The upcoming Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress (TMWC) 2026, scheduled to take place from 3-5 November at Fira de Barcelona's Gran Via venue, is set to serve as a critical focal point for the global transition toward sustainable urban transit. Co-organised by Fira de Barcelona and EIT Urban Mobility—an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a body of the European Union—the congress will gather more than 240 international experts representing municipal governments, regional authorities, and private enterprises.

The event arrives at a pivotal moment for metropolitan planning, as cities worldwide grapple with the dual challenges of reducing carbon emissions and improving the daily quality of life for commuters. By fostering collaboration across public and private sectors, the congress aims to accelerate the deployment of innovative mobility solutions.

Leading Voices in the Mobility Revolution

The speaker lineup for the 2026 edition features prominent figures from across the policy, academic, and corporate landscapes. Among the headline speakers is mobility thinker Lukas Neckermann, co-founder of the Urban Places Lab and author of four books, who famously coined the term “The Mobility Revolution” in his first book. Neckermann's insights will focus on the systemic shifts required to redesign urban spaces around people rather than vehicles.

Policy and innovation frameworks will be addressed by key European officials:

  • Teresa Riesgo, Spain's Secretary General for Innovation at the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and President of the CDTI, will participate in a roundtable exploring how mobility innovators can successfully navigate an era of economic and regulatory uncertainty.
  • Axel Volkery, Head of the Innovation and Urban Mobility unit at the European Commission's DG MOVE, will lead discussions on the evolution of public transport systems. Volkery's focus will center on adapting transit networks to changing user habits to ensure they remain attractive, accessible, and relevant.

Other confirmed speakers bringing global perspectives to the congress include:

  • Daryl Barron, Lord Mayor of Dublin
  • Karen Vancluysen, Secretary General of POLIS
  • Lisandro Perotti, Undersecretary for Mobility Management and Control of Buenos Aires
  • Toks Omishakin, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency
  • Tanja Dik, CEO of the Johan Cruijff Arena

The State of Urban Commuting: Data-Driven Insights

To ground the discussions in real-world commuter experiences, EIT Urban Mobility conducted a comprehensive survey among 1,503 adults across three major European cities: Barcelona, Munich, and Bucharest. The findings underscore the central role that public transit plays in urban ecosystems, while also highlighting significant pain points.

According to the survey data:

  • Public transport remains the backbone of daily travel, with 56% of respondents using it to commute to work or study.
  • This exceeds the share of commuters relying on car-based transport, which stands at 52%.
  • Commuters who utilize public transit are twice as likely to integrate walking into their daily journeys, promoting healthier lifestyles and active mobility.
  • Safety, reliability, and comfort were identified as the three attributes most highly valued by urban commuters.

Despite the high reliance on public transit, the survey revealed a stark gap between commuter expectations and reality. For car users, the largest source of dissatisfaction is traffic density. For public transport users, the primary concern is service reliability. These systemic inefficiencies take a significant physical and mental toll on the workforce: more than two in five respondents (41%) reported feeling completely drained by the time they arrive home.

A Collaborative Ecosystem for Smart Cities

The challenge for municipal leaders and urban planners attending the congress is to translate these insights into actionable strategies. By sharing knowledge and exploring innovative technologies, the event seeks to help cities bridge the gap between current infrastructure limitations and the demand for more liveable urban environments.

The impact of Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress 2026 is amplified by its co-location with several other major technology and industrial events at the Fira de Barcelona venue. TMWC will run alongside:

  • Smart City Expo World Congress
  • Tomorrow.Blue Economy
  • Barcelona Deep Tech Summit
  • Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress

Together, this collective of events will gather more than 1,100 exhibitors and over 27,000 attendees, creating a massive cross-disciplinary ecosystem. This integration allows mobility experts to collaborate directly with cybersecurity specialists, deep tech developers, and smart city planners, fostering holistic solutions for the future of urban infrastructure.