150x150.png)
Welcome to this special review edition of ITS Edge Magazine, celebrating the 2026 ITS World Congress in Gangneung, Korea.
Over five remarkable days, the Congress demonstrated the growing reach and importance of intelligent transport systems, bringing together global leaders, innovators, researchers and policymakers to explore the future of connected mobility. Yet Gangneung was about far more than technology. Alongside world-class conference sessions, exhibitions, demonstrations and technical visits, the event embraced youth engagement, public participation and cultural celebration in a way that made it stand out from many previous Congresses.
In this edition, we explore the many themes, technologies and experiences that defined the week, while examining how the organisers successfully engaged audiences both within the ITS sector and far beyond it.
In this edition of ITS Edge Magazine, ITS Now is proud to be Official Media Partner: the 2026 Gangneung ITS World Congress.
It includes being welcomed by the Chair of the ITS World Congress, Hong Jee-sun, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, before being guided through what to expect in Gangneung by the ITS World Congress Organising Committee.
We also hear from Joost Vantomme, CEO of ERTICO - ITS Europe, on his thoughts for the congress and preparations for next year’s congress in Birmingham. ERTICO also provide us with some insight to what will be happening at the UK & ERTICO Pavilion and some initial opportunities for organisations to get involved next year.
As the 32nd ITS World Congress concludes in Gangneung, global transport leaders are shifting focus from isolated pilot schemes to unified, international data frameworks. This landmark event showcased cutting-edge urban artificial intelligence and established essential cross-border standards for connected, automated mobility, paving the way for Birmingham 2027.
As the 2026 ITS World Congress draws to a close in Gangneung, attention turns from bold announcements to practical outcomes. The final day offers a chance to reflect on a week of innovation, collaboration and debate, while delegates focus on turning new ideas, partnerships and technologies into the next generation of intelligent mobility solutions.
As Gangneung’s ITS World Congress moves from innovation towards implementation, day four revealed an industry increasingly focused on deploying intelligent transport at scale. From Hall of Fame award winners and cooperative safety technologies to the launch of Birmingham 2027, the message was clear, success now depends on collaboration, interoperability, trust and delivering real-world outcomes.
The programme in Gangneung places the spotlight firmly on the technologies, policies and partnerships driving intelligent transport forward. From AI, connected mobility and digital infrastructure to international collaboration at the UK and ERTICO Pavilion, day four offers a packed agenda of technical insight, industry networking and practical innovation, bringing together global expertise to explore how smarter, safer and more connected transport systems can be delivered at scale.
Today's proceedings revealed a sector increasingly focused on real world deployment rather than future promise, while the gala dinner provided a fitting backdrop for strengthening the international partnerships that will help shape the next chapter of intelligent transport.
As the 2026 ITS World Congress reaches its midpoint, Day Three is where the industry's biggest ideas collide with real-world delivery. From AI and connected mobility to global collaboration led by organisations such as ERTICO and contributions from leading UK experts, Gangneung becomes the stage on which the future of intelligent transport moves from vision to implementation.
Day two of the 2026 ITS World Congress saw the conversation shift from vision to delivery, as global transport leaders focused on the practical realities of deploying connected, automated and data-driven mobility systems at scale. Against this backdrop, the UK & ERTICO European Pavilion emerged as a hub of international collaboration, showcasing British and European innovation while building momentum towards Birmingham's hosting of the 2027 ITS World Congress.
Day two of the 2026 ITS World Congress in Gangneung promises to unfold with a different tempo from the opening day, shifting the focus from broad thematic framing to the detailed exploration of technologies, policies and deployments that define the sector’s current trajectory.
Gangneung eased into the day with a quiet confidence, the kind that signals a Congress ready to get down to substance. Delegates moved quickly into discussions shaped by safety, resilience and the growing maturity of connected mobility, giving the programme an immediate sense of purpose.
The opening day of the 2026 ITS World Congress in Gangneung carries a particular sense of anticipation. Delegates will arrive in a city that has spent years preparing for its moment on the global ITS stage, shaping an environment where intelligent mobility is not a distant ambition but a visible, functioning reality.
Welcome to the ITS World Congress 2026, hosted by the beautiful city of Gangneung, Korea. The 32nd ITS World Congress will be held under the theme, “Beyond Mobility, Connected World".
As we gather in Gangneung for the 2026 ITS World Congress, it is a pleasure to welcome the global ITS community to a country that has become a benchmark for intelligent mobility.
Beyond Mobility, Connected World is more than a slogan. It is a recognition that transport has evolved into a living digital ecosystem, shaped by intelligence, connectivity and human need.
From 17–19 March 2026, the city played host to a delegation from the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Board of Directors (BOD) and the International Program Committee (IPC).
Click the buttons below to see more articles:
See all ArticlesIndustry InsightITS Thought LeadershipITS EducationalSearch