Complete Story
02/17/2026
2026 Winter Cities Pecha Kucha
It might be cold and dark outside, but that isn’t going to slow us down! Okay, we’ll slow down a little. Seasonal depression is real and home is just so cozy! So how do you beat that gravitational pull to hunker down when you live in the global north where we have shorter hours of sunlight and colder temps 4 or more months of the year?
The APA-IL Chicago Metro Section (APA-CMS) hosted a Winter Cities Conference in February 2020 (aka the last session before lockdown) and we excited to rekindle this subject and invite you to participate!
This year, we have a new take on the theme. Instead of a line-up of expert presenters, we’re inviting YOU to be the experts and share your ideas -- How could we transform a better, more livable cold weather Chicagoland?
The Presentations
This will be a pecha kucha style presentation. Each presenter will have 20 slides x 20 seconds each to share their insights on a subject related to winter cities. This can be a personal observation or practices, professional tips from your community, or something else creative - it’s in your mittened hands. Ideas might include: lighting up the long nights; mobility in snowy months; supporting small businesses between holidays and festival days; or favorite winter walks in the Forest Preserve.
(submit presentations no later than March 11, 2026)
The fine print (for presentations):
CMS reserves the right to editorial curation pending the quantity of interested participants and common themes of topics.
Slides are not necessary to submit your idea. Completed slides will be due in advance of the presentation, date TBD.
The Event
Date: March 18, 2026
Location: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), Old Post Office (OPO), 433 W Van Buren St Suite 450, Chicago, IL 60607
Event Schedule
- 3:00 Arrive
- 3:15 Presentations Begin
- 5:00 Adjourn;
- Stay for Happy Hour at Snorkel Box (OPO lobby)
COST: $15 member, $20 non-member, $5 students
Professional Development Credit: Cm | 1.75 CM
Whether you are a participating presenter or just coming to take it all in, register below:
Event registration ends Monday March 16 at noon to ensure all participants have access through security at OPO.
What are "Winter Cities"?
Did you know that Chicago is a “Winter City”? Well, it is. Even Canada says so. In fact, in a 1986 publication titled Livable Winter Cities, the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada defined winter cities as “places where the average January temperature is 32° F (0° C) or colder,” and here in Chicago the average high temperatures in January and February rarely break freezing.
In the locales north of our prairie state border, a large group of architects, city planners, landscape architects, engineers, public health officials, parks and recreation professionals, economic developers and business district champions, elected and appointed leaders, and community stakeholders all huddle around The Winter Cities Institute, which was specifically formed to foster this type of urban planning.
