Mid-sized cities are home to more than one-third of America’s population. They’re the proving grounds for the nation’s next big ideas in housing, workforce, culture and community identity. Yet they’re often left out of national conversations. Big Towns is here to change that, amplifying innovation, leadership and progress from cities that are big enough to matter, small enough to care and built to last. Big Towns was created in 2024 as a national summit where civic leaders, planners, business innovators and community builders connect to share what actually works. Each year, we gather in Lafayette, Louisiana, a city that embodies what Big Towns stands for: creativity, collaboration and culture that brings people together. Christiaan Mader is in the studio to talk about the third annual Big Towns conference in downtown Lafayette April 22nd and 23rd. For more information, click here.
Big Towns Conference 2026
