The Shipyard That Never Stopped Building: Euskalduna's Reinvention as a Congress Venue

All photos kindly provided by Euskalduna

For generations, steel defined Bilbao. The shipyards lining the River Nervión powered an economy built on engineering, manufacturing and maritime trade. Today, museums, concert halls and research centres occupy the same waterfront, reflecting a city that has turned the page without losing sight of its industrial roots. Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall is the epicentre of this transformation, where the slipways that once launched ships now give rise to new knowledge, cultural expression and global dialogue.

Standing on the site of the former shipyards, the venue occupies a singular place within Bilbao’s modern identity. Its history is inseparable from the city, a relationship that continues to shape how delegates experience both the building and the destination. “Euskalduna was not built on an empty site, but on a place steeped in history. Some of the ships that drove Bilbao’s economic development for decades were built here, and that legacy remains a fundamental part of who we are,” says Iñigo Iturrate, General Manager of Euskalduna. “The venue was also born out of a profound economic and social crisis that transformed the city. Euskalduna became one of the symbols of Bilbao’s ability to reinvent itself without turning its back on its past.” That industrial past provides the context for a different kind of construction: one centred on ideas, creativity, serendipity and teamwork. “Today, we continue building the future, but through knowledge, culture and human connection,” Iturrate explains. “We do not preserve our industrial heritage as a museum piece; we use it as the foundation for the future. Anyone attending an event here quickly understands that Euskalduna could not exist anywhere else. The building, the river and Bilbao’s transformation all tell the same story.”

That connection between venue and destination has become one of Euskalduna’s defining characteristics. Euskalduna has grown into one of the Basque Country’s principal institutions, contributing to Bilbao’s cultural life while acting as an international meeting place for science, business and the professions. “Our responsibility goes far beyond organising events. We are a strategic asset for both the city and the region. Every international congress attracts knowledge, talent, investment and new relationships. Every cultural production strengthens our creative ecosystem and brings culture closer to thousands of people.” During 2025 alone, Euskalduna hosted more than 730 events, welcomed almost 400,000 attendees and generated over €111 million for the Basque economy. Yet, Iturrate is more interested in what those figures represent than in the numbers themselves. “What really matters is what lies behind those figures: opportunities for local businesses, employment, international visibility and a network of partners that continues long after each event has ended. The true success of a congress does not end when the auditorium lights go down; it begins when the connections created lead to new projects, research or investment.”
 

When Culture Becomes a Competitive Advantage

This broader perspective also explains why Euskalduna occupies an unusual position within the European meetings landscape. Unlike venues where the artistic agenda plays a secondary role, culture sits at the core of its identity, shaping both its operational model and the visitor experience. “We see it as one of our greatest competitive advantages, although it naturally brings significant operational challenges. Culture and conventions share the same purpose: creating memorable experiences. That dual activity requires us to maintain exceptionally high technical standards while relying on an extraordinarily versatile team.” Here, delegates attending an international conference can seize the opportunity to see an opera, a show, or check out a new collection at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, while local audiences encounter a venue that regularly hosts leading researchers, entrepreneurs and association leaders from around the world. “What makes Euskalduna unique is that we are not simply a convention centre that also presents cultural programming. We are a major cultural institution that is also one of Europe’s leading convention centres. That combination gives us a distinctive personality that is difficult to replicate.”

Bilbao has definitely become part of Euskalduna’s proposition. Compact, walkable and culturally rich, the city allows delegates to move effortlessly between congress sessions and the places that have shaped its contemporary identity, whether along the regenerated waterfront, through its renowned gastronomic scene or among the cultural institutions that have accompanied its urban revival. That expectation has changed the way Euskalduna works with organisers. “Today, delegates are looking for much more than an outstanding scientific or professional programme. They expect the city to play an active role in the congress experience, not simply serve as its backdrop.” For Iturrate, integrating Bilbao into a congress means drawing upon the city’s wider ecosystem, connecting scientific and professional communities with local culture, innovation and expertise. “We design experiences that connect congresses with culture, gastronomy, innovation and the local territory. When the destination becomes part of the strategy, the event creates a much deeper and longer-lasting impact.”
 

Recognition, Responsibility and the Future of Global Meetings

That philosophy has earned international recognition, most recently through success at the Eventex Awards. Nonetheless, Iturrate regards industry accolades less as milestones than as reminders that excellence is never static. “Every award brings greater responsibility. Excellence is never a final goal; it is a daily commitment built on innovation, active listening and continuous improvement. That is the culture we strive to foster at Euskalduna.” Those principles were tested when Euskalduna welcomed the AIPC Annual Conference 2026, bringing together executives from many of the world’s leading convention centres. “Few events place a venue under greater scrutiny than one attended by peers who understand every operational decision behind a successful congress. For a few days, Bilbao became the global capital of the meetings industry, giving us the opportunity to welcome colleagues who share the same challenges and ambitions. More than simply hosting a conference, we hosted a global conversation about the future of our industry. Our mission was not only to showcase a building, but also a city, a region and our way of understanding hospitality.”

The response left Iturrate feeling optimistic about the opportunities that may arise in the coming years. “The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive. I hope the conference’s lasting legacy will be an even stronger reputation for our destination, with the relationships built during those days leading to new collaborations and future congresses.” And perhaps that is the clearest measure of Euskalduna’s evolution. It is no longer merely a venue arising from the remains of an industrial past, but as a place where a city’s history, culture and international outlook converge. The ships that once departed these slipways carried steel and machinery across the world. Today, the journeys begin with conversations, partnerships and ideas, continuing Bilbao’s tradition of looking outward while remaining firmly anchored in the place that gave it its character.
 

Automotive and Technology at Euskalduna

Euskalduna Bilbao hosted two major professional events last week, positioning Bilbao as a meeting point for knowledge, innovation and debate on the challenges facing industry. From 14 to 16 October, the 25th edition of QA&TEST Embedded brought together international specialists in quality assurance and testing for embedded systems, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, automation and autonomous systems. Meanwhile, the 37th Grupo Serca Automoción Congress, held on 15 October, gathered around 400 professionals from the automotive aftermarket sector in Spain and Portugal to discuss its future, shaped by electrification, market transformation and emerging regulatory challenges. The two events taking place at the same time highlight Euskalduna Bilbao’s ability to connect strategic sectors, foster knowledge exchange and host discussions that help shape the future of industry. Although addressing different fields, both events were closely linked by innovation, technological transformation and the need to anticipate emerging developments. 
 

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