International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Antalya
The International Astronautical Congress (IAC) will take place at the NEST Congress and Exhibition Center in Belek from October 5–9, 2026. The congress is held in a different country each year; Türkiye will host it for the first time.
This represents more than a single event. As Antalya moves beyond its busiest tourism months, the city will become the center of an internationally significant scientific and industrial program. Below, you will find the congress details, the city’s seasonal tourism picture, and the indicators that should be monitored from a real estate perspective, together with their sources.
Congress Details
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | October 5–9, 2026 |
| Venue | NEST Congress and Exhibition Center, Belek — Antalya |
| Theme | “The World Needs More Space” |
| Expected attendance | More than 10,000 delegates from 108 countries |
| Abstract submissions | More than 8,330 |
| Top five countries by submissions | Türkiye 753 · China 322 · Azerbaijan 317 · USA 228 · Italy 220 |
| Hosts and organizers | Turkish Space Agency (host), International Astronautical Federation, Ministry of Industry and Technology, SAHA Istanbul |
| Venue size | 20,000 m² total area; 6,000 m² main hall; 32 km from the airport, 45 km from the city center |
Sources: Turkish Space Agency and IAC 2026; Daily Sabah, August 2026; Antalya Promotion Foundation — NEST specifications.
Türkiye ranking first in abstract submissions with 753 papers shows that the congress is not merely an opportunity to host an international event; it is also a platform where Turkish academic and industrial capabilities gain international visibility.
Why October Matters
Antalya’s tourism calendar is characterized by pronounced seasonality. During the 2026 season, August 1 recorded a daily record of 103,200 foreign visitors, while occupancy at high-quality facilities reached 90–95%. In contrast, the number of foreign visitors arriving in Antalya during the January–August period stood at 8.359 million, 7% below the previous year, according to POYD President Hakan Saatçioğlu on August 18, 2026.
The picture is clear: summer is full, while the shoulder season remains vulnerable.
Congress Tourism Fills This Gap
October is a month when sun-and-sea tourism demand declines, while weather conditions and hotel capacity remain favorable. Hosting more than 10,000 delegates over five days brings demand to the city for reasons beyond traditional holidays, benefiting accommodation, transportation, food and beverage, and local services.
Congress visitors behave differently from package-holiday tourists: their stays tend to be shorter, but their daily spending and preference for higher-quality accommodation tend to be greater. This demand becomes particularly significant when it allows hotels and other accommodation providers to maintain occupancy without having to rely heavily on price reductions.
What Does This Mean for Real Estate?
It would not be correct to draw a direct conclusion about property prices from this event alone. A single congress does not permanently change a city’s real estate values. What can create a lasting impact is whether the type of demand represented by the congress becomes sustainable.
For comparison, the current picture is as follows: In July 2026, the average residential price per square meter in Antalya was TRY 55,495, the average property value was TRY 6,104,450, and annual nominal growth was 25.8%, according to Emlakjet’s July 2026 data. A total of 6,305 homes were sold in the city during the same month. The average payback period was 17 years, significantly above the Turkish average of 13 years, according to Emlakjet-Endeksa data for May 2026. In other words, Antalya is currently in a market where property prices are relatively high compared with rental income.
Three Key Areas to Monitor
Belek–Serik corridor. The congress center is 45 km from the city center and 32 km from the airport. Along the corridor where event-related traffic becomes concentrated, demand for services and accommodation is likely to respond first; residential demand may follow with a delay.
Shoulder-season rental performance. The evolution of short-term accommodation occupancy during October–November over several years will provide a much clearer picture of the actual return profile of coastal residential properties than the summer months alone. Annual return calculations should not be based solely on July and August.
Qualified workforce. If Antalya develops regular connections with the space and aviation ecosystem, the resulting demand is more likely to include long-term rental housing rather than holiday homes. These are two different products, with different expectations regarding size, location, and amenities.
Side note: The real estate impact of major events is generally visible not on the event date itself, but in the infrastructure investments made beforehand and in the recurring event calendar afterward. IAC is currently a one-time event; its lasting impact will depend on whether Antalya can regularly include congresses of this scale in its calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where will IAC 2026 take place?
It will take place from October 5–9, 2026, at the NEST Congress and Exhibition Center in Belek.
How many people are expected to attend?
More than 10,000 delegates from 108 countries are expected.
Will the congress increase property prices in Antalya?
A single event should not be expected to have a lasting effect on property prices. What should be monitored is whether shoulder-season occupancy and the congress calendar become sustainable over time.
Final Thoughts
At Grand Emlak, we are following this development not as a property-price forecast, but as a demand signal. Once occupancy, average nightly rates, and length-of-stay data generated in Antalya during October 2026 are released, we will share their impact on the coastal residential and long-term rental segments together with the relevant sources.
If you own a property in Antalya or are considering purchasing one, let’s discuss what this changing landscape could mean for you. You can always contact us, and our relevant consultants will provide you with the most appropriate guidance.
