Each spring, the International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) brings together official delegations of ministers of education, leaders of teachers’ organizations, outstanding teachers, and other education experts and teacher leaders from countries with high-performing and rapidly improving educational systems, as measured by PISA, to learn from both their successes and their shared educational challenges. It is a unique and important forum where ministers and union leaders discuss best practices worldwide that strengthen the teaching profession and raise student achievement.
Summit arrangements
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The Estonian ISTP2026 organising committee will host a welcoming desk for delegations at Tallinn Lennart Meri airport during the arriving hours of the Heads of Delegations (HODs). The desk will be located in the arrivals hall.
A two-way airport transfer will be provided for each country’s HOD and accompanying members who arrive and depart on the same flights. Desk agents connect HODs and accompanying delegates to the relevant chauffeur.
For delegation members arriving or departing on different flights, please see more information about the options available for travel between the airport and the hotel from Practical Info.
The hotel is in walking distance from the summit venue Creative Hub (Kultuurikatel), but transfers will also be provided between the hotels and the summit venue.
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A liaison officer will be assigned to accompany each delegation during the ISTP 2026. Points of Contact (POC) will receive the contact information of their liaison officers (LO) before the Summit. Liaison officers will be fully available to the relevant delegations during the Summit’s programme from March 8th – 11th, providing information to the delegation, e.g. about the meeting agenda, timing and in relation to bilateral meetings, as well as assisting on further matters as needed. Liaison officers will greet the relevant delegations at the Registration and Hospitality desk from 8 AM March 8th, or as wished by the relevant Head of Delegation.
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Official delegates will be assigned seats at the main table and in a row behind the main table, in an alphabetical order of the participating countries and special observers countries. Delegation observers may take their seats in the audience section of the conference room.
At the beginning of the summit, the moderator will inform the delegates about the proceedings and the procedure to request the floor to speak. Please note that speaking opportunities cannot be guaranteed for all delegates during each session. Delegations wishing to secure participation in specific sessions are strongly encouraged to communicate their requests to the moderator in advance of the summit. Interventions of each delegation should not exceed two minutes to allow as many countries to participate as possible, generating a dynamic dialogue. Further information on the format of the discussions will be available in the moderator’s letter which will be sent to all delegations in advance of the Summit.
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Country delegations will meet on the last day of the Summit (Wednesday, March 11th) for an hour to discuss and prepare their policy priorities/three commitments for 2026.
Delegations will meet in the Cauldron Hall or elsewhere in the Creative Hub.
Each country delegation should prepare the following using the template found: HERE
- one key insight from the Summit and
- three top commitments for the coming year.
!! Please include your country name in the file title and ensure the upload is completed within the one-hour timeframe. !!
Country delegations are required to bring their own electronic devices to fill in and submit the template.
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All Country POCs (as indicated during the registration process) will receive a list of all Country POCs by email in the beginning of February 2026. Delegations may use the list to contact the relevant POC to arrange a bilateral meeting at a mutually suitable date and time.
If a bilateral meeting room is required, the requesting country POC should submit a request by contacting info@istp2026.ee indicating:
- The countries involved
- Preferred date and time
- The POCs and their email addresses
- Number of delegates attending the meeting (max. 3 – 4 persons for each delegation)
The POCs will receive an e-mail confirmation from the organisers with the date, time and assigned meeting room once arrangements are made.
The bilateral meeting rooms are located as follows.
- Level 3: meeting rooms Kuut, Pilv for up to 9 delegates; meeting room Kaja for up to 12 delegates.
- Level 4: meeting room Torn for up to 13 delegates, meeting room Merkel for up to 7 delegates.
- Level 2: Terrace Hall for up to 16 delegates
- Level 1: Stalker Hall for up to 16 delegates
- Level 0: Small Hall for up to 16 delegates
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The summit will be held in English only. However, if countries wish to bring their own interpreters, they must contact the organisers at info@istp2026.ee.
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Our Sustainability Approach
Our event is guided by a simple principle: A meaningful experience should never come at the expense of the environment. The ISTP 2026 Summit is certified to ISO 20121, the standard for sustainable event management.Venues and Accommodation
Main venues and accommodation are located in or near city centres and offer suitable on-site infrastructure. Radisson Collection Hotel and main venues are certified with the Green Key label.Food and Beverages
At least 50% of ingredients are plant-based, and we prioritise local and seasonal produce. We avoid beef and serve only organic or free-range eggs and MSC- or ASC-certified fish.We reduce waste by serving tap water in jugs during meals, using only reusable tableware, and donating surplus food to organisations called FudLoop.
Coffee, tea, sugar, and cocoa are Fair Trade certified.
Materials and Production
We follow a zero-waste mindset. We avoid single-use items and prioritise reusable, recyclable, and natural materials. Whenever possible, we select eco-labelled products.Energy
Main venues operate on renewable electricity with a zero carbon footprint.Transportation
Public transport is free for participants during ISTP 2026.All event-organised transport uses Euro 6 buses powered by renewable diesel made from old cooking oil, reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 90% and minimising harmful air pollutants.
Accessibility
Main venues are fully accessible, with clear signage, step-free entrances, elevators, and accessible restrooms.Additional support services are available upon request to ensure a smooth and comfortable experience for everyone.
All locations are within walking distance or easily reachable by public transport.
Social Inclusion
We work with local partners to support the regional economy and knowledge exchange.We prioritise suppliers who share our values of transparency, responsibility, and environmental care.
We actively involve local artists, designers, and volunteers to strengthen the event’s connection to the community.
ISTP 2026 CO₂ Footprint
To gain a detailed overview of the footprint of every venue, food item, beverage, transport solution, and material choice, we measure the event’s CO₂ emissions.The event’s carbon footprint is assessed using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. LCA is a comprehensive approach to evaluating the environmental impacts of a product or service throughout its entire life cycle and is regulated by ISO standards.
A detailed CO₂ report will be published a few weeks after the event.
Some Simple Ways to Make Your Visit More Sustainable
Bring a reusable water bottle.
Tallinn’s tap water is safe and of excellent quality. Refill instead of choosing bottled water.Take only what you will eat.
Globally, one-fifth of all food produced is lost or wasted. Please help us reduce waste by serving yourself mindfully.Use event-organised transport.
Our buses meet Euro 6 standards and run on renewable diesel, reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 90%.Choose public transport.
Public transport in Tallinn is free for Summit participants and easily accessible throughout the city. You can find trip planner and timetables here: https://transport.tallinn.ee/#/en
Explore the summit
