The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) has released findings from its 2026 Global Socio-Political Impact Survey, highlighting the increasing disruption global conflicts and policy changes are causing to the international meetings and conferences industry. The survey, conducted with five major global business events associations, gathered insights from 130 organisations worldwide.

The report indicates a sharp rise in disruption, with 73.84% of respondents stating that global conflicts have impacted their ability to plan or host international meetings, a significant increase from 53.92% in 2025. This underscores the growing influence of geopolitical instability on conference planning and participation.

Travel disruptions have also intensified, with 65.38% of respondents experiencing issues affecting clients and participants, up from 41.67% in 2025. Additionally, 58.46% reported reduced international attendance, whilst nearly half noted increased costs for both teams and clients.

Sissi Lignou, President of IAPCO, emphasised the critical role of Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs) in navigating these challenges: “These findings show that global socio-political instability is now directly affecting essential exchanges in conferences and meetings.”

The survey also highlights the impact of government policies, particularly those from the US, on future event planning. Martin Boyle, CEO of IAPCO, stated, “The meeting and conference industry is operating within increasing complexity, and the role of the Accredited PCO has never been more important.”

IAPCO's findings stress the need for stronger industry advocacy and collaboration to address these challenges. The full report is available on IAPCO's website

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