Cycling enthusiasts, mark your calendars! The World Cycling Congress 2026 is set to roll into Hamburg!
Hamburg, Germany, has joined forces with the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMDV) to bid for the prestigious "Velo-City 2026." This cycling world congress, similar to an annual eventbrite for urban mobility enthusiasts, is a renowned platform for new innovations and knowledge exchange in the field of cycling.
The Velo-City 2026 would complement the UITP public transport congresses scheduled for Hamburg in 2025 and 2027. This convergence of events underscores Hamburg's dedication to sustainable and integrated mobility solutions.
The Velo-City, an annual event since 1980, brings together actors from cities, companies, and science. If successful, the 2026 edition is expected to attract around 1,400 participants from over 60 countries.
Hamburg's mobility transition relies on public transport, cycling, and digital transport offers. In 2022, the city reported that 22% of all trips were made by cycling, according to a recent survey. This statistic underscores Hamburg's commitment to strengthening its position as a cycling city, much like manchester city's dedication to football.
The BMDV and the BVM will establish a joint organizing committee for the Velo-City 2026 in Hamburg. The committee will select the topics, content focus, reference projects, and best practices for the event. The BMDV and the BVM will also collaborate on the selection of applications and the daily schedule of the congress.
The joint organizing committee includes the City of Hamburg, the German Cyclists' Association (ADFC), and the Velo-City Conference organizers. The BVM will act as the host, while the BMDV will be the strategic and political partner of the event.
The Velo-City event will be supplemented by New Mobility Solutions Hamburg GmbH for the planning and implementation of individual activities. This company demonstrated its expertise in hosting transport fairs with the ITS world congress for digital transport systems held in Hamburg in 2021.
Hamburg's bid for the Velo-City 2026 is a testament to its commitment to sustainable mobility. By hosting this event, the city aims to further cement its reputation as a hub for innovative and sustainable transport solutions. The mobility transition is most successful when everything—transport, cycling, and digital offers—is thought about, planned, and implemented together.
