Velo-city 2027 Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture (Japan): 25-28 May

For the first time in Velo-city history, Ehime Prefecture, renowned as the most cycling-friendly region in Japan, will be the host of Velo-city 2027.  Known for its rich culture and natural beauty, the prefecture’s cycling promotion builds on the philosophy of fostering "health", "purpose in life", and "friendship". 

The conference will take place from 25-28 May 2027 in Matsuyama, capital of Ehime Prefecture, located in northwest Shikoku. Ehime Prefecture's exceptional bid demonstrated strong motivation and enthusiasm to spread the "Velo-city spirit" to the entire country and beyond. 

Matsuyama boasts one of Japan’s highest cycling rates, with 25% of commuters using bicycles for school and work and a 15% overall modal split in transport. Ehime’s ambitious bicycle promotion plan includes four concrete goals, ranging from expanding the role of bicycles as a means of transport to boosting cycling tourism. This widespread adoption of cycling is attributed to the prefecture’s ambitious cycling policies, such as building dedicated bicycle lanes and safety campaigns like the "1.5m Consideration Campaign”. Educational schemes that engage children, programmes encouraging more women to cycle, and initiatives addressing loneliness in the ageing population are further examples of the prefecture’s commitment to making cycling accessible to all, regardless of age or ability. 

Ehime seeks to seize the opportunity of the conference to inspire action worldwide and foster the growth of cycling globally. The prefecture also aims to promote sustainable mobility across the Asia-Pacific region and will make every effort to encourage more countries from that region to attend Velo-city. Additionally, Ehime plans to boost its cycling strategy through the conference. 

Velo-city 2028 Geneva (Switzerland): 13-16 June

Geneva has been selected as the host city for Velo-city 2028. Taking place from 13-16 June 2028, the event will bring together policymakers, researchers, advocates, and industry leaders for a dynamic exchange on the future of cycling in a city renowned for its commitment to sustainable, cross-border mobility.

Geneva has been actively developing its cycling infrastructure since the 1980s, fostering a vibrant and deeply rooted local cycling community. In recent years, progress has accelerated with temporary "covid lanes" becoming permanent and a growing commitment to cleaner, healthier urban environments. Today, more than 60% of Geneva's roads are adapted for cyclists, and the multi-level support for cycling is boosting this further.

With a border stretching over 100 kilometres with France, Geneva works closely with its French neighbours to advance sustainable, cross-border mobility. The main Velo-city 2028 theme Beyond Borders highlights the work of the Greater Geneva partnership, representing more than 1 million people, who set an ambitious goal to triple cycling’s modal share by 2050 and develop a seamless, multimodal transport network. A flagship initiative is the Léman Express, launched in 2019, which already connects 45 train stations across the region and is complemented by an expanding network of cycle paths and bike stations.