State of the Market: Why 2026 is the year of security, inclusion and interoperability

Looking back on 2025, it was a year defined by turbulence. Both economically and geopolitically, the challenges were significant and, at times, unpredictable. Yet, the fact remains that physical mobility stimulates economic mobility. Those unincumbered by travel restrictions are afforded more opportunities than those who cannot travel. It is the duty, responsibility and privilege of transit networks to deliver people to friends, family, work and leisure, through reliable, dependable, safe and affordable travel. 

The challenges that lie ahead in 2026 will require sophisticated and innovative thinking to overcome, but they also bring fresh opportunity to create enhanced, multifaceted solutions that go beyond transport ticketing to create dynamic, interconnected ecosystems. As we move into 2026, the challenge is not only to maintain reliable and affordable transport, but 

Discover CNA’s mission and role in shaping the future of ticketing

Delivering the three pillars of modern ticketing

Any successful ticketing system is built upon one core foundation: putting the customer first. However, in recent years, we’ve seen a once-in-a-generation shift in customer needs and desires, thanks to the rise of hybrid working. As we enter 2026, shifting travel patterns are beginning to settle into more predictable cadences, bringing with it increased clarity on what passengers expect from modern ticketing systems:

• Interoperability: Using a single ticket to move seamlessly across different operators of mass transit networks and micromobility solutions, to provide unrivalled convenience.
• Flexible Fare Structures: Delivering ticketing systems around actual travel behaviour – using GPS or advanced Pay-As-You-Go models – to offer better value for money than pricing journeys based on fixed geographic ‘zones’.
• Digital First: Users overwhelmingly want easy, direct access to the world through their smartphones. Ticketing solutions native to digital wallets can provide convenience, speed, and trusted security.

Cryptography, compliance and confidence

In 2026, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will continue its rise as a scalable attack vector, providing bad actors with a simple way to automate brute force attacks and reverse engineer digital ticketing solutions at scale. In tandem, quantum computing could completely reshape cryptography as we know it, and so getting ahead of ‘harvest now, decrypt later’ tactics is essential.

Organisations must therefore take a far more proactive approach to their security. Once of the best ways to do so is by actively participating in the conversations around regulation. Emerging frameworks such as the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), and the Network and Information Systems Directive 2 (NIS2) each look to mandate secure-by-design approaches, demanding real-time fraud monitoring and routine systems testing to ensure compliance. Throughout 2026, the ticketing community must work as one to create a resilient, unified front against fast-moving threats.

For wider context on cybersecurity regulation and resilience, see ENISA – the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity

Ticketing infrastructure for financial services and access control

Interoperability should not be limited to public transport: the same principles used to integrate transit systems can apply across other sectors. Fully integrated platforms built on open standards can connect different verticals into cohesive ecosystems that improve the user experience. 

Transport ticketing infrastructure, for example, can also support prepaid digital wallets, enabling financial inclusion, particularly in countries without established fixed-line infrastructure. The same infrastructure can also provision digital keys for access control, delivering accessible, affordable and easy-to-use solutions, without compromising on security.

Master a single, sovereign, resilient system 

The mission of any engaged network is to provide secure, seamless ticketing for its users. Flexible, pragmatic, value-add solutions built around customer needs is the key strategic differentiator in providing a more attractive option than private vehicle use. 

In 2026, combine this with additional services such as payments and access control to establish your network as the keystone of connected services built on digital inclusion.

The mission of CNA is to enable all mobility operators and authorities to deliver the best possible ticketing experience for passengers. Join our community to be part of the collaborative industry approach to sustainability, security, accessibility and inclusion, built on trusted open standards. Free yourself from both vendor lock-in and high interchange fees, and take ownership over when you evolve your system, ensuring you deliver innovations that put passengers first.