The Baltic Ports Organization (BPO) and the Port of Turku are pleased to announce that the Baltic Ports Conference 2026 will take place on 2-4 September 2026, in the historic maritime hub of Turku. Join us in Finland’s oldest port city to discuss the future of Baltic and Europe’s maritime transport sector.

An illustrious host…
The Port of Turku is the oldest Port in Finland and turned recently 870-years. Due to its pivotal role for the maritime history in the Baltics and shipbuilding industry of the Southwestern Finland, the port has been a solid part of the Finnish export and import, being the second largest passenger port in Finland, with three daily departures to Åland and Stockholm.

The port is investing in an ultra-modern passenger terminal, that will be launched in 2027 and the project includes automatization and holistic renewal of the entire port area. Turku is well known for its various cargo shipping connections to the continent and specialized stevedoring services. The port also has a broad warehousing service, that is and important part of the daily operations of this sheltered and active port.

… and a fantastic venue…
Located on the riverfront, the Radisson Blu Marina Palace Hotel features 184 rooms and suites equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi. On-site dining is available at Grill it! Marina, which specializes in charcoal-grilled Scandinavian cuisine. For business needs, the hotel provides versatile meeting spaces and event venues overlooking the water.

… located in a beautiful city!
Turku is the oldest city in Finland and the country’s former capital. The city’s history is generally traced back to the year 1229, when Pope Gregory IX moved the bishop’s seat to the current area of Turku, which was already a wealthy and relatively densely populated region. Located in the Aura River valley, Turku also served as a center for trade, as indicated by the city’s name, derived from a word meaning “marketplace.”

The city and the surrounding municipalities form a vibrant growth center in the Baltic Sea region. A diverse economic structure, dynamic businesses, and high-quality education, culture, and services—along with the beautiful archipelago—make Turku a highly attractive combination. The population of Turku is about 195,000 and is growing by approximately 1,000 people per year.

Turku is an officially bilingual city, with about 5% of its residents speaking Swedish as their mother tongue. Turku is also a multicultural and multilingual city. More than 14% of its residents speak a native language other than Finnish, Swedish, or Sami. The largest non-Finnish-language groups, in order, are: Russian, Arabic, Kurdish, Albanian, Somali, Estonian, English, and Farsi.

Stay tuned for more information about our hosts in future newsletters, as we explore their history, and take a look at what an intrepid conference participant can get up to in the city after the conference hall doors close!