The ‘preferred cities’ to host the next ITS Congresses have officially been announced by Dr Angelos Amditis, ERTICO Chairman, on the first day of the 29th ITS World Congress in Suzhou, China. The city of Istanbul, Turkey, has been selected as the ‘preferred candidate’ to host the 2026 ITS European Congress and the city of Birmingham, United Kingdom, as the ‘preferred candidate’ to host the 2027 ITS World Congress.

Following the expression of interest and final submissions to host the 2026 and 2027 editions of the ITS Congresses in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, the ERTICO Supervisory Board has selected the two cities as the ‘preferred candidates’ based on the recommendation of the Review Committee, which evaluate all submissions. Negotiations will now start to sign the agreements with both cities as soon as possible.

Istanbul, as the preferred host city for the 2026 ITS European Congress, holds great opportunities for the broader EMEA region to meet. The city’s vision is to focus on effective and inclusive mobility to drive forward a sustainable and resilient future.

Birmingham and the United Kingdom at large are advancing Intelligent Transport Systems and Services (ITS), as the sector is growing.  As the preferred host city, Birmingham is emphasising ‘real-world experiences’ and delivering practical takeaways, which will be key for the Congress in 2027.

The ITS Congress is a yearly event showcasing smart mobility, emphasising the importance of raising awareness of mobility solutions and services among policymakers, experts, thought leaders and all stakeholders. They represent the ultimate platform through which ERTICO fosters cooperation with the two regions of America and Asia-Pacific, allowing the broader international community to meet, discuss, and exchange knowledge through a comprehensive Technical and High-Level Conference programme, live demonstrations and vibrant exhibitions showcasing cutting-edge technologies and innovations in smart mobility.

ERTICO organises the European Congresses for two consecutive years, with over 3,000 attendees representing 50 countries from Europe and beyond, and every third year, a World Congress welcoming more than 12,000 attendees from over 100 countries worldwide. Visit ertico.com for more information and access erticonetwork.com for more news and future announcements.

Access the official Press Release.

Note: the 30th ITS World Congress will take place in Dubai, from 16 – 20 September 2024. Explore all the opportunities about this edition on the website, itsworldcongress.com.