Why Melbourne is one of the world’s best cities for medical events

Any organiser looking to host a medical event has a number of boxes to check. They want a desirable destination, strong local partnerships and academic prestige. In this article, we’ll explain why Melbourne checks these boxes.

In terms of popularity, the city is already highly sought after for medical conferences. The Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) has secured 48 medical and healthcare conferences between now and 2029, and is expected to attract more than 38,000 delegates (injecting $225m into the Victorian economy).

The prestige is apparent – Melbourne is home to Australia’s highest concentration of medical research institutes, teaching hospitals, biotech companies and top-ranked universities. It’s also the country’s most walkable and culturally rich city.

Any organiser looking for a destination for their medical conference can find these two key qualities in Melbourne – academic status and top-quality event support. Melbourne’s attraction is backed by the latest ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) rankings for 2024.

ICCA’s findings show Melbourne’s performance – the city ranked fifth in the global rankings for average delegate attendance, with 794 delegates per event. This achievement places Melbourne ahead of major international cities like London, Paris and New York. The city’s performance is particularly strong for international associations, hosting 49,233 delegates – more than double any other Australian city.

Why Melbourne is a medical powerhouse

Melbourne’s appeal to medical event organisers starts with its research base. The city is anchored by the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct, a globally recognised hub that includes: Over 40 hospitals, research centres and academic institutions More than 10,000 researchers, clinicians and 7,000 students Partnerships with global bodies like the WHO, Gates Foundation and major pharma companies

Key players

The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity – Joint venture between the University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital, known globally for its work on Covid-19 and infectious diseases.

Burnet Institute – An independent, not-for-profit medical research institute that conducts medical research and delivers public health programmes in infectious diseases, sexual and reproductive health and immunity – with a focus on vulnerable communities.

WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute) – Australia’s oldest medical research institute, specialising in cancer, immunology and rare diseases.

The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health – One of the world’s top neuroscience research centres.

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) – The largest child health research institute in the Southern Hemisphere.

Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) Alliance – The VCCC Alliance is Australia’s first and most ambitious comprehensive cancer centre: a joint venture of 10 member institutions, integrating cancer research, education and clinical care.

Monash Health – Victoria’s largest public health service, the cluster of hospitals offer care across the entire lifespan, from pre-birth to end-of-life, and has a significant focus on providing specialised services like cardiology, paediatrics, and women’s health.

Monash RNA – home to Australia’s largest network of 65+ mRNA world-leading researchers across five faculties, building an RNA ecosystem that will lead to the rapid development of life-saving vaccines and therapeutic treatments.

Top university rankings

University of Melbourne: #20 in the world for medicine (QS World Rankings) Monash University: #2 in the world for pharmacy and pharmacology

Melbourne is also home to more than 300 clinical trial sites and a life sciences workforce of over 100,000 people – more than any other state in Australia.

Recent and upcoming medical events

World Congress on Menopause 2024 – Held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, this event attracted over 2,600 delegates and was spearheaded by Professor Susan Davis AO, a leading researcher in women’s health.

World Congress of Gastroenterology and Australian Gastroenterology Week 2025 – The two events will combine in September 2025, bringing together more than 3,000 experts from around the world. Club Melbourne Ambassador and president of the World Gastroenterology Organisation Geoffrey Metz is a world leader in this space and will co-chair the conference.

Joint Annual Scientific Meeting of the International Association of Pancreatology and the Australasian Pancreatic Club – Scheduled for September 2025, the event will mark the first major international, exclusively pancreas-focused meeting in Australia since 2007. It will focus on translating cutting-edge research into tangible outcomes for patients with pancreatic diseases.

World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology 2026 – Set for 12-17 July 2026, this congress will convene global leaders in pharmacology to share advancements in the field.

Global Hepatitis Summit 2027 – Melbourne has secured the bid to host this significant event, underscoring the city’s prominence in global health discussions.

A delegate-friendly city

Of course, as any conference organiser knows, the success of an international event doesn’t hinge solely on how well-run the event is. Any great event also requires a great host city, which includes the factors that make a destination attractive to any kind of visitor. Melbourne has these factors in spades.

As any visitor knows, the city boasts the following:

Walkability and transport

Melbourne is built around its Central Business District, where venues, hotels, restaurants and cultural landmarks are all tightly clustered. Over 14,000 hotel rooms sit within walking distance of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).

The city’s free tram network in the CBD keeps things simple, allowing delegates to move easily between meetings, dinners and networking drinks — no shuttle buses or long commutes required.

For international arrivals, Melbourne Airport offers 39 direct international routes, which include London, Los Angeles, Singapore and Dubai. It’s also one of the few curfew-free airports in Australia. This means that late arrivals and departures aren’t an issue – a surprisingly helpful advantage for an event with international attendance.

Skytrax (airport rating service) recently named it Best Airport in Australia and the Pacific (2024).

Accommodation and stay experience

In Melbourne, options range from top-end international brands to boutique stays and long-term apartment-style lodgings. Any type of accommodation that a delegate or sponsor might require can be found here. By 2026, Melbourne will offer 28,500 hotel rooms across the city.

Culture, food and events

Any event extends beyond the clinical facts of accessibility and event quality. Delegates want a host city that delivers in the same way that a tourist destination would. In terms of food and culture, Melbourne ranks extremely high.

The city is home to over 50 hatted restaurants (Australia’s version of Michelin stars), and has more live music venues per capita than New York, London or Tokyo.

Big-ticket events like the Australian Open, the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Melbourne Cup Carnival give the city a year-round buzz. They also offer planners a calendar of major happenings to align with, or build into incentive programmes.

Safety

Any visitor wants the host destination to have a high degree of safety. Melbourne consistently ranks among the world’s most liveable cities, and has a reputation for safety, cleanliness and accessibility. The city’s healthcare infrastructure and emergency services are world-class – and its commitment to inclusive design means it’s well-suited for attendees with mobility issues.

Support, partnerships and legacy

Another area in which Melbourne stands above the competition – support and legacy. MCB has a specific model, called “Team Melbourne”, which is focused on on embedding events within local knowledge networks – such as research institutes, universities and hospitals.

How it works

MCB works closely with local hosts, researchers and institutions during the bidding phase Events are often years in the making, building strong, early-stage partnerships MCB connects international organisers to local experts, ambassadors and government agencies

Impactful partnerships

Club Melbourne Ambassador Program: A network of 140+ local academic and medical leaders who help secure and shape global conferences Events often include site visits to research institutions, involvement in program curation and post-event collaboration

Why it matters

Events that plug into Melbourne’s knowledge ecosystem are much more likely to produce a lasting impact. Past conferences have led to: New research collaborations Updated clinical guidelines International grants and publications Strong media exposure for host organisations

The ICCA rankings – Melbourne outperforms

Melbourne’s pedigree was revealed by ICCA in the recent 2024 rankings. The city performed particularly strongly.