COP31 to Take Place in Antalya: SP Architects Transforms Former EXPO Site

The 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) will take place in Antalya from 9 to 20 November 2026. According to a report dated 22 October 2026, SP Architects is transforming the former EXPO 2016 site in the Aksu district to prepare the conference venue. Türkiye will host the summit and hold its presidency, while Australia will lead the formal negotiations. The project envisages combining the renovation of existing facilities with new permanent and temporary structures.

How will the EXPO 2016 site be adapted?

The site is built on infrastructure created for the international horticultural exhibition held in 2016. It includes landscaped areas, exhibition facilities and buildings dedicated to agriculture and biodiversity. For COP31, SP Architects is adapting the existing built environment to meet the conference’s needs.

The architecture firm is reported to be managing the project from concept through construction and has set up an on-site office for the work. Coordination with Türkiye’s Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, the UNFCCC and other stakeholders is also part of the project. The report does not provide details on the site’s budget, the number of structures or a specific completion date.

Negotiation and public event areas

The conference site will include the Blue Zone and Green Zone, each serving a different purpose. The UNFCCC-managed Blue Zone will host formal negotiations and meetings for accredited participants. The Green Zone will be dedicated to public events, exhibitions and dialogue programs.

Operating both zones on the same site requires planning for circulation, security boundaries and shared facilities. This underscores that the conference venue involves more than meeting rooms: the movement and access of different user groups are also part of the design brief. The report does not include technical drawings or capacity figures for these arrangements.

The built environment is also on the agenda

COP31’s thematic priorities include energy and transport, food and agriculture, climate finance, the circular economy, and the protection of oceans and terrestrial ecosystems. The World Leaders’ Climate Action Summit will take place on 11–12 November. The program on 12 November will focus on resilient cities and the built environment.

Topics under this theme will include climate-friendly buildings, urban resilience, disaster risk management, local governments, smart cities, nature-based solutions, mobility, infrastructure and sustainable waste systems. Emissions associated with building operations and the production of construction materials will also provide context for discussions about the construction sector.

What this means for architecture and visualization teams

The project offers an example of planning new permanent and temporary structures alongside the renovation of existing facilities at a large-scale event venue. For architecture and interior design teams, key design considerations include functional zoning, user flows, security boundaries and the coordination of shared spaces. The use of modular and reusable building components is also one of the project approaches mentioned in the source.

After the conference, the venue is planned to continue hosting fairs, concerts and other events, with ongoing use coordinated with Antalya Metropolitan Municipality and the district municipalities. This means that design assessment will need to consider not only the venue’s functions during the conference but also its post-event use scenarios. However, the source does not explain the scale at which components will be reused or specify operational performance targets.