Prague welcomes back the world's biggest summit of road transport experts after 52 years

After Abu Dhabi, Seoul, Mexico City or Paris, Prague is proud to host the 27th World Road Congress this year. For the Prague Congress Centre and the Czech Republic, hosting the world’s largest summit of road transport experts is a huge achievement and the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Transport were actively involved in securing the bid. Prague won the prestigious congress ahead of cities like Kuala Lumpur and Sydney. The Czech capital will now welcome up to 4,000 road transport professionals from all over the world. “This will be the second time in our history that we will be hosting the World Road Congress, after more than 50 years,” says Martin Kupka, minister of transport of the Czech Republic. The global event will be attended by representatives of 96 countries and will feature 30 national pavilions, 16 more than the last edition in 2019 in the United Arab Emirates. The number of congress delegates is also growing exponentially. This year, more than 4,000 delegates are expected to gather at the Prague Congress Centre, 2-6 October. Lectures and discussions will also be made available on streaming platforms. “From our statistical data, we have it confirmed that events held in Prague attract up to 15% more delegates compared to other destinations. I am glad that the upcoming World Road Congress is estimated to attract such a significant number of experts in the field of road transport. At the same time, for the local professional community, the congress will be a great opportunity to share the latest knowledge.” When Prague hosted this congress for the first time in 1971, a quarter of the more than two thousand participants were from the then Czechoslovakia. The main topics of this year’s summit will be mobility and infrastructure, but experts will also cover new topics such as electromobility and autonomous vehicles and the industry’s shift towards carbon neutrality. Accompanying events for the public will include, for example, a simulation of a car crash in the centre’s outdoor area, a demonstration of the operation of an autonomous ‘driverless’ bus, and a simulation of a scooter ride on various surfaces. Short films, lectures by leading experts, group discussions and podcasts will be available for congress delegates as well as students and the general public. The event’s program also includes tours of Prague and other destinations in the Czech and Slovak Republics. “The Prague Congress Centre is located in close proximity to Vyšehrad, a famous Prague historical sight that offers not only a glimpse into the past of the Czech Republic, but also breathtaking views of the city. Thanks to the centre’s location directly on the metro, you can be in the historical centre of Prague within ten minutes,” adds Lenka Žlebková, CEO of the Prague Congress Centre.