The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) has officially opened its Annual Meeting & General Assembly (AM&GA) 2026 in Athens, bringing together 200 senior leaders of the global meetings industry from 36 countries to set strategic priorities and advance its advocacy agenda. Beginning with a reception on 25 February at the Acropolis Museum, Fotini Karapapa from the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) welcomed the delegation to Athens.
The opening ceremony of the conference saw senior representatives of the Hellenic Republic address the IAPCO community. The Minister of Tourism, Greece, Olga Kefalogianni shared a warm welcome from the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and talked to the importance to Athens hosting IAPCO. Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas shared Athens’ ambitious strategic plans around connectivity, infrastructure, and its quest become a sustainable, resilient and smart city.
The presence of top ministerial support from Greece underscores the growing recognition of business events as a driver of economic growth, innovation and international collaboration.
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 borders and across sectors,” said Kefalogianni.
The Odyssey Reinvented – A very human journey toward the meetings of tomorrow
Taking place from 25-28 February at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre, this year’s meeting is held under the theme The Odyssey Reinvented – A very human journey toward the meetings of tomorrow. The gathering convenes IAPCO members, destination and strategic partners, as well as other industry peaks to shape the future direction of the global meetings and events industry.
Inspired by the journey of Odysseus, the AM&GA 2026 programme uses the metaphor of a modern odyssey to explore how technological advancement is reshaping the way people meet while reinforcing the human qualities that remain fundamental to successful meetings and 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, together with IAPCO Destination Partner, This is Athens – Convention & Visitors Bureau. The event reflects a unified Greek industry collaboration in the historic birthplace of the symposium tradition. IAPCO’s flagship governance meeting brings together world-leading conference organisers who, in 2025, delivered a combined 23,245 events globally.
Learn more about IAPCO here.
