19. May 2026

Metropolitan Conference 2026

A positive mood isn’t everything—but without it, everything is nothing. Our mood influences our thinking, our actions, and thus our future. It shapes how we face challenges—including as a region: whether we let ideas flourish or stifle them with doubt, whether we focus more on opportunities or risks. A positive mood can inspire us and set us in motion—or paralyze us.

As part of this year’s Metropolitan Conference, we want to explore with you what mood currently shapes our metropolitan region, how much it influences the region’s development, what it takes to fall in love with success again, and what role the European Metropolitan Region of Munich (EMM) plays in this. To this end, we—the European Metropolitan Region of Munich (EMM) e.V. and the City of Friedberg—cordially invite you to the Metropolitan Conference on July 21, 2026, at Wittelsbach Castle in Friedberg. We look forward to inspiring ideas, engaging discussions, and personal exchanges with you!

> View the program flyer

Registration for the event is required. The registration form will be available on this page starting June 11.

Event Venue and Directions

Wittelsbach Castle Friedberg
Schlossstraße 21
86316 Friedberg

Directions and Parking
Directions to Wittelsbach Castle Friedberg
Castle parking lot directly on the B300 // additional parking options can be found here.
From the Friedberg train station, the castle is a short 15-minute walk away.

Supporting program

Historical Tour of Friedberg’s Old Town
Discover winding alleys, impressive buildings, and hidden stories just waiting to be told. The guided tours through Friedberg’s romantic old town combine in-depth knowledge with entertaining anecdotes for an experience that engages all the senses. Feel and see the charm of centuries past. Be inspired by historic squares, living traditions, and fascinating personalities that continue to shape the unique character of the ducal city of Friedberg to this day.

Underground: A Glimpse into a Former Brewery Cellar
The Wittelsbach rulers understood early on how to use their power over beer to their advantage and maintained their established wheat beer monopoly for over 200 years. Learn interesting facts about the world’s oldest alcoholic beverage and immerse yourself in the now almost forgotten era of Friedberg’s brewing art. A few steep steps lead you into the historic vaulted cellar of a former brewery—where you can experience history, tradition, and beer culture in an impressive way.

“Awoken from its slumber: from official residence to cultural center” – Guided tour of the Wittelsbach Castle
The Wittelsbach Castle in Friedberg will soon turn 770 years old—it is older than the city itself. Built by Ludwig II the Strict, it served as the widow’s residence of Christine of Lorraine, housed a faience factory, and served as the headquarters of the gendarmerie, the forestry inspectorate, and the land survey office.  The residents of Friedberg purchased the castle from the Free State at the beginning of this millennium. See and learn how this historic monument was transformed from an administrative seat into the city’s cultural center—despite some resistance—featuring a modern museum and a vibrant program of events.