The recently concluded ICCA Annual Congress in Porto, drew over 1,500 industry leaders to reimagine international meetings through sustainability, innovation, and human-centred design. The Porto Congress – spread across many venues in the city – hosted four transformative days that challenged delegates to think beyond immediate concerns and embrace long-term, meaningful impact.
The programme spanning visionary keynotes, ministerial panels, hands-on sustainability workshops, and association leadership dialogues – all designed to equip the industry for the profound shifts ahead. The Congress opened with urbanist and future cities expert, professor Greg Clark challenging delegates to envision 2080.
His keynote explored how climate shifts, demographic transitions, urban reimagination, and technological disruption would fundamentally reshape how, where, and why people gather for international meetings. Professor Clark said that organisations that led change rather than reacted to it would remain resilient and relevant.
The Congress featured an immersive Impact & Sustainability Track at Porto’s Porto de Leixões Cruise Terminal. Moderated by Virginie De Visscher of Destination Canada Business Events, the session explored the global sustainability landscape through 2030 and featured TED-style presentations from experts across various continents.
Highlights included farm-to-chef supply chain innovations from Arrut Navaraj; Olympic social legacy insights from Adeline Larroque, and cutting-edge venue innovations from Said Salim Al Shanfari of the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre. Chef ‘Tam’ Chudaree Debhakam, Thailand’s first Top Chef winner, delivered an inspiring keynote emphasising that sustainability begins with locally sourced ingredients and that small everyday actions create meaningful impact.
Porto’s Social Impact Project demonstrated how conferences can create meaningful connections between delegates and local communities, driving positive change beyond conference walls. Technologist Peru Dharani explored the enduring power of human storytelling in an era of accelerating technology and fragmenting attention, reinforcing that face-to-face meetings remained the industry’s greatest asset.
Christian Bason, Copenhagen-based expert in design, democracy, and public innovation, delivered a moving keynote. Speaking as both a thought leader and the father of a child with a developmental disability, Bason challenged the industry: “How can we design destinations that truly work for everyone?” His message resonated powerfully: creating welcoming, accessible experiences for people of all abilities, ages, and backgrounds isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s essential for the future of the industry.
The Congress recognised outstanding achievements through multiple awards. Visit Faroe Islands was honoured with the Best Marketing Award for their exceptional campaign under the theme ‘Marketing that Moves You’, competing alongside finalists Business Events Sydney and Wonderful Copenhagen.
Fáilte Ireland and Rural WONCA received the Incredible Impacts 2025 Award for demonstrating how association events can create meaningful, lasting legacies. The Incredible Impacts Grant and Award Programme also showcased inspiring projects from the International Federation of Endodontic Associations (IFEA), International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS), and WONCA World Rural Health Conference 2022.
The Congress featured dedicated tracks on Future Leadership & Resilience, with sessions at historic Caves Ferreira covering emerging megatrends, high-stakes congress management, disaster recovery, neuroscience-based event design, and navigating political uncertainty beyond 2026. The Association Leadership Quest brought together international association CEOs to candidly discuss strategic shifts and transformations they’re navigating, providing insider perspectives on turning disruption into opportunity.
The Congress concluded with a ceremonial handover to Panama, hosts of the 65th ICCA Annual Congress in 2026.
Seven key takeaways for the industry: Future-proof through long-term vision – Prepare for shifts in climate, demographics, urbanisation, and technology Sustainability demands action, not just ambition – Embed sustainability as a competitive advantage Business events are platforms for diplomacy and peace – Design conferences that foster constructive dialogue Human connection endures technological disruption – Face-to-face meetings remain our greatest asset Accessibility and inclusion are non-negotiable – Move beyond token gestures to human-centred design Association leaders must navigate unprecedented uncertainty – Transform traditional models and turn disruption into opportunity Legacy thinking transforms events into lasting impact – Engage local communities and drive positive social change
“The Porto Congress leaves the business events community energised and equipped to shape a future where meetings create the connections, innovations, and impacts that make the world a better place,” said Mash Media delegate, Iain Stirling, international portfolio director.
