Meeting professionals attending the 64th edition of the annual ICCA Congress later this year in Porto, Portugal will get four days packed with education and destination appreciation, as ICCA builds a unique programme designed to make the host city a stage for all its sessions.
The event will open on November 9 at the Coliseum of Porto, a theatre and concert venue that has played host to many high-profile performances. Here, delegates will attend the Welcome Ceremony, opening keynote, panel session discussing the impact of large-scale events, and the ICCA General Assembly.
In the evening, delegates will adjourn to the historical Stock Exchange Palace for a grand Welcome Reception. There will also be an opportunity to tour the interior of the neoclassical-style building.
Sharing Hubs, a time for all Congress delegates to connect, reflect, and align with one another on key issues impacting the meetings industry, will return this year. It will be held the morning of November 10 at the Alfândega Congress Centre, alongside keynotes and panel discussions.
The Congress then progresses with knowledge sessions in the afternoon, with each of five content tracks set to take place at various iconic venues across Porto. The commute to each venue promises to be a destination experience.
The content tracks are centred around the theme Charting the Course, which is aligned with the ICCA Congress 2025’s theme of purposeful exploration and bold innovation. Tracks include: Impact and Sustainability; Future Leadership and Resilience; Purposeful Business Models and Start-ups; Innovation and Technology; and The Creative Edge.
According to Claudia Bastidas, ICCA’s senior marketing manager, the venue selected for each content track has a connection with the topic.
The Impact and Sustainability track, for example, is held at the Porto Cruise Terminal, which is said to represent Portugal’s commitment to sustainable tourism, research, and forward-thinking design. The terminal is famed for its distinctive spiral design and state-of-the-art facilities including auditoriums, exhibition halls, and panoramic observation decks. It is also home to the Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, which advances marine science, climate innovation, and environmental stewardship.
Other iconic venues marked for the different content tracks include Ferreira Cellars for the Future Leadership and Resilience; Alfândega Congress Centre for the Purposeful Business Models and Start-ups track; CeiiA Innovation Centre for the Innovation and Technology track; and the WOW Cultural District in Vila Nova de Gaia for the Creative Edge track.
“The programme design offers delegates an opportunity to really see and enjoy Porto,” remarked Bastidas.
Content tracks on November 10 and 11 will be the same, allowing more delegates to benefit from the session proceedings. Delegates are invited to choose two content tracks to attend and can make their choices during event registration. Seats are available at a first-come, first-served basis.
Delegates will get a valuable evening of networking on November 10, when GalactICCA: Navigating the Future is held at Super Bock Arena against a backdrop of science and innovation.
ICCA Congress’ popular Challenge Night will be hosted by the Amsterdam Convention Bureau on November 11 at Dragão Stadium, home of FC Porto. Delegates who get there ahead of opening may score a tour of the FC Porto Museum.
Further event details and speakers will be unveiled in the lead up to November.
