This paper aims to understand affective forms of gouvernementalité and makes use of the concept of ambiances/atmospheres as a methodological approach to understand the spatial conditions of current logics to deal with “terror” threats in European cities. The paper argues that “atmospherization of security” as an urban geopolitical response in post-terror urban environments is much more complex than the discourse of a “war on terror”. By deploying the concept of atmospherization as a process of gouvernementalité, the paper suggests that research could focus on the affective and spatial dimensions (e.g. virality, acceptability, spectacularity, conviviality, nudging etc.) of the securitization of public urban life.