RAI Amsterdam · Europaplein 24 · IBC2026: 11–14 September
When IBC takes over the RAI, the whole city fills up and rates around Europaplein triple. The professional’s move: a well-connected hotel a few stops out. Same commute as the “walking distance” hotels charge triple for, once you count the breakfast queue.
The RAI logic
The RAI sits on Amsterdam’s fastest infrastructure: the Noord/Zuid metro line stops at the door, station RAI links straight to Schiphol, and the A10 runs alongside. Any hotel on those lines is effectively “at the RAI” — without conference-week pricing.
01 — The event
From 11 to 14 September the International Broadcasting Convention brings the global media, entertainment and technology industry to Amsterdam. Four days of exhibition floors, conference sessions and the evening circuit that follows them.
Registration via show.ibc.org
02 — The airport
Direct trains link Schiphol and station RAI in about ten minutes. Which is why flying in for a single conference day is genuinely workable, and why a hotel near any station on that line earns its keep all week.
Direct train · no change
03 — The base
Conference weeks are won in the mornings. Our hotels trade the Europaplein premium for quiet rooms, 24/7 receptions for late arrivals, luggage storage for that awkward last day, and rates that leave budget for the client dinner.
Book direct · best rate + late check-out
Getting there
The RAI is served by metro 52 (Europaplein, at the entrance), metro 50 and trains at station RAI. Every hotel below connects to one of those lines.
Conference-week tip: mornings peak between 08:30 and 09:30 — leave fifteen minutes earlier than the app says, or beat everyone by taking breakfast near the venue. Check live times in the 9292 or GVB app.
| Your XO hotel | Area | By public transport | By taxi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Levell | Zuidoost | Direct train Bijlmer ArenA → station RAI — one of the shortest rides on this list no change | ~8 min |
| XO Hotel Inner | Zuid / Museum Quarter | Short tram or bike ride toward Zuid/RAI — closest XO base to the venue no change | ~10 min |
| Hotel Van Gogh | Museum Quarter | Tram toward Zuid, or metro 52 from De Pijp to Europaplein no change | ~10 min |
| XO Hotels City Centre | Centrum | Metro 52 from Rokin or Centraal direct to Europaplein (at the RAI entrance) no change | ~15 min |
| Hotel Artemis | Nieuw-West | Metro 50 direct to station RAI no change | ~10min |
| XO Hotels Couture | West | Walk or tram to Lelylaan, metro 50 direct to station RAI no change | ~10 min |
| XO Hotels Park West | Sloterdijk | Train or metro via Amsterdam Zuid toward the RAI 1 change | ~10 min |
| XO Hotels Blue Tower | West | Bus or tram to Lelylaan, then metro 50 to station RAI 1 change | ~10-15 min |
| XO Hotels Blue Square | Nieuw-West | Bus or tram to Lelylaan, then metro 50 to station RAI 1 change | ~15 min |
| XO Hotels Infinity | Nieuw-West | Bus or tram to Lelylaan, then metro 50 to station RAI 1 change | ~18 min |
Before you book
From 11 to 14 September 2026 at RAI Amsterdam (Europaplein 24). The convention draws over 45,000 media and technology professionals from 170 countries and more than 1,300 exhibitors.
XO Hotel Inner and Hotel Van Gogh are the nearest XO bases, minutes away in the Museum Quarter and Zuid. Hotel Levell and Hotel Artemis connect by direct train and metro 50 without a change. Often faster door-to-door than “walking distance” hotels at triple the rate.
Direct trains run from Schiphol Airport to station RAI in about ten minutes. Metro 52 stops at Europaplein, right at the RAI entrance, and connects through the city centre.
Yes, the connections are the same for every congress and trade fair at the RAI, year-round. Book direct with XO for the best rate, 10% off and free late check-out.
Stay with XO
Quiet rooms, honest rates and a direct connection to Europaplein — for IBC week and every RAI congress after it. Book direct for the best rate, 10% off and free late check-out.
