Please visit the WCTR 2026 website for additional information.
Introduction
At the initiative of the World Conference on Transport Research Society (WCTRS), the World Conference on Transport Research (WCTR) is a global gathering held every three years, uniting specialists from the transportation sector worldwide. Whether they are researchers, engineers, or public and private decision-makers, experts from all corners of the globe converge to engage in discussions on pressing transportation issues.
Topics for discussion at the World Conference on Transport Research are grouped into 9 distinct themes which include maritime and air transport logistics, infrastructure design, traffic management in urban environments or the emergence of transport in developing countries.
Over the course of 6 days, participants will exchange ideas and solutions to foster innovation and push back the limits of knowledge and technology in the transport sector, thus enabling continuous improvement in this sector.
The first WCTR was held in Rotterdam in 1977 as a forum for researchers and policymakers, but it was only a few years later that it took on a more international dimension and on a larger scale. Since then, Rio de Janeiro, London, Shanghai, Mumbai, Sydney and, more recently, Montreal have hosted this world-renowned event.
Some 1,500 transport experts are expected to attend the 17th WCTR from 6 to 10 July 2026. The program includes presentations, conferences, discussions, technical visits, a gala dinner, and other surprises. All of this, of course, was organized with the aim of sharing knowledge and expertise in the world of transport.
The conference will take place on the campus of the Toulouse Capitole Univerity, one of the world’s oldest universities, founded in 1229. The university is renowned for its scientific excellence and offers some of the top degrees in France and Europe.
Program
For full program details, please visit the WCTR 2026 program page here.
Paper Submissions
Call for Papers (PDF)
The World Conference on Transport Research Society (WCTRS) is happy to announce that the 17th Triennial World Conference (WCTR) will be held from the 6th to the 10th of July, 2026, in TOULOUSE (FRANCE) at Toulouse Capitole University and organized by Toulouse School of Economics (TSE). Since WCTRS was founded in 1977, we will be celebrating the WCTRS 50th Anniversary at the Toulouse World Conference.
The aims of the conference are to bring together experts in all areas of transport research from all parts of the world and to stimulate the exchange of ideas in the field of transport policy and practice.
We offer a peer review of each paper to assess its potential for oral or poster presentation, publication (if wanted) and the award of a prize. In close cooperation with major scientific transportation journals, many special issues will be proposed, supporting publication of excellent papers. As with previous conferences, selected papers not proposed to special issues will be given the opportunity to be published in Transport Research Procedia. WCTRS support for publications is conditional on the outcome of the reviews and on registration at the conference.
Authors are invited to submit one or more full papers to the following topic areas:
Topic Area A: Transport Modes – General
Topic Area B: Freight Transport and Logistics
Topic Area C: Traffic Management, Operations and Control
Topic Area D: Activity and Transport Demand
Topic Area E: Transport Economics and Finance
Topic Area F: Transport, Land-use and Sustainability
Topic Area G: Transport Planning and Policy
Topic Area H: Transport in Developing and Emerging Countries
Topic Area I: Infrastructure Design and Maintenance
Detailed information on the content of each Topic Area, its Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and on society membership are provided on the WCTRS website.
Important Dates
Submission opening: April 1st, 2025
Deadline for submission: September 1st, 2025 (23h59 – Paris Local Time)
Notification of paper acceptance: February 2nd, 2026
Deadline for registration of presenting author: April 1st, 2026
Deadline for submission of final papers for conference: June 1st, 2026
Guidelines for submission
Papers should be submitted using the paper template and the online call for paper submission system. All details and instructions are available on the submission page on the WCTR 2026 website. Any correspondence related to this call can be addressed to [email protected].
Notes
- Younger researchers have the option to submit their papers for presentation at the WCTR-Y to be held on July 6, 2026. More information can be found here: WCTRS-Y/Ed 5.
- Each participant to the WCTR can present one and only one accepted paper.
Details regarding the Toulouse conference are regularly posted on the conference website (www.wctr2026.fr).
We look forward to your contribution and participation in the next WCTR 2026 in Toulouse!
Registration
Registration is not currently open.
Full details and a registration link will be provided shortly.