The federal government and the city of Hamburg are jointly applying to host Velo-city 2026 in the Hanseatic city. The hosting of Velo-city is intended to create a focal point for the implementation of the National Cycling Plan 3.0. As part of the bid, the partners - the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV), the Authority for Transport and Mobility Change (BVM), and New Mobility Solutions Hamburg GmbH - have committed to fulfilling essential core tasks to ensure the success of the bid and the congress.
Dr. Anjes Tjarks, Senator for Transport and Mobility Transition: "The mobility transition is essentially based on public transport, cycling and digital transport services. And it is most successful when you think, plan and implement everything together. For digital transport services, we had the leading trade fair in Hamburg with ITS 2021, and we can welcome the World Public Transport Congress - the UITP - here in 2025 and 2027. This is not the only reason why it would be a great rounding off in 2026 to also be able to host the world's largest trade fair for cycling in the Hanseatic city. Cycling is booming in Hamburg and now accounts for 22 percent of the modal split, which is another reason why Velo-City fits in well with our city."
At Velo-city, the World Cycling Congress, representatives from cities, companies and science meet to shape the future of cycling. Since the Velo-city series began in 1980, it has been the annual flagship event of the European Cyclists Federation (ECF). Like no other event, the conference offers participants from over 60 countries a platform for knowledge exchange and transfer of strategies as well as the presentation of the latest innovations for a better cycling experience.
In addition to a safe infrastructure, key issues will be the seamless expansion of the network, the connection of residential areas and public transport, and the consistent integration of cycling with buses, trains and pedestrian traffic.
