Analytical models are everywhere in urban studies: they help us grasp what a city is, how it evolves, what it could become. They are constantly appropriated and adapted to new contexts and new uses, both by academics and practitioners across geographical space and disciplines. Models are, by construction, simplifications of reality, but some simplifications have important consequences for urban studies and policy making, especially when their users are unaware of the original design choices of the models, which can happen when the urban model is very complex or has reached a “classical” status. What are the unforeseen consequences of urban models’ simplification on our understanding of cities? Tracing the discrepancy between model results and empirical analysis back to urban models’ core assumptions and design is thus crucial to provide guidance on how to use them appropriately, avoid misleading conclusions and ultimately create better models. In this monthly seminar, we focus on several major urban models which have been durably shaped how we study cities. They will be presented and debated by urban scholars who have studied, critiqued and updated them to fit contemporary urban challenges. We aim to open a new academic debate on analytical urban models and to inaugurate the first comprehensive analysis of their circulation and impact on policy.