Almost 74 per cent of respondents to the 2026 Global Socio-Political Impact Survey said global conflicts had impacted their ability to plan and deliver international conferences. This is up by nearly 20 per cent on last year’s result, when almost 54 per cent confirmed conflicts around the world were having an impact on their events.
With input from 130 organisations around the world, the survey was led by the International Association of Professional Conference Organisers (IAPCO), in collaboration with the global convention centres association, AIPC, the association management body AMC Institute, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services (IFES) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA).
Survey responses were collected in April – capturing the impact of the Middle East conflict.
More than 65 per cent of those surveyed said their clients or event participants had experienced travel disruptions – up more than 23 per cent on 2025. More than half – 58 per cent – also reported a drop in delegate numbers due to conflict.
Conflicts are also having a financial impact on events – 49 per cent said conflict had increased costs for their team and 48 per cent said the same for their clients. Last year just 32 per cent or respondents said conflict had increased costs either for them or their clients. A third of respondents reported the cost impact of global conflict on their events was more than €50,000, with 10 per cent reporting estimated losses greater than €200,000.
Conflicts are also impacting destination choices, with 42 per cent of respondents confirming there had been a shift in location preferences to avoid areas where conflicts were occurring. Forty per cent of respondents also said there was a reduction in inclination to travel internationally.
The survey also measured the effect of changes in US government policies on the meetings industry, with stark results.
Fifty-nine per cent of respondents said policy changes in 2025 and 2026 had impacted event planning and delivery, with funding cuts affecting the ability of academics and scientists to travel and visa and immigration policy changes impacting international event teams and participants cited as the two most significant impacts.
“Conferences and meetings are where knowledge is shared, research is advanced, relationships are built and industries move forward,” said IAPCO president, Sissi Lignou. “These findings show that global socio-political instability is now directly affecting that essential exchange.”
IAPCO’s CEO, Martin Boyle, said the impact of conflict and policy change on meetings had significantly broader repercussions.
“The global meetings industry exists to bring people together around issues that matter: science, medicine, education, business, policy and progress,” he said.
“When conflict, policy and instability restrict participation, the impact reaches far beyond individual events. It affects research visibility, the exchange of ideas and the ability of communities and industries to progress collectively.
“This research reflects the reality of what PCOs around the world are seeing every day.
“The meeting and conference industry is operating within increasing complexity and the role of the accredited PCO has never been more important.
“From contingency planning and destination advice to stakeholder confidence, budget management and participant safety, PCOs are helping clients adapt to changing global conditions while making informed decisions in a fast-changing world.”
