ITB Berlin is celebrating 60 years, and under the guiding theme “Leading Tourism into Balance”, the world’s largest industry think tank will focus on the key questions shaping the future of global tourism. From 3 to 5 March 2026, around 400 leading international speakers will discuss on four stages across 17 theme tracks how sustainable business models can function while respecting the natural environment.
Next year, the ITB Berlin Convention 2026 will look for answers and strategies for a tourism industry in transition. More than 400 international speakers will examine the latest trends, present research findings and scenarios, and debate strategies and options for taking action. Experts from major companies such as Nathan Blecharczyk (co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Airbnb), Mitra Sorrells (Senior Vice President, Phocuswright) and Bruce Poon Tip (founder, G Adventures) will share exclusive insights into current market developments and strategic trends. Frauke Fischer (business biodiversity expert) will explain why biodiversity is a key success factor for the future of the travel industry, while Thor Pedersen (globetrotter and bestseller author) will take the audience on an extraordinary journey around the world without flying, opening up completely new perspectives on global travel.
AI, overtourism and climate change require action
Taking as its slogan ’Leading Tourism into Balance’ and featuring 17 theme tracks on four stages, the ITB Berlin Convention 2026 will address an industry facing increasingly complex issues and the need to balance all kinds of demands. How are destinations handling overtourism? What opportunities do data management and AI offer? To what degree is climate adaptation required? Today’s challenges call for innovative concepts that involve a wide range of stakeholders and targets while reconciling differing standpoints.
In-depth analyses with a practical value
The ITB Transition Lab events offer a detailed analysis of current corporate strategies, with a newly expanded programme following the positive reactions last year. Among other things, participants will focus on the importance of indices and key performance indicators (KPIs) and discuss how they can be evaluated for practical purposes. Tickets are now available in the ITB Berlin ticket shop. The new ITB Deep Dives offer an in-depth analysis of the latest topics. This format is where new ideas are tested, ways of thinking are questioned and innovative solutions are developed – in order to produce concrete ideas and takeaways that will be of value to participants long after the event.
A wider range of topics and new partners
For the hotel and hospitality industry, the ITB Berlin Convention 2026 is also expanding its programme: The Hospitality Track kicks off on ITB Tuesday on the Green Stage, continues in the afternoon, and offers an in-depth analysis of the latest developments and innovations on the eTravel Stage in the Hospitality Tech Track. Experts including Thomas Hertkorn (Head of Online Marketing, a&o Hostels) and Renée Nicole Wagner (Corporate Director, Orascom Hotels Management AG) will highlight the latest industry developments.
With Airbnb as Official Premium Partner of ITB Berlin, additional contributions and perspectives will form part of the hospitality track, while Peru, the Adventure Travel Partner, will present its tourism potential at the convention.
Focus on LGBTQ traveller analysis
Diversity and tolerance in the travel industry remain important issues, ones which the ITB Berlin Convention 2026 will continue to discuss next year at various events and the Diversity & Inclusion Track.
For the second time ITB Berlin, together with the travel risk management service provider A3M Global Monitoring and Diversity Tourism, is conducting a market survey on the risks to LGBTQ travellers, which investigates the personal views and experiences of this target group at travel destinations. The link to the survey, which is taking place from December to April, can be found at: Survey.Lamapoll./ITB_LGBTQPlus_survey_2025_2026
The ticket shop for ITB Berlin 2026 is open now. Early birds can take advantage of discounts and trade visitor tickets can be purchased at reduced rates until 14 January 2026. Tickets to ITB Berlin and accreditation for ITB Berlin 2026 both grant access to the ITB Berlin Convention 2026.