The European Congress of Radiology (ECR), which has been held at the Austria Center Vienna since 1991, will remain in the city until 2035 following a contract extension. The congress attracts over 20,000 international participants to Vienna every year and is the largest international congress held at the Austria Center Vienna.
The contract extension is a great boost for the centre which, according to a recent ECO Austria calculation, generated a total economic impact of €445m in GDP for Austria in 2025 alone.
“We are delighted that the European Congress of Radiology will be held at the Austria Center Vienna until 2035. The fact that a global congress has chosen to commit to us for such a long period is truly a strong sign of confidence. The ECR is our largest event, which this year alone brought 22,418 participants from 121 countries and more than 220 exhibitors to Vienna,” said centre director Susanne Bauman-Söllner.
“No other specialist congress combines scientific dialogue with technological progress as effectively as the ECR,” she added. In recognition of this, it was twice awarded the ‘Bea Event Award’ in 2025 in the categories ‘Best Congress’ and ‘World’s Best Convention’.
“Our long-standing collaboration with the Austria Center Vienna is based on mutual trust and a reliable partnership. The ECR has continued to evolve over the past decades and, every year, sets new standards for a modern meeting venue. We therefore particularly appreciate the Austria Center Vienna’s willingness to invest continuously in its infrastructure, to embrace new technologies and to implement innovative event concepts together with us. This openness to further develop-ment was a key reason for our decision to continue our successful partnership until 2035,” said Peter Baierl, executive director of the European Society of Radiology.
“The extension of the ECR contract until 2035 sends a strong signal for Vienna as a meeting destination. The congress ranks among the destination’s largest events and traditionally marks the start of the meeting year. As one of four congresses of this scale taking place this year, it provides a significant economic boost and generates added value, promotes the transfer of knowledge and strengthens Vienna’s position as a centre for science and business. Long-term contracts such as this one also ensure predictability and stability across the entire destination,” said Norbert Kettner, CEO of the Vienna Tourist Board.
The average meeting delegate in Vienna spends around €560, about a third more than a typical visitor to Vienna, according to the Tourist Board.
