Musk’s Israel visit in doubt as smart mobility summit opens in Tel Aviv
Conference organizers cite scheduling conflicts after wartime postponement.
The ninth international smart mobility conference, The Samson International Smart Mobility Summit 2026, will get underway on Monday at Expo Tel Aviv under the leadership of the Innovation and Smart Transportation Division at Israel’s Ministry of Transport and Road Safety. The guest of honor was expected to be billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, owner of Tesla and SpaceX. However, after the conference was postponed from its original March date, Musk is now expected to deliver pre-recorded remarks instead of attending in person.
Sources involved with the conference said Musk had confirmed participation only for the original date, before the event was postponed due to Operation “Roaring Lion.” According to those sources, no official cancellation notice had been received from Musk or his representatives as of the end of the week. However, organizers acknowledge that the chances of him attending in person are now low.
Musk had been scheduled to appear alongside Israel’s Transportation Minister Miri Regev. Organizers said uncertainty remains over whether he could still arrive, though if he had intended to participate physically, they assumed confirmation and travel arrangements would likely already have been finalized.
Conference organizers said in a statement: “Elon Musk’s participation was approved in a conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Transportation Minister Regev. The approval was given in relation to the original conference date. Following the postponement of the event in light of the war, naturally this may conflict with other commitments.”
The organizers added that Musk’s trip to China alongside former U.S. President Donald Trump last week, as well as uncertainty regarding his return schedule, further complicated the possibility of an in-person appearance.
“By the end of the week, no official cancellation notice had been received from him or his representatives,” the statement said. “At the same time, efforts were made to enable his participation nonetheless, including examining various alternatives.”
