Lisbon, May 19, 2026 (Lusa) - The Lisbon Tourism Association announced on Tuesday that the city topped the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) world ranking for 2025, hosting 188 international congresses and association meetings.

Lisbon ranked ahead of Paris, which recorded 174 events, and Barcelona, with 166.

The result marks an increase from 2024, when Lisbon hosted 153 congresses and association meetings eligible for the ICCA ranking, which the international association market considers a leading global benchmark.

Of the 356 congresses held in Portugal in 2025, Lisbon hosted more than half of them in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) segment.

The Lisbon Tourism Association said the city's congresses and association meetings focused mainly on medical, technological and scientific fields.

The association added that these events attracted over 100,000 international participants and boosted the city's economy throughout 2025, with an average expenditure of €3,000 per participant.

The Lisbon Tourism Association general manager, Antonio Valle, said in a statement that international association congresses had "a strategic impact on the local economy and Lisbon's international projection."

"This recognition reinforces the Lisbon Metropolitan Area's capacity to attract investment and knowledge. Infrastructure prepared to host events of various sizes, a qualified hotel and gastronomic offering, and strong international air connectivity power this ability," he added.

The ranking only includes international congresses and association meetings that meet eligibility criteria, including regular occurrence, rotation among at least three countries or territories, and a minimum of 50 in-person participants.

The ranking excludes corporate events, trade fairs, incentive travel, concerts, festivals, sports events, and governmental or political meetings.

SCR/LYT // ADB.

Lusa