We are thrilled that New York, NY, USA, in collaboration with our co-host the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), will be the host city for the 13th International Public Markets Conference on May 20-22, 2027!
This three-day event is the world’s largest conference for public market professionals. In 2027, Project for Public Spaces will celebrate 40 years of the event, which has brought together hundreds of leading public market leaders and advocates, from government officials and market managers to planners, organizers, food advocates, and academics, to advance the field of market practice.
Guided by the theme, The Future of Markets in a City We Can Afford, the conference will bring together practitioners from around the world to explore how public markets serve as anchors of shared prosperity. Through dozens of session types and offsite experiences conference participants will learn firsthand how the host city's interconnected food networks are integral to its economic vitality and community life, reflecting its unmatched diversity and energy.
Read the latest article on our blog to learn why we’re so excited about #PublicMarkets27 and why you should join us!
At the heart of New York City’s neighborhoods are its markets—vibrant, community-rooted spaces that have long connected people, culture, and commerce. From city-owned public markets like Essex Market, Moore Street Market, La Marqueta, and Arthur Avenue Market to more than 140 farmers markets across the five boroughs, New York’s markets reflect the city’s extraordinary diversity. These spaces demonstrate how markets can serve as anchors for neighborhoods and inclusive public life.
With markets including Queens Night Market, Harlem Night Market Smorgasburg, Chelsea Market, neighborhood street vendor clusters, and the world’s largest food distribution hub at Hunts Point, among others, New York’s food ecosystem offers a powerful lesson in community-centered placemaking. These markets uplift and fortify neighborhoods, from immigrant gateway communities to generations-old cultural enclaves, while creating opportunities for connection, entrepreneurship, and economic vitality. At the same time, New York is looking ahead, advancing five public grocery stores.
As communities everywhere confront rising costs, food insecurity, social isolation, and tightening public budgets, the 13th International Public Markets Conference will explore how markets can help build a city we can afford while supporting a dynamic cultural landscape. The three-day event will bring together leaders and practitioners to consider the future of public food infrastructure and discover how markets can become catalysts for food affordability, economic justice, and stronger communities.
Nearly a century ago, Mayor La Guardia built what is now La Marqueta so pushcart vendors in East Harlem had a safe place to sell and New Yorkers had somewhere to buy affordable, healthy food. We're building on that same idea with the city's new public grocery stores, one in every borough. Public markets have always been part of how our city works, and I'm glad leaders from around the world will get to see how New York does it when they're here in May.
— New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani
The The Market Cities Program aims to strengthen the regional systems behind the market stalls by connecting and supporting a diverse set of stakeholders through research, specialized training, and a network of peers.
During the 11th International Public Markets Conference in Toronto, Project for Public Spaces announced the launch of the Market Cities Network, the first international forum for markets of all kinds and the people committed to their success. Among many benefits, including peer-to-peer networking and capacity building support, Market Cities Network members enjoy discounted registration for conferences and trainings.
Contact us at IPMC@pps.org.
Help uplift the placemaking movement by sponsoring the 13th International Public Markets Conference! Check back for sponsorship opportunities, available soon.
