64th ICCA Congress

9 —12 November, 2025
Porto, Portugal

Event Background  

The ICCA Congress is ICCA's flagship event, pioneering new formats and designs in the meetings industry. For over 60 years, it has challenged the status quo and driven positive change within the business events space. It is the "can't-miss" event of the calendar year, drawing thousands of participants from around the world.

Content

The 2025 ICCA Congress will be a groundbreaking, multi-venue event that takes over the vibrant city of Porto, Portugal. This year, the focus is on driving societal impact that extends beyond the city, with an emphasis on creating lasting change for all.  

The Congress will introduce dedicated tracks covering a range of critical themes:  

• Sustainability and Impact  
• Arts and Creativity  
• Tech and Innovation  
• Future Skills and Resilience  
• Purposeful business models  

Additionally, specialized tracks will be launched to explore the role of universities and knowledge centres and a brand-new track will be presented to spark growth within the entrepreneurial startup scene in the Business Events sector. Each track will be aligned with a unique venue in Porto, carefully chosen to resonate with the topic and the city’s spirit.  

This diverse mix of tracks, venues and stages will inspire delegates from all backgrounds to embrace change and develop new skills, fostering an environment of upskilling and expertise diversification.  

With 1.3 billion people worldwide living with disabilities—whether related to vision, mobility, hearing, migration, gender inequality, or other challenges—the event will emphasize on intentional inclusivity. The Congress will be designed to be welcoming to all, not only in format but also in content, promoting open and positive discussions that embrace diverse perspectives.  

We welcome speakers and moderators from industries outside the Business Events to submit proposals.  

Target Audience   

The ICCA Congress is the premiere event of the meetings and events industry every year, where ICCA members from all regions come together. Each year the number of professionals from outside the Business Events is increasing and creating new synergies for the meetings and events community.  

Check here for an overview of ICCA members. 

Event Dates  

9 – 12 November , 2025

Timing  

Submission Guidelines  

Terms and Conditions  

• This call for speakers/moderators is open to anyone, from anywhere in the world, you do not need to be an ICCA member to submit a proposal.   
• Any ICCA members submitting a proposal participating must be in good standing.   
• We welcome proposals from professionals outside of the events industry. 
• Applications must be submitted in English. 
• In the name of remaining impartial, an independent Education Committee will be responsible for deciding which speakers/moderators form part of the final programme. The ICCA Team will not be responsible for making the final decision.   
• Only those speakers/moderators selected will be contacted after submission of your application.  
• Upon selection, ICCA staff will communicate the specific terms and conditions that will apply for your participation. These differ for each event.  
• Please indicate the session format and time indication needed for your proposal.  

Priority will be given to proposals that fulfil the following criteria:  

• Consider gender balance and DEI. We will prioritise session / speaker proposals that demonstrate diversity in people's backgrounds, age, religion, cultural background, perspectives, and experiences, fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and heard.  
• Include diverse perspectives (geographical, industry sector, association viewpoint etc.).  
• Accessibility: Prioritize making the event as accessible as possible for all attendees.  
• Sustainability: Incorporate sustainable practices and promote eco-friendly initiatives throughout the event.  
• Multi-Stakeholder Engagement: Highlight the importance of involving diverse stakeholders in business events for broader perspectives and collaboration.  
• Address a provocative topic, trending for the meetings and events industry and with clear learning outcomes, however, keep the 4 key areas in mind.   
• New formats: Any format is acceptable, as long as it effectively supports the objectives of the session.  

How to Apply  

Applicants must submit the following information to be eligible to be selected. Choose what is relevant to you. Applications must be submitted in English.    

1. Moderator     

• Moderator name    
• Bio  and references   
• Description of what you can do and what they've done before    

Session name / headline    

• Name/headline, session    
• Which topic do you want to moderate    
• Session description     

Proposed moderator    

• Please summarise your approach in 1 sentence    

• Summary in 300 words how you will moderate    

Max 3-minute video summarising your approach    

Session format    

What format would you propose to deliver your session in. Remember - the more creative, the better!    

2) Speaker    

• Speaker name    
• Bio  and references   
• Description of what you can do and what they've done before    

Session name / headline    

• Name/headline, brief session outline and description    
• What is your proposed topic  
• Session description     

Proposed speaker    

• Please summarise your session in one sentence    
• Summary in 300 words    
• Max 3-minute video summarising your topic    

Session format    

• What format would you propose to deliver your session in. Remember - the more creative, the better!    

Late submissions will not be accepted. One person can submit more than 1 proposal.     

 Send your proposal to: education@iccaworld.org. See deadlines above.   

Questions?  

For questions, please contact us at education@iccaworld.org.  

General Principles      

ICCA Head Office will provide marketing and promotion services and full administrative support for the event and holds the authority to manage the finances of the event.    

Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, any reference herein to “ICCA” shall be deemed to refer to International Congress and Convention B.V., a private limited liability company registered with the Dutch trade register under number 85598232.