This article introduces the 30th anniversary special issue of European Planning Studies. After briefly taking a retrospective look at some of the developments in planning research and practice over the last 30 years the article introduces a set of future-oriented perspectives which were commissioned specifically for this special issue. Each of the contributions contained in this special issue presents a unique perspective on the future prospects and directions for planning theory and practice in Europe. Taken together, these contributions contain a wealth of ideas which deserve further attention and reflection among planning scholars and practitioners.