Downtown Sacramento Partnership to Unveil the Vision for ‘Downtown’s Next Decade’ at State of Downtown Event on February 24

“Walkable City” Author Jeff Speck will Deliver Keynote Address at SAFE Credit Union Convention Center

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (February 3, 2026) – Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP) will unveil its strategic vision for the next decade of downtown at the annual State of Downtown breakfast on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center. Produced by DSP and presented by the Sacramento Kings, the event will introduce Downtown’s Next Decade – a clear framework guiding how downtown will compete, grow, and deliver value for the entire Sacramento region over the next 10 years.

Downtown Sacramento plays a significant role in the region’s economic health: supporting jobs, attracting investment, driving tourism, and serving as the cultural and civic heart of the capital region. As cities across the country navigate changing work patterns, public safety challenges, and evolving expectations for downtowns, this year’s program will examine the short- and long-term decisions shaping downtown Sacramento’s future and outline how DSP is responding with focus, coordination, and long-term intent.

“Downtown is a reflection of who we are and what we expect from ourselves,” said Michael Ault, Executive Director of Downtown Sacramento Partnership. “We’re not blind to the challenges downtown is facing right now, but we also need to recognize what’s already underway and build upon it. Now is the time to stop relying on ‘momentum’ and start competing – for investment, for talent, and for opportunity. If downtown reflects our community, then let it showcase our ambition, our ability to adapt, and our readiness to compete on a larger stage.”

The program will also feature a keynote address from Jeff Speck, internationally recognized urban planner, TED Talk speaker, and author of the best-selling city planning book Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time. Speck is one of the world’s leading voices on why downtowns matter and what it takes for them to succeed. Through his work advising cities around the world, Speck has demonstrated that walkable downtowns are safer, more economically competitive, and better positioned to attract talent and investment.

State of Downtown will also feature the annual JVance Stewart Award for Community Service, honoring individuals and organizations committed to improving quality of life in downtown through service. Attendees will hear from key downtown stakeholders, including Kaiser Permanente, Five Star Bank, and SMUD, underscoring the broad collaboration shaping downtown Sacramento’s future.

The 2026 State of Downtown program is presented by the Sacramento Kings and sponsored by the Athletics, Kaiser Permanente, SMUD, Tsakopoulos Investments, Five Star Bank, CBRE, Dignity Health, Comstock’s Magazine, Golden 1 Credit Union, and Sacramento Regional Transit.

For more information about downtown Sacramento, visit https://www.downtownsac.org; for details about State of Downtown and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.downtownsac.org/downtown-sac-experiences/state-of-downtown/.

SOCIAL MEDIA TAGS: @DowntownSac and #DowntownSac

PRESS: Download photos from 2025 event here; interviews available on-site or in advance upon request.

About Downtown Sacramento Partnership

Downtown Sacramento Partnership is a nonprofit, property-based improvement district (PBID) that serves as the collective voice for the community, including residents, businesses, and property owners located within the 66-blocks of the downtown core. Downtown Sacramento Partnership’s programming and activations cultivate a thriving 24-hour district where culture, business, and development collide to make downtown Sacramento a premier destination in the region to live, work, play, and invest. For more information, visit www.downtownsac.org and connect with us on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About Jeff Speck

Jeff Speck is a city planner and author who advocates internationally for more walkable cities. As Director of Design at the National Endowment for the Arts from 2003 through 2007, he presided over the Mayors’ Institute on City Design and created the Governors’ Institute on Community Design. Prior to his federal appointment, Mr. Speck spent ten years as Director of Town Planning at DPZ & Co., the principal firm behind the New Urbanism movement. Since 2007, he has led Speck & Associates — now Speck Dempsey —an award-winning urban planning firm serving public and private clients around the world.

With Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, Mr. Speck is the co-author of Suburban Nation, which the Wall Street Journal calls “the urbanist’s bible.” His 2012 book Walkable City was the best-selling city planning title of the past decade and has been translated into eight languages. He is also the principal author of The Smart Growth Manual and Walkable City Rules.

Jeff Speck has been named a fellow of both the American Institute of Certified Planners and the Congress for New Urbanism. In a recent Planetizen poll, he was voted one of the ten “most influential urbanists of all time.” Mr. Speck was the 2022 recipient of the Seaside Prize, whose former awardees include Jane Jacobs and Christopher Alexander. His TED talks and YouTube videos have been viewed more than six million times.