Vienna to host IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation in 2026

Global PCO, AIM Group International, and the Vienna Convention Bureau have announced that the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), will be coming to Vienna in 2026. The bid for the largest event in the sector’s calendar was led by local academic host professor Markus Vincze of TU Wien. The conference will be hosted by Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center. The hybrid event in 2022 attracted over 8,000 delegates (of whom nearly 5,000 attended in person). Its theme this year, Robots for All, reflects the organisers’ desire to reach out to the Viennese public and convince them of the potential everyday benefits of robotics. The community programme will include a co-operation with ARS Electronica, a ‘Long Day of the Robots’ exhibition, open to the public, and a school competition to create the best dancing robot. Professor Vincze, chair of the Congress Committee and local host, said: “Hosting an event of the scale of ICRA2026 will provide us with the platform we need to ignite robotics throughout all our schools and enhance public understanding of the role and potential benefits of robotics in day-to-day living.” Christian Woronka, director B2B Management and head of the Vienna Convention Bureau, said the choice of Vienna as host confirmed the city’s role as an international science and research location. “ICRA shows that future-oriented technologies and personal meetings are not contradictory. On the contrary: with community programmes, the topic of robotics and automation, a field that is often difficult to grasp, will also be brought closer to the general public. An exciting approach and a great congress, which we look forward to with great anticipation.” The proposed event design incorporates a wide range of interactive activities, designed to engage the audience and promote improved learning outcomes. As Lisa Stern, operations director of AIM Austria GmbH, said: “Our goal is to create a programme that surprises and inspires the audience and supports networking amongst the robotics community. We’re really looking forward to using creative designs to bring on-site and online delegates together.” IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organisation with more than 400,000 members in over 160 countries. In 2017 IEEE opened its European office in Vienna, underlining the importance of Vienna as a science and research location. Photo: Wien Tourismus/Gregor Hofbauer