The UITP Global Public Transport Summit will shine in Barcelona under the theme “Bright Light of the City”

As the world’s largest event dedicated to urban mobility, the UITP Global Public Transport Summit has a long history to its name.

Going back to 1886, 64 outstanding host cities have been selected to showcase and innovate the future of urban mobility.

In 2023, the public transport community will arrive in Barcelona for the 65^th edition (4-7 June) to a city that has it all: metro, bus, tram, train and even cable cars.

Our local host will be Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), a long-term UITP member and active association contributor.

As well as a city full of culture, heritage and energy, our delegates will be brought together under our brand new Summit theme.

Public transport gives passengers the freedom to discover a city, to commute, meet friends and family, or navigate wherever you need to go.

Public transport brings light to any city and energises the lives of all those who use it: Public transport is the Bright Light of the City.

It’s about more than providing a necessary service; it brightens the urban landscape. It is simply the brightest decision you can make to move around the city.

By creating a unique theme for each edition, UITP works to best reflect the event and location.

For the UITP Summit in 2019, we were brought together with “The Art of Public Transport” in Stockholm, a city known for its connection to art and artistic public transport stations.

For 2023, Bright Light of the City fits Barcelona perfectly as a city where light shines brightly through its rich Mediterranean culture, beautiful architecture, art, food and social activities.

One pivotal element which allows people to embrace the magic of this charming city is through its well-connected public transport system.

As a previous host in 1926 and 1967, it’s been a while since the world of urban mobility arrived in Barcelona.

During the MENA Transport Congress and Exhibition, (Dubai, 6-8 Feb 2022) a special moment was held in our closing ceremony where UITP President Khalid ALHOGAIL presented the UITP flag to our 2023 host, FGC President Marta Subirà.

Officially accepting the flag from President ALHOGAIL, FGC spoke of their excitement at being selected to host the 2023 edition, and welcoming the public transport community to Barcelona.

UITP Global Public Transport Summit in Barcelona: The Bright Light of the City