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PROGRAMME

One Congress. Multiple Worlds. Unlimited Opportunity. 

The 2026 ICCA Congress introduces a bold, multi-modal programme designed to reflect the complexity, dynamism, and economic power of today’s global business events ecosystem. 

This is not a traditional Congress format. It is an integrated experience that brings multiple Congresses into one unified platform—where associations, destinations, governments, academics, technology leaders, creatives, and investors converge. 

Powered by cross-sector co-curators including Skift, UN Tourism, CAF, IEEE, AC Forum, House of Beautiful Business, and others, the programme is intentionally structured to spark collaboration, accelerate competitiveness, and unlock creativity. 

This is where industries intersect and global conversations move forward. 


Featured Speakers 

Future Makers. Industry Shapers. Global Visionaries. 

The 2026 ICCA Congress convenes an exceptional cross-section of global voices—from within the business events industry and far beyond it. 

Expect: 

  • Leaders shaping international policy and economic strategy 
  • Technology innovators advancing AI, robotics, and digital transformation 
  • Sustainability pioneers redefining responsible growth 
  • Cultural and creative visionaries influencing global narratives 
  • Association executives driving purpose-led impact 

Speakers from our co-curator organisations will deliver dedicated content streams, ensuring diverse perspectives and real-world insight. 

Every session is designed not just to inform—but to challenge assumptions, introduce future signals, and create actionable takeaways. 

The Networking Experience 

Designed for Meaningful Connection 

Networking is not an add-on. It is embedded into every layer of the programme. 

Structured networking sessions are integrated within each pillar, enabling targeted conversations aligned with strategic priorities.

 

Opportunities include: 

  • Cross-sector meetups with co-curators and collaborators 
  • Peer-to-peer advisory sessions 
  • Themed networking lounges 
  • ICCAverse community hubs 
  • Business Exchange opportunities 

Access to investors, researchers, policymakers, start-ups, and associations 

Every hour is engineered for connection, collaboration, and commercial opportunity. 

Intentional Networking Sessions


What is intentional networking and how does it work?

Intentional Networking Sessions are designed to turn connection into a meaningful, purposeful experience. Rather than leaving conversations to chance, these sessions bring participants together around shared interests, challenges and ambitions, creating space for deeper dialogue, collaboration and practical exchange.

This programme moves beyond traditional networking formats. Sessions are facilitated, highly interactive and shaped by the participants themselves. Delegates actively contribute, exchange perspectives, challenge existing thinking and co-create new ideas with peers from across regions, sectors and generations. The result is networking with clear value: conversations that inspire action and relationships that last well beyond the session.

What topics can I expect during the Networking Sessions?

Each Intentional Networking Session is built around a focused topic relevant to today’s meetings and events landscape, encouraging targeted discussions rather than surface-level interactions. Topics may explore themes such as cross-cultural business practices, innovation under constraints, intergenerational collaboration, sustainability, or new ways of designing engaging experiences. Participants choose the sessions that align with their interests and learning goals, allowing for a personalised and relevant networking journey.

How is are the Intentional Networking Sessions connected to the programme?

A variety of formats ensure energy and engagement throughout the programme. These may include roundtables, labs, workshops, peer-to-peer advisory exchanges, cross-sector meetups and themed educational networking experiences. Sessions typically run between 30 and 120 minutes, offering enough time to build rapport, explore ideas in depth and generate practical takeaways.

Intentional Networking is not an add-on — it is an integral part of the programme design. By placing connection at the centre, these sessions create an environment where knowledge is shared openly, ideas are tested collaboratively and professional relationships are strengthened through purposeful interaction.

Expect to leave feeling more connected, more informed and better equipped, with new perspectives and a stronger network built through meaningful, participatory experiences.

Programme Structure: Three Strategic Pillars 

The programme brings together multiple ecosystems through three interconnected pillars: Collaboration, Competitiveness, and Creativity. 

Collaboration 

 Building Alliances that Move Markets 

Collaboration lies at the heart of global business events success. This pillar explores how associations, governments, destinations, and private-sector partners can work together to create measurable impact.

Competitiveness

Turning Insight into Strategic Advantage 

In an era of rapid transformation, competitiveness depends on intelligence, agility, and innovation

Creativity

Designing the Future of Experience 

Creativity fuels relevance. It drives audience engagement, shapes brand identity, and strengthens global positioning. 

Learning at the 2026 ICCA Congress

 

Learn it. Test it. Apply it.

Learning at the 2026 ICCA Congress is built for action. More than 60% of the programme is dedicated to experiential, participatory formats that put delegates at the centre of the experience.

This is not passive listening. It is structured engagement that reflects the realities of today's complex, interconnected world — the essence of CrossWorlds.

 

Content is tailored across the full value chain of destinations, associations and suppliers, ensuring every participant engages with material that is relevant, grounded and directly applicable to their role.

 

Sessions are designed to encourage collaboration, debate and experimentation. Ideas are not just explored but tested, refined and translated into practical outcomes. Delegates cross perspectives, industries and experiences, gaining insights that stretch well beyond their own context.

 

Participants leave with more than inspiration. They leave equipped: new capabilities, actionable insights and a broader global perspective ready to apply immediately within their organisations, destinations and communities.

 

This is learning built for momentum, and designed to last well beyond the Congres

 

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