The power of meetings to change the world took centre stage at the 2026 ICCA Congress in Panama City, as ICCA and BestCities Global Alliance named the 2025 Autism-Europe Congress the winner of the 2026 Incredible Impacts Programme (IIP) Main Grant. The winning initiative will receive US$20,000 to build on its work using international meetings to drive meaningful, positive change.
The Incredible Impacts Programme celebrates international associations that use business events as catalysts for social, economic and environmental progress. Now in its tenth year, the programme awards two grants annually: a US$20,000 Main Grant to help expand established initiatives and a US$5,000 Seed Fund Grant to support emerging projects. The International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA) received the 2026 Seed Fund Grant in August.
Held in Dublin, AEC 2025 turned autism advocacy into action, advancing inclusive event practices and employment opportunities for autistic people. Organised by Autism‐Europe, AsIAm, Keynote PCO, Fáilte Ireland, and the Royal Dublin Society, the Congress established a replicable model for making international meetings more accessible and inclusive.
Read the Winning Case Study
Fiona Ferris, Deputy CEO and Head of Training, AsIAm, said:
“Winning the ICCA BestCities Incredible Impact Main Grant Award is a tremendous honour and a powerful recognition of what can be achieved when purpose, partnership and lived experience come together. The Autism-Europe Congress 2025 was never solely about delivering a successful event. It was about creating a lasting legacy for Autistic people in Ireland and across Europe. Through our collaboration with Fáilte Ireland and the commitment of many valued partners, we helped break down barriers, drive meaningful action and demonstrate what true inclusion can look like in practice. We are immensely proud of what has been achieved together and excited about the positive impact this legacy will continue to create in the years ahead.”
Celebrating Meetings That Make a Difference
The Autism-Europe Congress 2025 was selected from three finalists shortlisted by an international judging panel from 24 submissions. Alongside International Social Housing Festival (ISHF) 2025 and WindEurope Annual Event 2025, the association presented its initiative at the ICCA Congress, where delegates voted to determine the Main Grant recipient.
The 2026 finalists demonstrate how international association meetings can address real-world challenges, bring communities into important conversations and create initiatives that continue beyond the event itself.
Dr Senthil Gopinath, ICCA CEO, said:
“The Incredible Impacts Award celebrates what our industry can achieve when we look beyond the meeting itself and focus on the difference we can make in the world. Autism-Europe 2025 demonstrates how international association meetings can drive meaningful, lasting change by bringing people together around a shared purpose and turning ideas into action. Their work is a powerful reminder that the true legacy of a meeting lies in what changes because we came together. I congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition and the example they set for our global community.”
Earlier this month, BestCities and ICCA released an impact report marking the tenth anniversary of the Incredible Impacts Programme. Featuring case studies from previous grant recipients, the report explores how international meetings have helped address real-world challenges and improve lives in communities worldwide.
“We’re proud to recognise the Autism-Europe Congress 2025 for demonstrating how international meetings can translate advocacy into real action,” said Loren Christie, Managing Director, BestCities Global Alliance. “Over the past decade, the Incredible Impacts Programme has shown what’s possible when associations approach their events with purpose. This year’s finalists carry that ambition forward, demonstrating how international meetings can drive progress on some of the most pressing challenges facing communities today.”
To explore previous winners’ stories and learn more about the Incredible Impacts Programme, visit www.incredibleimpacts.com.
