Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 14 August, 2026 – MBHEC was honored to participate at the “Sarajevo Mayors Summit 2026” organized by the City of Sarajevo.
The international conference brought together in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina mayors from cities across the region, representatives of the European Union, the OSCE Mission to BiH, international organizations, and the diplomatic corps.
Held under the motto “From Sarajevo to the Future,” this year’s Summit was dedicated to the theme “The Role of Capital Cities in Strengthening Sustainable Development, Peace, Dialogue, and Multiculturalism.”
Delegations from Zagreb, Ljubljana, Podgorica, Priština, Ankara, Istanbul, and Brussels arrived in Sarajevo for the Summit, which coincided with the opening day of the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival.
The Maryland–Bosnia and Herzegovina Exchange Council (MBHEC) was proud to be among the invited participants, represented at the Summit by Board Member Adnan Hadrović, Executive Manager Andrea Pozderac, and Selma Friedman. For MBHEC, being present in Vijećnica for this gathering was a meaningful continuation of the work we do every day: connecting cities, institutions, and people across the Atlantic. Sister city partnerships like the one between Annapolis and Sarajevo are, in our view, one of the most durable forms of diplomacy there is. We are grateful to the City of Sarajevo and Mayor Avdić for convening this Summit and for the continued opportunity to stand alongside our partner cities in support of that vision.
During the plenary session, mayors discussed key challenges and opportunities facing contemporary cities, including sustainable urban development, the green and digital transition, the preservation of peace and multiculturalism, strengthening regional cooperation, and the development of joint projects through European funds and international partnerships.
Mayor Samir Avdić, as host, welcomed all participants in his opening remarks.“It is a great honor and pleasure to host all the esteemed delegations here today, true friends of Sarajevo. The theme of this Summit is not merely a formal title for the event. It represents our shared ambition for cities to be places where new ideas are born and partnerships are built. The culmination of the Summit is the signed Sarajevo Declaration,” Avdić said on the occasion.
Indeed, one of the most significant outcomes of the Summit is the Sarajevo Declaration 2026, a document through which participants affirmed their shared commitment to peace, sustainable development, climate responsibility, regional cooperation, and the preservation of cultural diversity.
In addition to the mayors, remarks were also delivered by the Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, Ambassador Rick Holtzapple, and the Head of the EU Delegation to BiH, Ambassador Luigi Soreca.
The Sarajevo Declaration 2026 underscores the important role of cities in building a more stable, connected, and sustainable region. Addressing Summit participants, Ambassador Luigi Soreca, Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina, highlighted the importance of the local level for BiH’s European path and the support the EU provides to cities in that process.
As part of the program, participants attended the evening’s grand opening of the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival, further showcasing Sarajevo’s cultural dimension and its international significance.
MBHEC was honored to take part in these discussions alongside mayors and diplomats from across the region and Europe, and we look forward to building on the momentum of this Summit as we continue our own sister city work between Maryland and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Occasions like this remind us why municipal diplomacy matters and that it is often at the city level, through relationships like ours, that lasting international partnerships takes root.
You can read the full story on the City of Sarajevo website: https://www.sarajevo.ba/bs/article/16154/sarajevo-mayors-summit-2026-avdic-u-vijecnici-okupio-delegacije-iz-regije-i-evrope
