This year’s edition focuses on Delivering the Urban Dream. It calls for political leadership that engages directly with people and businesses to create and take ownership of a shared vision of the future. To truly bring a vision to life, it must be supported by strategic plans, integrated policies, effective governance, long-term commitment, and funding. Closely inspired by the transformations of Rimini, the five conference subthemes break down this challenge, diving deep into what it takes to turn vision into action. Each session is linked to one of these subthemes and marked with a unique icon - making it easy to spot your favourite topics throughout the programme. 
The core of each subtheme will be a dedicated plenary session, in which high-level experts share their experiences and perspectives on key topics. The parallel sessions will go into greater detail, exploring cycling and sustainable urban development in all their dimensions. Just take a look at the subtheme “Built to inspire: Designing Beautiful Urban Environments”. Session 1.1 “Cycling Counts: Establishing a baseline and harmonising data collection across Europe” will show how the power of data can be leveraged to design better public spaces. Session 11.2 “Climate resilience: How cycling fights climate change” will instead examine the role of cycling in climate mitigation and adaptation, and why it is essential in the future-proof design of urban environments. Session 12.6 “Built to inspire: Art in cycling infrastructure” expands the conversation by exploring why and how creativity in built environments enhances safety, acceptance and participation. Each Velo-city subtheme is a universe to discover, whether you decide to follow one through or space between them!
 
The geographical diversity represented in the programme proves that cycling has a role to play everywhere. From Tirana to Bogotá and from Nepal to Georgia, inspiring examples and stories will be shared by policymakers and members of civil society at Velo-city 2026. Session 3.3 “UN-Habitat: Africa on the move - Stories of change from PAAPAM champions” focuses on the journeys of three mobility activists - from shaping national policy, to mobilising communities, to implementing local change within Africa’s mobility landscape. Session 4.1 “BICI in Mombasa, Tirana and Bogotá: World-class cycling infrastructure for all ages and abilities” collects experiences from three real-world examples, sharing the obstacles and solutions that eventually delivered innovative and inspiring infrastructure. Session 10.4 “Building communities for urban transformation: Sharing experiences from Germany, Georgia, Ethiopia and beyond” also compares community-led activities across continents – exploring how they pushed forward inclusive and sustainable urban transformations to inspire others.

Different formats will allow Velo-citizens to continuously learn, engage and overcome even the toughest after-lunch energy dips. Beyond the more classic lectures and panel discussions, there are interactive workshops like session 8.4 “A serious game: Co-develop your own cycling highway!”, fireside chats as the inspiring session 7.3 “Mythbusting cycling while pregnant - Global stories of joy, inspiration, and freedom”, and four dynamic poster sessions, where Velo-citizens can directly engage with the latest research into cycling.
 
As the cycling sector is a medley of policymakers, practitioners, academics, members of civil society, institutions, and industry, Velo-city strives to make it justice by inviting all these different voices to the table. The Academic track is dedicated to popularising the work carried out by researchers and bridging the gaps between academia and practice. Policymakers, both locally and internationally, are well represented throughout the sessions, and will take center stage in dedicated moments like session 1.3 “The making of vibrant cities: Designing for people, active mobility and nature”. Industry leaders and innovators will complete the picture with more crucial insights from the business sector, for which you should not miss session 5.1 “Measuring the value of bike-sharing: more space, intermodality and connectivity” among others.

In short, the conference programme mirrors the cycling community’s heterogeneity and inventiveness by giving space to diverse topics, geographical areas, formats and backgrounds. Whether you’re here for the data, the design, policy hacks or the sheer joy of cycling, Velo-city 2026 is for you. So pick your sessions, bring your curiosity, and come meet the global cycling community as it gathers to turn the urban dream into reality!