysis of the spatial distribution of services. The City reports it will enable more efficient planning for new kindergartens, schools, and services for seniors, improving accessibility and aligning with community needs.
The proposed budget allocates €6.1m to urban planning operations for the coming year. Key priorities include shaping Tallinn’s spatial identity through comprehensive plans, directing the development of urban and mobility centres, and enhancing street spaces into high-quality public environments.
Read more: EE: Tallinn focuses on developing a 15-minute city and enhancing quality of life