WYSE Travel Confederation announced in the Annual General Meeting on 23 September 2025 that the 2026 edition of WYSTC, the world’s leading annual event for the global youth, student, and educational travel industry, will take place in Bilbao, Spain. This marks the end of a six-year run in Lisbon, Portugal, where the conference has strengthened its positioning as a key meeting point for the global youth and student travel industry.
WYSTC, now in its 34th year, brings together hundreds of leading buyers and sellers of youth travel product, top service providers and industry thought leaders and provides an unparalleled international platform for contracting, networking, learning and collaboration.
“Lisbon has been a wonderful host city for WYSTC over the past six years, offering a vibrant backdrop for innovation, networking, and growth within the sector,” said David Chapman, Director General at WYSE Travel Confederation. “We are now excited to bring the WYSTC community to Bilbao, a city that embodies creativity, culture, and forward-looking transformation – values that resonate strongly with our mission.”
Bilbao, the largest city in the Basque Country, is internationally recognised for its dynamic blend of tradition and modernity. It is home to iconic architecture such as the Guggenheim Museum and has a thriving cultural scene as well as world-class hospitality. Its strong infrastructure, accessibility, and reputation as a hub of innovation make it an ideal host for WYSTC 2026.
The conference will take place on 14-17 September 2026 and is expected to draw over five hundred delegates from all over the globe, continuing to provide unmatched opportunities for business development, knowledge sharing and international networking.
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About WYSE Travel Confederation
The World Youth Student and Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation is a global not-for-profit membership organisation dedicated to promoting and developing opportunities for the youth, student and educational travel industry.
About WYSTC
The World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) is the leading trade event for the global youth, student and educational travel industry. Since its inception in 1992 as the annual event of WYSE Travel Confederation, youth and student travel professionals have been gathering annually to trade, network and take part in seminars and workshops. For more information, please click here.