IAPCO Annual Meeting 2026 Opens in Athens with Global Industry Leaders

Senior leaders from 36 countries are convening in Athens to advance governance, reinforce professional standards and help shape a more resilient global meetings industry.

The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers has officially opened its Annual Meeting & General Assembly (AM&GA) 2026 in the Greek capital, welcoming 200 senior figures from across the global meetings sector to define strategic priorities and further its advocacy agenda.

Proceedings began on 25 February with a reception at the Acropolis Museum, where Fotini Karapapa of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) greeted delegates and welcomed them to Athens.

The formal opening ceremony featured senior representatives of the Hellenic Republic addressing the IAPCO community. Greece’s Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, delivered a welcome message on behalf of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and underlined the significance of hosting IAPCO in Athens. The Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, outlined the city’s ambitious plans to enhance connectivity and infrastructure, as well as its vision to become a sustainable, resilient and smart destination.

High-level ministerial participation reflects the increasing recognition of business events as catalysts for economic growth, innovation and international cooperation.

Minister of Tourism, Greece, Olga 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.
"I'm confident that the discussions held here will extend far beyond Athens strengthening partnerships across boarders and across sectors," said Kefalogianni.

Held from 25–28 February at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre, this year’s meeting is organised under the theme The Odyssey Reinvented – A very human journey toward the meetings of tomorrow. The event brings together IAPCO members, destination and strategic partners, along with other industry leaders, to help define the future trajectory of the global meetings and events community.

Sissi Lignou, President of IAPCO, welcomed delegates by saying: “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,” said Lignou.

Drawing inspiration from the journey of Odysseus, the AM&GA 2026 programme uses the metaphor of a modern odyssey to examine how technological progress is transforming the way people meet, while reaffirming the human qualities that remain central to successful events — including leadership, adaptability, sound decision-making and resilience.

The AM&GA is hosted collaboratively by AFEA Congress, CONVIN, ERA Congresses & Events and ERASMUS Conferences & Events, alongside IAPCO Destination Partner This is Athens – Convention & Visitors Bureau. The gathering showcases unified collaboration across the Greek meetings industry in the historic birthplace of the symposium tradition.

As IAPCO’s flagship governance event, the meeting brings together world-leading conference organisers who collectively delivered 23,245 events worldwide in 2025.
 

IAPCO awards Honorary Membership to Jan Tonkin in recognition of distinguished global leadership

During the Annual Meeting & General Assembly in Athens, the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers awarded Honorary Membership to Jan Tonkin in recognition of her outstanding global leadership and long-standing contribution to the profession.

A Founder of The Conference Company and former IAPCO President, Tonkin has played a pivotal role in strengthening professional standards, advancing education and expanding the association’s international reach, particularly across the Asia Pacific region. The lifetime distinction was unanimously approved by the General Assembly, following a recommendation from the IAPCO Council.

Announcing the honour, IAPCO President Sissi Lignou praised Tonkin’s vision, commitment and lasting impact on the global PCO community. In response, Tonkin expressed that she was “moved and deeply humbled” by the recognition, reflecting on her long journey within IAPCO and the professional and personal connections built through the association.
 

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