ICCA Crosses New Boundaries with Landmark Congress in Panama

All photos kindly provided by ICCA

Under the theme CrossWorlds, the 65th ICCA Congress brought together delegates from 80 countries, introducing a co-curator model involving five international organisations and placing cross-sector collaboration, advocacy and legacy at the centre of the programme.

Panama City hosted the 65th ICCA Congress, bringing together 1,293 delegates from 80 countries for an edition that sought to rethink the role of international association meetings in a changing global landscape. Held under the theme CrossWorlds, the 2026 gathering introduced a new programme model, placing organisations from outside the business events sector alongside ICCA in shaping discussions on leadership, technology, sustainable development and international cooperation.

A first for ICCA, the co-curator model involved the World Economic Forum, IEEE, UN Tourism, AC Forum and the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD). Each organisation contributed its expertise, networks and perspectives, connecting the international meetings community with wider conversations on economic progress, innovation, global policy and the future of society.

The approach was reflected in a programme built around the concept of Congresses within a Congress. Through different formats and thematic strands, participants could engage with issues specific to their professional fields while exploring opportunities for collaboration across disciplines and sectors. Approximately 60% of the Congress experience was dedicated to networking, giving human interaction a central role in the programme and creating opportunities for new professional relationships and partnerships.
 

For ICCA CEO Dr Senthil Gopinath, the gathering demonstrated how the association meetings industry can strengthen its position within wider international debates. “The 2026 ICCA Congress has demonstrated the power of bringing different worlds together to advance shared ambitions. Through CrossWorlds, we have connected our industry with influential global institutions, opened new channels for collaboration and strengthened the voice of the business events community in wider conversations about economic development, sustainability and global progress.

“ICCA has a responsibility to ensure that the value of international association meetings is recognised by governments, policymakers and global decision-makers. By building these relationships and strengthening our collective advocacy, we can position business events as essential drivers of knowledge, international cooperation and lasting societal impact. That is the leadership we must continue to demonstrate as an industry.”

The programme also featured internationally recognised environmental campaigner and advocate Erin Brockovich as a keynote speaker. Her contribution brought questions of individual responsibility, collective action and the need to challenge established thinking into the wider discussion.
 

Connecting global expertise with local impact

The emphasis on collaboration extended to the Congress's approach to sustainability and legacy. Under its People, Planet and Legacy framework, ICCA incorporated initiatives designed to recognise Panama's cultural heritage, support local communities and encourage more responsible event practices.

Among these were Panamá Verde, the Clandestino Lab initiative, which uses recycled plastic, and the Gift of Love initiative supporting Fundación Casita de Mausi. Together, these projects reflected an ambition to integrate social and environmental considerations into the planning and delivery of international meetings, making legacy part of the event's design and evaluation.

The destination itself was also central to the Congress narrative. Supported by PROMTUR Panama and local industry stakeholders, the event provided an international platform to present Panama's connectivity, cultural diversity and infrastructure, while demonstrating its capacity to host international association gatherings.

Gloria De León (pictured below), Minister of Tourism of Panama, highlighted the opportunity for the Congress to establish lasting relationships between the destination and its international visitors.

“At the opening of this Congress, I invited participants to discover Panama and get to know the best of our country: its people. Today, we hope this first experience gives them reasons to return and the confidence to choose Panama as the host destination for their associations’ events. We want every congress to open the door to exploring more of our country and extend its benefits to more communities. Thank you to ICCA and its delegates for allowing us to show what it means to be hosts to the world.”

The partnership between ICCA, PROMTUR Panama and local industry stakeholders also highlighted the role of cooperation between destination organisations, public authorities and private-sector businesses in developing the business events offer. For Panama, hosting the Congress represented an opportunity to strengthen its international visibility while demonstrating how association meetings can contribute to destination development and knowledge exchange.
 

Taking CrossWorlds forward

The 2026 edition marked an evolution in how ICCA approaches its annual gathering, placing the association meetings community in direct conversation with international institutions and organisations whose work influences developments across several sectors.

The CrossWorlds concept encouraged delegates to consider the connections they can establish across professional boundaries, as well as the contribution their respective fields can make to wider economic and societal objectives. For ICCA, strengthening these relationships is also part of a broader effort to secure greater recognition of the industry's contribution among policymakers and global decision-makers.

The international association meetings community will reconvene in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2027 for the 66th ICCA Congress, continuing the organisation's global journey.
 

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.