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The 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026) will bring space professionals from around the world to Antalya, on Türkiye's Mediterranean coast, from Oct. 5 to 9. Alongside its scientific and technical program, the congress will include social and cultural activities highlighting the region's historical, cultural and natural sites.
Türkiye's Ministry of Industry and Technology coordinates the event, hosted by the Turkish Space Agency (TUA) and co-hosted by SAHA Istanbul.
Daily tours planned for participants include the ancient cities of Aspendos, Perge and Side, along with Kaleici, Duden Waterfall, Kopru Canyon, Demre, Myra, Kekova, Kas and Patara.
Additional stops include Karacaoren, Sagalassos and Insuyu Cave, giving participants access to the archaeological heritage and natural landscape of Türkiye's Mediterranean region.
The congress's technical tour program includes a visit to the Antalya campus of the Turkish National Observatory (TUG), one of Türkiye's key astronomical research facilities.
Located at an altitude of around 2,500 meters in Bakirlitepe, the observatory will host participants for a look at its telescope infrastructure and an overview of Türkiye's astronomy research.
The program includes a solar telescope observation session and a briefing on TUG's National Observatory Program and related scientific activities. Visits to the observatory are scheduled for Oct. 7 and Oct. 10.
Türkiye's promotional program for IAC 2026 extends beyond Antalya. Following the congress, organizers plan tours to Istanbul and Cappadocia in central Türkiye, as well as routes covering Pamukkale-Ephesus in western Türkiye; Konya; and Gaziantep-Sanliurfa-Gobeklitepe in southeastern Türkiye, home to the Gobeklitepe archaeological site.
One of the congress's key social gatherings will take place at the Aspendos Ancient Theatre, a historic site near Antalya. On October 9, the final day of IAC 2026, the global space community will gather for a gala event.
Organizers describe the setting as bringing together "past, present, and future," with the event held in a venue with a history spanning thousands of years, marking the close of the congress's Antalya program.
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