From 27–29 April 2026, the 17th ITS European Congress transformed Istanbul, Türkiye, into an epicentre for intelligent transport systems (ITS). Over three days, more than 2,700 participants from 54 countries joined the event, with 140+ exhibitors and 115 sessions within the programme, featuring 400+ speakers.
Organised by ERTICO – ITS Europe and hosted by İSBAK and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, in collaboration with the European Commission and with the support of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Türkiye, the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (TBB), and ITS Türkiye, the Congress served as a strategic platform for industry leaders, policymakers, public authorities, and researchers from across Europe and beyond to explore the theme “Bridging Innovation: Integrated, Safe and Seamless Mobility.”
Opening Ceremony: Setting the pace for integrated mobility
The Opening Ceremony, attended by 800 participants, marked the official start of the Congress and set a clear direction for the days ahead. High-level representatives delivered keynote contributions, including a video message from Mr Apostolos Tzizikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism at the European Commission. This was followed by speeches from Mr Nuri Aslan, Acting Mayor of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM); Dr Ömer Faith Sayan, Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Türkiye; Mr Jurgis Vilčinskas, Acting Head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye, European External Action Service; and Dr Angelos Amditis, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of ERTICO – ITS Europe.
Following the official ribbon cutting, ERTICO CEO Mr Joost Vantomme moderated the High-Level Plenary session “One journey: How do we make mobility truly seamless?” Together with Dr Pelin Alpkökin, Deputy Secretary General of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality; Ms Sarah-Jayne Williams, Director of Global Product Partnerships at Google Maps; and Dr Axel Volkery, Head of Unit for Research and Innovation at DG MOVE, European Commission, the panel explored how data interoperability, C-ITS, and MaaS must evolve beyond isolated solutions to form a coherent, cross-border mobility backbone.
A Programme Built for Impact
More than 2,700 participants from 54 countries joined a comprehensive programme of 115 sessions, including 8 co-created sessions with 400+ speakers contributing insights across the ITS ecosystem.
Across the four topics, discussions highlighted both the maturity of ITS technologies and the challenges of scaling deployment.
1. Safety and resilience through intelligent systems
Strong progress in CCAM is driving safer, more automated mobility through V2X, C-ITS, and smart infrastructure. SDVs and interoperable data systems are enabling inclusive electrification and scalable solutions. At the same time, data-driven safety analysis and improved human–machine interaction are key to addressing system limitations and enhancing reliability.
2. Multimodal mobility system management
Mobility is evolving towards integrated, platform-based systems combining MaaS, AI, digital twins, and CCAM. While fragmentation and interoperability challenges persist, there is a clear shift from pilots to scalable solutions. Inclusion, affordability, and behavioural change remain central, alongside the push for transport electrification.
3. Smart and sustainable logistics in the digital era
Digital tools are improving decision-making in logistics, particularly for charging infrastructure and specialised sectors. Innovation in last-mile delivery combines automation with human oversight. However, fragmented data sharing remains a barrier, with federated platforms emerging as a practical solution.
4. Enhancing transport beyond the road
Emerging mobility modes, including aviation and VTOL, highlight new opportunities but require stronger regulatory frameworks and better integration. User acceptance and multimodal connectivity remain key challenges, with early societal involvement essential for successful deployment.
ITS Arena: Dialogues on deployment
With over 35 sessions, the ITS Arena enabled real-time dialogue on key issues such as data sharing, system integration, and user-centric mobility design. It once again served as a focal point for interactive exchange, bringing together public authorities, industry leaders, and innovators to address practical challenges and solutions.
Exhibition, demonstrations and technical visits
The Exhibition Hall hosted 140+ exhibitors, showcasing cutting-edge innovations across automated mobility, digital infrastructure, sustainable logistics, and AI-enabled transport systems.
Participants experienced six live demonstrations and six technical visits, offering hands-on insight into the practical deployment of ITS solutions and Istanbul’s mobility ecosystem.
High-level networking and engagement
Supported by 9 commercial partners, the Congress offered extensive networking opportunities, fostering collaboration across the mobility value chain.
The Congress was also supported by 21 public authorities and associations, as well as 18 ITS National Partners, demonstrating the diversity and reach of the ITS community. Media visibility remained strong, with more than 50 press representatives ensuring the broad dissemination of key outcomes.
Key highlights included the Welcome and Closing Receptions, ERTICO Reception, and the ITS Dinner.
Smart Mobility Summit of Cities and Regions
This year’s Summit brought together high-level representatives from across Europe to accelerate the transition towards smart, inclusive, and climate-neutral mobility.
With participation from over 35 cities and regions, discussions highlighted joint efforts to innovate and implement smart, sustainable mobility plans for the benefit of citizens. Through roundtable discussions, participants shared success stories and exchanged best practices on addressing mobility challenges and identifying practical implementation pathways.
Closing Ceremony: Reflecting progress and recognising excellence
The Congress concluded with a dynamic Closing Ceremony, reflecting on key outcomes and celebrating achievements across the ITS ecosystem.
Joost Vantomme, CEO of ERTICO – ITS Europe, presented the Congress outcomes alongside programme highlights. His remarks were complemented by a video address from Chief Rapporteur Professor Eric Sampson, providing a consolidated overview of insights and a preview of the Post-Congress Report.
ERTICO Chairman Dr Angelos Amditis underlined the strong success of this year’s edition, while final messages from Erdem Samut, CEO of İSBAK, and Prof. Dr Volkan Demir, Secretary General of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, reinforced the significance of the event at both local and international levels.
Awards recognised excellence across the programme:
The Best Technical Paper Award on Robust and Safe Deployment of C-ITS in Sweden was presented to Victor Jarlow, Magnus Westling, Noel Alldritt, Aras Kazemi, and Björn Selander (AstaZero, Trafikverket, Stiftelsen för Internetinfrastruktur, Digitraffic).
The Best Research Paper Award, sponsored by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), was awarded “Anisotropic, Phase-Aware DBSCAN for Spatio-Temporal Clustering of Congested Traffic Regions in Floating Car Data” to Lennart Querfurth, Hubert Rehborn, Marc Zürn, and Silja Hoffmann (Mercedes-Benz AG and Bundeswehr University Munich).
Runner-up Research Paper Award was presented to Dr Burcu Uzun Ayvaz, University of Surrey, for “Influence of Electricity Supply and Seasonal Variations on the Well-to-Wheels Environmental Performance of Long-Haul Battery Electric Trucks Across Vehicle Classes.”
Best Session Award: SIS 10 – 10 years of C-ITS Deployment in Europe, led by Daniela Wollrab (Moderator), Lea Kaiser (Organiser), and speakers Martin Boehm, Razvan Racu, Malika Seddi, and Geert van der Linden.
Istanbul 2026: A landmark edition for ITS
The 17th ITS European Congress stands as a milestone event, reinforcing Europe’s leadership in intelligent transport systems and its commitment to connected, resilient, and sustainable mobility.
From high-level dialogue to practical demonstrations, the Congress delivered meaningful exchange and actionable insights across the mobility ecosystem.
For those wishing to revisit the experience, highlights are available through official Congress materials, including photos, videos, and publications.
Access the post-Congress report
Looking forward to the next ITS Congresses
The Congress pointed to clear priorities for the future. Accelerating deployment will depend on stronger collaboration, integrated systems, and alignment between policy, technology, and user needs.
With renewed momentum, the ITS community moves forward towards the 32nd ITS World Congress in Gangneung, South Korea, and the next EMEA World Congress, 33rd edition in Birmingham.