ASSOCIATIONS-ONLY PROGRAMME

Why attend the ICCA Congress? 

Connect with 90 other International Associations

 In the association pre-programme on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, you will get to know other senior association executives and be provided with the opportunity to share challenges and learnings during a dedicated pre-programme.

Creating this sense of community is central to our association programme. The main Congress programme then runs from Sunday afternoon through lunch on Wednesday. 

Take part in High-Impact Education Programmes. 

The Congress introduces a bold, multi-modal programme designed to reflect the complexity and economic power of today’s global business events ecosystems.  

 

The 2026 programme will bring together multiple ecosystems through three interconnected pillars: Collaboration, Competitiveness, and Creativity. 

Collaboration is the driving force behind global business events. This pillar explores how associations, governments, destinations, and private-sector partners can work together to create a measurable impact. 

In this era of rapid transformation, competitiveness depends on intelligence, agility, and innovation. 

Creativity drives relevance. It fuels audience engagement, shapes brand identity, and strengthens positioning. 


Get Inspired

We are always experimenting with Congress with formats and programming, and we hope you’ll leave the session inspired to incorporate the tools and concepts into your own association meeting. Check out some participants from te 2026 Congress in Porto out some participant impressions from the 2026 Congress in Porto here. 

 

What we offer

  • Complimentary registration to the ICCA Congress, including all refreshments and social events. 
  • Complimentary registration for the pre-Congress association programme. 
  • Roundtrip airfare to Panama and transfer to and from the association hotel.  
  • Hotel accommodation, including breakfast, at the association hotel, for the duration of the programme. 
  • Optional post-Congress Panama Study Tour  
  • Dedicated support from the ICCA Associations team before and during Congress 

What we are looking for

  • You are a staff member or a volunteer leader for an international association whose meeting(s) rotate among three or more countries. 
  • A commitment to attending the entire programme.  
  • A willingness to explore meeting strategies with other associations and ICCA Members, and to discuss how we can plan and deliver better meetings. 
  • This is not a hosted buyer programme; our focus is on education and community. However, with almost 1,500 ICCA Members in attendance from all around the world, it provides an excellent opportunity to meet existing partners and get to know new ones. 

Programme


Friday 6 November

Saturday 7 November

Sunday 8 November


Monday 9 November

Tuesday 10 November

Wednesday 11 November



Thursday 12 November

Arrivals

Associations Pre-Programme in the afternoon

Associations Pre-Programme in the morning, including city tour

Congress opening in the afternoon

Educational Congress Programme

Educational Congress Programme

Educational Congress Programme in the morning

Congress closing in the afternoon

Optional: Post-Congress Panama Study Tour

About the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA)


ICCA is a global business platform for international association meetings. Our Members include venues, destinations, meeting management companies etc. Our Congress is our annual meeting bringing together everyone involved in the planning and delivery of international association meetings. In 2020, ICCA established the ICCA Association Community to support associations with education and networking opportunities and to facilitate collaboration.   

Meet Our Host

Visit Panama is the country’s official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), responsible for the international promotion of Panama as a world-class tourism destination. By joining efforts from both the public and private sectors, Visit Panama aims to increase tourist arrivals, extend visitor stays, and enhance tourism’s economic and social impact across Panamanian society. #VisitPanama

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