Seattle Launches First Smart City Kiosk at Pike and First as 50-Kiosk Network Gets Underway
Joy Ale
June 10, 2026
Representative Image
Downtown Seattle’s first IKE Smart City kiosk went live Tuesday at First Avenue and Pike Street, marking the beginning of a planned 50-kiosk network that will spread across multiple Seattle neighborhoods and offer residents and visitors free Wi-Fi, real-time transit directions, and direct access to emergency services.
The interactive kiosks provide a range of public services including real-time transit information, local business directories, city resources, public art displays, and one-touch access to 911. Four units are expected to be installed in the downtown core initially, with additional locations planned for Ballard, SoDo, the University District, and West Seattle as the network expands.
The Downtown Seattle Association says the program comes at no cost to taxpayers. The kiosks are funded through advertising revenue, which is projected to generate approximately $1.1 million annually. That revenue will be reinvested into downtown cleaning, beautification efforts, and community events rather than going to the city’s general fund.
The first two kiosks are being installed specifically ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Seattle expecting an influx of hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world over the coming weeks. For international visitors unfamiliar with the city’s transit system and neighborhood layout, the kiosks offer an immediately accessible resource at street level.
The launch at First and Pike places the first kiosk at one of downtown Seattle’s most heavily trafficked intersections, a few blocks from Pike Place Market and directly along one of the main pedestrian corridors leading toward the waterfront.
