The European Commission, together with Hungarian Public Roads and the European transport research platforms ACARE, ALICE, CEDR, ECTP, ERRAC, ERTRAC, ETRA, and Waterborne, is organising the 11th edition of the Transport Research Arena Conference from 18 to 21 May 2026 at HUNGEXPO Budapest Congress and Exhibition Centre in Budapest, Hungary. Under the theme "ReGeneration in Transport", TRA2026 represents Europe's largest and foremost transport research and innovation conference, covering all transport modes and all aspects of mobility.

The mission of TRA is to foster collaboration and exchange amongst European, national, and regional transport research and innovation stakeholders. As a platform for dialogue between the research, industry, and policy communities, TRA facilitates the sharing of knowledge and expertise to address the transport sector's most pressing challenges. The conference serves as a vital bridge connecting academia, industry professionals, policymakers, and young researchers, fostering discussions that shape future transport solutions whilst supporting the development of Europe's transport research and innovation landscape.

The four-day programme focuses on key thematic areas including user-centred mobility to enhance accessibility and inclusivity in transportation; green mobility and decarbonisation, driving efforts towards sustainability and emissions reduction; planning and operation to optimise transport systems for efficiency and resilience; and transport digitalisation, leveraging technology and data-driven solutions for modern mobility. The conference will explore how European research results in digitalisation, automation, and optimisation can contribute to regenerating transport and mobility systems that support the EU's social, environmental, and economic sustainability goals, particularly regarding climate change, resilience, safety, and security.

The event includes plenary sessions, strategic sessions, technical sessions, exhibitions, demonstrations, and extensive networking activities. Participants range from researchers, academics, students, and young researchers to engineers, transport infrastructure managers and owners, traffic operation managers, transport operators, SMEs and start-ups, industry representatives, vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, shipbuilders, public authorities, governmental bodies, non-governmental organisations, and other transport stakeholders and decision-makers. TRA2026 also features the TRA Visions Awards, recognising excellence in transport research through competitions including the Young Researcher Competition and the Host Award for the best paper aligned with the conference's main theme.

Event Details

• Location: HUNGEXPO Budapest Congress and Exhibition Centre, Albertirsai út 10, H-1101 Budapest, Hungary
• Dates: 18–21 May 2026
• Registration: Visit the TRA2026 website

Source: Transport Research Arena 2026