The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) held its Annual Meeting & General Assembly (AM&GA) 2026 in Athens, 25-28 February, bringing together 200 senior industry leaders from 36 countries to set strategic priorities and advance its advocacy agenda.
The event began with a reception on 25 February at the Acropolis Museum, as Fotini Karapapa from the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) welcomed the delegation to Athens.
The opening ceremony of the conference saw senior representatives of the Hellenic Republic address the IAPCO community. The Greek minister of tourism, Olga Kefalogianni shared a warm welcome from the prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas shared the city’s ambitious strategic plans around connectivity, infrastructure, and its quest become a sustainable, resilient and smart city.
The presence of top ministerial support from Greece underscored the growing recognition of business events as a driver of economic growth, innovation and international collaboration.
Minister Kefalogianni, said: “Athens is a city where ancient heritage meets world-class infrastructure and renowned hospitality. IAPCO 2026 marks an important milestone for Greece, highlighting its growing role as a premium destination for meetings and congresses. It is a vote of confidence in our capabilities and also in our vision for the future of the MICE industry, in this country but also globally.
Megaron Athens International Conference Centre, hosted this year’s meeting under the theme The Odyssey Reinvented – A very human journey toward the meetings of tomorrow.
Sissi Lignou, president of IAPCO, in welcoming delegates said: “Athens, the birthplace of democracy and the ancient symposia, reminds us that progress has always begun when people gather to exchange ideas with purpose.
“In that same spirit, this year’s IAPCO Annual Meeting brings our community together to advance our mission, harnessing the power of professional meetings and people to create lasting impact.
“Over the next few days, our programme will take us on a journey through three key stops: the power of Storytelling, the clarity of Leadership and Strategy, and the Journey Within, where personal development meets purpose.”
IAPCO’s flagship governance meeting brings together world leading conference organisers who in 2025, delivered a combined 23,245 events globally.
