TRA 2026
The Transport Research Arena (TRA) is one of Europe's main transport research and innovation conferences. The 2026 edition, hosted in Budapest on 18-21 May, is dedicated to the theme 'Re-Generation in Transport'.
TRA is the largest European conference dedicated to transport research and innovation. Initiated by the European Commission and key stakeholders, the event gathers academia, industry, policymakers, and civil society representatives to discuss the future of transport research.
The 2026 theme is 'Re-Generation in Transport', placing the spotlight on young researchers and next-generation solutions. It represents a collective call for change in transport systems, one that actively engages and includes the next generation of thinkers, innovators, and leaders who are driving the sustainable and smart transport transition.
Over four days, about 3,000 industry experts are expected to attend the conference. Participants can expect interactive presentations as well as plenary, technical, strategic, and special sessions.
The programme focuses on four fundamental topics:
- user-centred mobility;
- green mobility and decarbonisation;
- planning and operation;
- transport digitalisation.
Where to find POLIS
Strategic session 1.1 - Tackling transport poverty through seamless and sustainable mobility
Monday 18 May 2026 | 15:30 - 17:00
Room E1
Transport poverty is one of the main challenges for rural, peripheral, and peri-urban areas across Europe. This strategic session will explore how multimodal, digitally inclusive, and community-oriented mobility systems can address this challenge, aligning with EU ambitions for a just and green transition.
POLIS Secretary General Karen Vancluysen will participate as a speaker.
Technical session 2 - Gender perspectives in inclusive mobility
Monday 18 May 2026 | 17:30 - 19:00
Room G7 - G8
The session will tackle multiple aspects of gender mobility, including safety, accessibility, queer mobility, and climate adaptation.
Moderated by Laura Babío Somoza, Smart Mobility Cluster Lead & Just Transition Co-coordinator.
Side event - SUM event: Measuring impact, shaping policy
Tuesday 19 May 2026 | 9:30 - 13:00
Room F4
Hosted by the SUM project, this side event will showcase European and global know-how, innovations, and developments on shared mobility. The session brings together cities, transport authorities, and practitioners to present concrete experiences from Living Labs, covering services such as bike-sharing, Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), car sharing, demand-responsive transport (DRT), and mobility hubs.
Daniel Herrera, Project & Parking Working Group Manager, will present during the session 'Policy recommendations & guidelines on shared mobility and SUMPs', at 10:00.
Technical session 4 - Shared mobility with electric scooters (Shared Mobility Solutions)
Tuesday 19 May 2026 | 16:00 - 17:30Room G1
Moderated by Karen Vancluysen.
Sive event - iRAP’s 2026 Innovation Workshop
Wednesday 20 May 2026 | 8:45 - 17:30
Room G15 - G16
Innovation and collaboration will be key to promoting safe, inclusive, green, and efficient transportation systems in the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport 2026-2035. The iRAP Innovation Workshop is an engaging and thought-provoking forum gathering road safety leaders and experts working together to create 'Future ready roads for safe, sustainable mobility'. The workshop will also present the latest results from the projects PHOEBE and ELABORATOR.
Karen Vancluysen will be speaking in the first panel discussion, 'Innovations in policy and finance that save lives'.
Special session 5 - Pathway to CCAM deployment in the EU
Wednesday 20 May 2026 | 16:00 - 17:30
Room P1
CCAM remains mostly pilot-based in Europe, with limited deployment beyond a few leading cities. The session will open with a short framing presentation on the building‑blocks exercise and the city roadmap for CCAM deployment, followed by a panel discussion.
The speaker list includes Laura Babío Somoza (POLIS) and representatives from POLIS members Mathieu Graindorge (Helmond) and Françoise Guaspare (Ile-de-France Mobilités).
Strategic session 4.1 - Integration of automated and connected vehicles in the transport system
Thursday 21 May 2026 | 10:30 - 12:00
Room E1
The session will discuss the challenges and opportunities of integrating efficiently automated vehicles into the transport system from both the technical and the socio-economic perspective, including the offer of new mobility services to users.
Moderated by Karen Vancluysen.
Strategic session 6.3 - Sustainable e-commerce: zero emission delivery, consumer engagement, and circularity
Thursday 21 May 2026 | 15:30 - 17:00
Room P3
This session dives into sustainable e-commerce logistics and circular solutions. Topics include optimised return flows, reuse and repair models, zero-waste packaging, modular delivery systems, digital tools for managing returns, and improved recycling pathways.
Moderated by Raffaele Vergnani, Urban Freight Cluster Lead.
More information
TRA 2026 will take place from 18 to 21 May 2026 in Budapest, Hungary, at the Hungexpo Budapest Convention and Exhibition Center (10. Albertirsa street, Budapest, H-1101).
Visit the official website for more information and to register.