Airports Council International (ACI) World has announced that iGA Istanbul Airport will host the 8th edition of the annual ACI World Airport Experience Summit in between 31 August and 4 September 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye.
The announcement was made during the Closing and Handover Ceremony of the 7th edition in Guangzhou, China.
ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci said:iGA Istanbul Airport is an exceptional choice to host the 2026 ACI World Airport Experience Summit—where the next decade of passenger and employee experience will be shaped. As a global hub with remarkable growth and a forward-looking approach to customer experience, iGA Istanbul Airport exemplifies excellence in both passenger and employee experience, digital transformation, and operational resilience.
We are confident iGA Istanbul Airport will offer invaluable insights and a warm welcome to our global airport community.
First opened in 2019; iGA Istanbul Airport now serves as a key aviation hub for Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern services, and was named the world’s best-connected airport in ACI Europe’s 2025 Airport Industry Connectivity Report.
iGA Istanbul Airport CEO Selahattin Bilgen said:It’s our pleasure to welcome the 2026 ACI World Airport Experience Summit to Türkiye. The opportunity to host this prestigious global event at iGA Istanbul Airport next year, is recognition of how far we’ve come in such a short space of time. This will be a great opportunity to celebrate our status as the world’s best-connected airport, as we share new ideas, showcase innovation, and celebrate global aviation.
We’re proud that Istanbul will not only be a part of shaping the next chapter in world-class travel and exceptional passenger experiences, but that it is also central to new ideas and high-profile discussions that will occur between aviation leaders from around the world.
Highlights from the 2025 ACI World Airport Experience Summit include 15 panels and sessions, 57 keynote speakers and the return of the ACI ASQ Awards and Customer Experience Accreditations, which presented awards to more than 181 airports across the globe.
