Global Instability Is Reshaping the Meetings Industry, New IAPCO Survey Finds

Escalating geopolitical conflict, policy volatility and widening socio-political instability are exerting growing pressure on the international meetings and conferences sector, according to the findings of the 2026 Global Socio-Political Impact Survey led by International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO).

Developed in collaboration with five major global business events associations — AIPC, AMC Institute, ICCA, IFES and PCMA — the research gathered responses from 130 organisations worldwide, offering a detailed snapshot of how today’s geopolitical climate is reshaping event planning, destination decisions, participation patterns and the operational realities facing Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs).

The results point to a sharp escalation in disruption compared with 2025. According to the survey, 73.84% of respondents said global conflicts had affected their ability to plan or host international meetings — a substantial increase from 53.92% recorded the previous year. The near 20 percentage-point jump signals a major shift for the sector, where geopolitical instability is no longer viewed as a peripheral concern but as a defining operational factor influencing strategy, risk management and international engagement.

Travel disruption has emerged as another major challenge. The survey found that 65.38% of respondents experienced travel-related complications affecting clients or participants, compared with 41.67% in 2025. Meanwhile, 58.46% reported declining international attendance and participation levels. Rising costs are also becoming more acute, with nearly half of respondents citing increased operational expenses for their organisations, while 48.46% reported higher costs for clients and attendees.

Sissi Lignou, President of International Association of Professional Congress Organisers, said the findings demonstrate how deeply geopolitical instability is now influencing the sector: “Conferences and meetings are where knowledge is shared, research is advanced, relationships are built and industries move forward. These findings show that global socio-political instability is now directly affecting that essential exchange.

“IAPCO Accredited PCOs play a critical role in helping associations, destinations and participants navigate this uncertainty with professionalism, agility and care.” said Lignou.

The impact is already being felt across the full event lifecycle. More than a third of respondents (33.07%) said they had frequently or occasionally cancelled, postponed, relocated events or withdrawn participation because of safety concerns or regional instability. In parallel, 42.31% reported actively shifting away from destinations perceived as politically unstable or vulnerable to conflict.
 

Sissi Lignou and Martin Boyle on the press stage

Government policy is also becoming a decisive factor in future planning. The survey found that 59.32% of respondents said United States government policies introduced during 2025 and 2026 had affected their ability to plan events scheduled for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Funding reductions impacting academic and scientific travel, alongside visa and immigration restrictions affecting participants, speakers and event staff, were identified as some of the most significant policy-related barriers.

Martin Boyle, CEO of International Association of Professional Congress Organisers, said the findings reinforce the increasingly strategic role played by Accredited PCOs: “This research reflects the reality of what PCOs around the world are seeing every day. The meeting and conference industry is operating within increasing complexity and the role of the Accredited PCO has never been more important.

“From contingency planning and destination advice to stakeholder confidence, budget management and participant safety, PCOs are helping clients adapt to changing global conditions while making informed decisions in a fast-changing world.” said Boyle.

The findings arrive as IAPCO members continue to demonstrate the scale and economic significance of the global meetings industry. In 2025 alone, IAPCO Accredited PCOs organised 23,512 meetings and events worldwide, managed 7,718,808 participants across 187 office locations, and generated €17.36 billion in economic impact.

According to International Association of Professional Congress Organisers, the survey underlines the urgent need for stronger advocacy, better industry intelligence and deeper collaboration between associations, destinations and professional organisers.

Through its international network, the organisation is working alongside Accredited PCOs, Strategic Partners and destinations to better quantify the long-term impact of global instability on the meetings sector, strengthen contingency planning frameworks and reinforce the broader value of international meetings and conferences.

Martin Boyle added: “The global meetings industry exists to bring people together around issues that matter: science, medicine, education, business, policy and progress. When conflict, policy and instability restrict participation, the impact reaches far beyond individual events. It affects research visibility, the exchange of ideas, and the ability of communities and industries to progress collectively.”
 

The full report, The Global Socio-Political Impact Survey 2026, is available on the organisation’s website.
 

Published by Meeting Media Company, the publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.