During the last decades and in the course of economic and cultural globalisation most metropolises have undergone far-reaching transformations towards an increasing commercialisation, theming, and focus on entertainment. One of the consequences of urban governance is that competences and responsibilities have been transferred to private and semi-state actors, while other consequences are that supermarkets have been turned into urban entertainment centres, pedestrian zones into festival marketplaces, and traditional housing areas have been converted to gated communities. The symposium 'Economy of Fascination' will focus on the increasing commercialisation, theming, and entertainment character of urban landscapes.