Home MEETINGS STAR TIMISOARA – MTLG Destination Update 2026

TIMISOARA – MTLG Destination Update 2026

Old Central European charm blended with Balkan influences

Jan 23, 2026

timisoara_romania — Photo: Visit Timisoara

NEED TO KNOW IN 2026

Timisoara has never lost its creativity and its appetite for innovation. Both public and private sectors work towards giving great ideas a platform to express. Home to some of the most important medical conferences in the region, tech talks and meetings, and a major university hub, the city is regaining its taste for larger events.

With 4 major international chain hotels under construction, modern facilities and skilled service providers, Timisoara is now looking to become a major player in the meetings space. The Meeting Planner’s Guide, launched in October 2025 will facilitate access to suppliers, venues and the expertise gathered in the past years. Visit Timisoara, created in 2023, will work with you to facilitate your projects.

DID YOU KNOW?

Due to its location in the region, facilities and ease of access, Timisoara is becoming a hotspot for political summits and debates. Since 2023, there have been 3 events involving heads of states, and many more involving mayors, government and diplomacy officials.

The Timisoara Award for European Values and the Timisoara Cities Summit are proof that the city can host very high profile events. With Visit Timisoara as the organizer of these important gatherings, you could leverage this wealth of experience and contacts to the benefit of your own events.

BEST INCENTIVE IDEA IN 2026

The 20th century is in full display. From the magnificent palaces from before the first World War to the memorial of the Romanian Revolution, which started in Timisoara in December 1989, this historical layer sits on top of a Turkish era, which came after a Hungarian Kingdom era. A guided tour offer is a fascinating peek back in time and explains so much of the striking beauty all around you. Boat tours on the river and mystery dinners offer treats for all senses, especially in the perfect weather months of spring and autumn.

PERFECT GIFT

Souvenir Station is the official shop which showcases the work of local artisans. Perfectly located in the city center, all the artworks, apparel and accessories here have the local touch. Traditional pottery and textiles from UNESCO-protected regions of the country complete the shop’s offer and ensure that, even if you are only visiting Timisoara, you can still take home a wider sample of what Romania has to offer.

TOP 5 EVENTS IN 2025

#5 – Art Encounters – International Contemporary Art Biennial – July 2025

#4 – Timisoara Award for European Values – Ms. Roberta Metsola – May 2025

#3 – Festival of Hearts – Largest Folk Festival in Europe – July 2025

#2 – Timisoara Cities Summit – EU Enlargement Forum

#1 – City Celebrations – 200+ events over 3 days

TIMISOARA'S FEATURES

NATURAL AND CULTURAL FACTORS

Following the success of the 2023 European Capital of Culture events, there is a growing appetite for relevant cultural projects. Several annual art exhibitions and film and music festivals are now permanent features of the city.

A place known for its innovation, a city of firsts, Timisoara attracts forward thinkers, empowers creators to experiment and to make history here. The first city with electric streetlights in continental Europe, the first city with a public library in the Habsburg Empire, and the first Romanian city to stand up against communism in 1989 are among the milestones in the history of the most diverse and inclusive place in the region. Timisoara’s gastronomy showcases the city’s multiculturalism through a spectacular blend of Romanian, German, Hungarian, and Serbian influences. All this in the city with the oldest beer factory in the country, from 1718, and 15 kilometres away from the largest wine producer in Romania.

GENERAL AND TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

As the Western gateway into Transylvania, Timisoara is well-connected to the world. On the highway, you can reach it in 3 hours from Budapest, in the Schengen space. It is also 2,5 hours from Belgrade. The international airport has connections to Bucharest, München and Istanbul, with full-service airlines and to dozens of other cities in Europe and the Middle East by low-cost airlines.

A major EU-funded railway reconstruction project, now nearing completion, will connect Timisoara to Budapest via a new high-speed corridor supporting trains at 160 km/h. The local public transport infrastructure has seen significant investment. A brand-new modern fleet of trams, electric buses and trolleybuses serves the locals. Public transportation on the river is also available. As the city with the largest pedestrian-only area in the country and the most walkable and cyclable, Timisoara takes advantage of its position and features.

TOURIST INFRASTRUCTURE

Ranked as one of the best European destinations for groups and families, Timisoara’s attractions are within walking distance from each other, inside the central pedestrian area. The National Arts Museum and the Revolution Memorial are just a five-minute walk apart. With more than 900 classified heritage buildings, which is the largest such collection in Romania, Timisoara is an architectural marvel. Baroque, Art Nouveau, Neoclassical, and Romanian styles combine in a very “Instagrammable” display of forms and facades.

With 55 operational hotels and B&Bs and 5 major projects under construction in 2025, Timisoara has seen significant investment in tourism infrastructure. Local brands, major hotel chains and small boutique and luxury hotels, priced in line with the regional average, can cater to both families and large groups.

MEETINGS INFRASTRUCTURE

There have been three major event venues open in the past 10 years. All are capable of accommodating 500-1000 pax and offer all the modern facilities you would expect. The trend of repurposing special venues for events allows event organisers to plan with an 18th-century baroque palace or former industrial plant – now an art exhibition venue – in mind.

Valuable perks include a strong local coffee roastery and boutique bakery culture, in the city where the inventor of the espresso machine was born, some of the fastest broadband internet in the world and easy access to a wide range of activities.

MEETINGS BUZZ

Timisoara is the Romanian city of firsts. From pioneering technologies to being the birthplace of world-famous celebrities, it has the vibe of a place always looking to improve, to experiment, to discover. Centuries of peaceful coexistence between different ethnicities make Timisoara a very friendly, welcoming and inclusive place. English is widely spoken, and Serbian, Hungarian, Italian, and German are often heard on the streets.

Timisoara holds on to the old Central European charm and blends it with Balkan influences in a picturesque, accessible and completely safe city, offering chances to create your own personal firsts every step of the way.

TIMISOARA FACT SHEET

Destination population:	350,000
*The number of 4 and 5* category hotel rooms:**	1,300
*The number of 4 and 5* category hotels:**	18
The size of the largest hall in the city (in m2):	1,600
Maximum hall capacity in theatre style (the largest hall in the city)	1,400
Banquet hall maximum capacity (the largest hall in the city):	840
Average internet speed when organising events (Mbps):	120