EURING General Assembly - Turkey 2026

The EURING General Assembly 2026 will be held in Samsun, Türkiye, from 6–8 October 2026, hosted by the Ornithological Research Centre (Ondokuz Mayıs University) with contribution of the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

This meeting marks a significant milestone for EURING, as it will be the first General Assembly organized in Türkiye. The local organisers are looking forward to welcoming delegates to the Black Sea coast for three days of meetings, discussions, networking, and an excursion to one of the most important wetland ecosystems in the eastern Mediterranean region.

Venue

The General Assembly will take place at: Hampton by Hilton Samsun, Türkiye

The hotel offers modern conference facilities, comfortable accommodation, and convenient access to Samsun city centre and transportation hubs. All General Assembly sessions, meals, and social activities will be hosted at the venue.

About Samsun

Located on the central Black Sea coast of Türkiye, Samsun is the largest city in the region and an important cultural, historical, and economic centre. With a population of over one million inhabitants, the city combines modern urban infrastructure with extensive natural landscapes, including coastal areas, forests, wetlands, and river deltas.

Samsun is particularly well known among ornithologists and nature enthusiasts for its proximity to the Kızılırmak Delta, one of the most important wetland ecosystems in the Black Sea region and a key site for migratory birds along the African-Eurasian flyway.

The city enjoys a mild Black Sea climate in October, with average daytime temperatures typically ranging between 18–24°C, providing pleasant conditions for both indoor meetings and outdoor activities.

Samsun is well connected to national and international destinations through Samsun Çarşamba Airport (SZF), with regular flights via İstanbul and other major Turkish cities. The airport is approximately 15 km from the meeting venue.

Participants will have the opportunity to experience the hospitality, cuisine, and natural heritage of the Black Sea region while attending the first EURING General Assembly hosted in Türkiye.

A short video about Samsun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYo2fIFuwSg

Travel to the meeting

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/A8L4RBo1wPJJR6YDA

By Air

Air travel is by far the most convenient way to reach Samsun and is strongly recommended for participants.

When booking flights, please search for Samsun Çarşamba Airport (SZF) as your final destination. Most international connections to Samsun are available via Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) in Istanbul, which offer numerous daily domestic flights to Samsun.

Connections are also available through other major Turkish cities such as Ankara and Izmir; however, Istanbul generally provides the widest range of flight options and the most convenient schedules.

Participants travelling from Germany or nearby may also wish to check for seasonal direct flights to Samsun, as direct flights are sometimes available during October from selected German airports.

By train or bus

Due to the considerable distance between Istanbul and Samsun, long-distance bus travel is generally not recommended for international visitors. It may take appr. 11 hours from Istanbul to Samsun, and appr. 6 hours from Ankara to Samsun by bus.

Rail connections to Samsun are currently limited and typically involve additional transfers. For this reason, train travel is also not recommended as the primary means of reaching the meeting. For further details please conract the local organisers.

Transfer from Samsun Airport

Samsun Çarşamba Airport is located approximately 15 km from the meeting venue, Hampton by Hilton Samsun.

Airport shuttle buses (SAMAIR) operate in connection with arriving flights, although departure times may vary according to flight schedules and are not always fixed in advance. If you choose to use the SAMAIR shuttle service, please take a bus heading towards Atakum. Before boarding, inform the driver that your destination is Hampton by Hilton, Samsun.

Please note that card payments only are accepted on SAMAIR shuttle buses. It costs € 3.

Taxis are readily available at the airport and provide a convenient alternative. The journey to the hotel typically takes around 20 minutes, depending on traffic conditions, and is expected to cost € 10.

ATTENTION

If your checked baggage has been tagged through to Samsun (SZF) from your departure airport, please proceed to the International Arrivals area after leaving the aircraft. There is no passport control at Samsun Airport for passengers arriving on domestic flights following an international connection; however, you will need to collect your checked baggage in the International Arrivals baggage claim area.

If you have already collected your baggage at your transfer airport in Türkiye and re-checked it for your domestic flight to Samsun, or if you are travelling on a domestic flight within Türkiye, please proceed to the Domestic Arrivals area and collect your baggage there.

IMPORTANT

Please check from here if you need to apply for a visa to travel to Türkiye.

https://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa

Registration and arrival

To register click here:

EURING General Assembly - Turkey 2026 - Registration Form

The deadline for registration is 31 August 2026

We ask delegates to arrive at the venue by the afternoon of Monday 5th October. The welcome dinner will be held that evening. Board members will have board meetings on Monday October 5th and Friday October 9th, and their arrival and departure arrangements will be agreed individually.

General Assembly Sessions

Tuesday 6 October 2026
Wednesday 7 October 2026
Thursday 8 October 2026

Departure

Participants may depart on the afternoon or evening of 8 October following the excursion, or extend their stay in Samsun for additional nights.

Preliminary Programme

The detailed programme and papers for the General Meeting will be available in the members area of EURING website. Once you are in the members area please select General Meetings. Here you will also find information about on-line access for those who are unable to attend in person. If you work within a EURING Scheme and do not know how to access the members area please contact the General Secretary, Juan Arizaga, or any member of the EURING Board. Those requiring printed copies of the programme and papers are asked to print them before travelling, as hard copies will not generally be available at the meeting.

Excursion to the Kızılırmak Delta

The traditional EURING General Assembly excursion will be held on Thursday, 8 October 2026, and will visit the internationally important Kızılırmak Delta Wetland.

Located at the mouth of the Kızılırmak River on the Black Sea coast, the delta is among the largest wetland complexes in Türkiye and one of the country's most significant areas for biodiversity conservation. The landscape includes lagoons, reedbeds, freshwater marshes, wet meadows, floodplain forests, coastal dunes, and agricultural habitats.

The Kızılırmak Delta is situated along a major migratory flyway connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa and supports internationally important populations of breeding, wintering, and migratory birds. 367 bird species have been recorded in the area, including numerous species of waterbirds, raptors, shorebirds, and passerines.

We will have a visit to the Cernek Bird Ringing Station which is operated by the Ornithological Research Center since 2002 and is located in the centre of Kızılırmak Delta.

In recognition of its exceptional ecological value, the Kızılırmak Delta has been included on Türkiye’s Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage status.

Additional information about the site can be found at:

UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List: https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6125/
Video introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEKQFPr9osI
Video introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnD_B3wIldo

Registration Fees

The registration fee includes:

- Participation in all General Assembly sessions
- Three nights of accommodation (5–8 October 2026)
- Full-board catering throughout the meeting
- Coffee breaks
- Excursion to the Kızılırmak Delta
- Field lunch during the excursion

Full Package (5–8 October 2026)

Single Room: 330 EUR
Double Room: 250 EUR

Additional Nights (Bed & Breakfast)

Single Room: 70 EUR
Double Room: 50 EUR

Additional Nights (Bed & Breakfast & a main meal)

Single Room: 85 EUR
Double Room: 65 EUR

Payment

Payment instructions will be sent to participants following registration. Payments will be administered by the OMU Ornithology Research Centre through the local organisers.

Contact

Questions concerning registration, accommodation, travel arrangements, or other local matters should be addressed to:

Kiraz Erciyas Yavuz, OMU Ornithology Research Centre, Local Organiser

To apply for funding to help you attend the meeting please contact the EURING treasurer, Daliborka Stankovic

To offer a talk, suggest issues for discussion or put forward agenda items for the business meeting please contact Rob Robinson and Juan Arizaga .

Further information

This page will be updated as additional information becomes available, including detailed programme.

The local organisers and EURING Board is looking forward to welcoming delegates to Samsun for the EURING General Assembly hosted in Türkiye.