Sister Cities

The mission of the International Sister Cities Program is to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation — one individual and one community at a time. Founded by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, the mission reflects the belief in the power of personal connections and creating global relationships based on cultural, educational, informational and trade exchanges.

Naperville has three sister cities: Nitra, Slovakia; Patzcuaro, Mexico; and Cancun Mexico. Sister Cities programs and activities in Naperville are led jointly by the Sister Cities Commission and the Naperville Sister Cities Foundation.

Our Sister Cities:

Nitra, Slovakia: The Sister Cities partnership between Naperville and Nitra, Slovakia was formalized on Nov. 17, 1993. Nitra is the fifth largest city in Slovakia, with a population of approximately 76,000. Nitra and Naperville share many similarities. Both communities developed from an agricultural base and now support technical industries, enjoy a river walk and a nearby arboretum, are college towns that place a high value on education, and benefit by the presence of service organizations.

Since the beginning of the partnership, both Naperville and Nitra have sent delegations to one another, sharing trade, cultural and business experiences. Nitra and Naperville have also completed high school student exchanges, a program the current Sister Cities Commission is working to re-establish.

Patzcuaro, Mexico: The city of Patzcuaro, Mexico officially became the City of Naperville's second sister city on Nov. 13, 2020, with a signing and flag-raising ceremony. Patzcuaro is located in the Michoacan territory of Mexico with a population of nearly 80,000. Patzcuaro and Naperville share a strong emphasis on education, a commitment to history and the arts, and rivers and lakes that are tourist highlights. Shortly after establishing the sister city relationship, a Naperville delegation visited Patzcuaro to celebrate the new partnership.

Cancun, Mexico: The city of Cancun, Mexico became Naperville's third sister city on April 21, 2020. Cancun is located on the northeast coast of the Yucatan peninsula with a population of nearly 900,000 people. Cancun and Naperville share vibrant shopping and entertainment opportunities, strong and growing economies and both are college towns. Naperville has donated a fire department ladder truck and an ambulance to Cancun.