A new digital solution for more inclusive visitors' experiences to be tested during Gothenburg Horse Show 2027

“Coming to an event should feel exciting, not uncertain. For many families, big events such as the Gothenburg Horse Show require detailed planning and can generate stress. Questions about entrances, routes, facilities, crowds, sensory impressions and what to expect on site can determine whether a visit feels possible. Being able to explore a place digitally beforehand and giving visitors a better understanding of what to expect thanks to technological innovation can make a huge difference.” says Jenny Lindström Beijar from Our Normal Association, who contributes with inclusive user research and universal design expertise to the project.

For its 50^th anniversary, on 22–28 March 2027, Gothenburg Horse Show will collaborate with European Citiverses Uniting for Inclusiveness and its newly developed solution “AccessCity” to make the event smart and inclusive.

AccessCity aims to give visitors a clearer picture of the experience before they arrive. Built on Gothenburg’s local digital twin, the solution combines digital visualisation with AI-supported guidance to help people plan a visit based on their individual needs. The product offers several instruction videos and sound recordings from the event for a complete immersive experience beforehand.

Human-centred technology, developed with families

AccessCity has been developed by the European Citiverses Uniting for Inclusiveness project in collaboration with Gothenburg Horse Show over the past two years. Visitors who have taken part in the project's user testing have shared their experiences and contributed to the development of the solution.

The project places particular emphasis on families where one or more members may face physical barriers, cognitive challenges, age-related needs, anxiety or language barriers. The aim is to make events easier to navigate, more inclusive and more welcoming for everyone.

“The project is fully aligned with our ambition, both at Got Event and Gothenburg Horse Show, to make our venues and events accessible to everyone. We are proud to contribute to the development of a solution that we hope will give more people the opportunity to experience unforgettable sporting moments.” says Erika Olsson, Event Director Gothenburg Horse Show at GotEvent.

The insights from this collaboration will be of use for continuous exploration on how digital twins and AI can lower thresholds to urban spaces. Lessons learned can be of use to other European cities and major events, through open-source solutions, scalability and interoperability.

_________________________

European Citiverses Uniting for Inclusiveness is an EU co-funded innovation project, bringing together 12 partners from across Europe. Using the Gothenburg’s digital twin as a pilot and the principles of universal design, it creates an inclusive, human-centric solution where users can explore the city digitally before visiting, regardless of their age or ability. The project aims to set new standards for accessibility and inclusiveness across Europe.