On the first day of the IMEX Frankfurt 2026 trade show, the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) released its annual ranking of conference cities. In 2025, Paris ranked 2nd globally, with 174 congresses recorded according to the association’s specific criteria (regular meetings of international associations, rotating among at least three countries and bringing together at least 50 participants).
This result marks a significant improvement compared to 2024, a year exceptionally constrained by the mobilization of Parisian infrastructure for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
In parallel with the ICCA ranking, Paris je t'aime – Convention Bureau publishes its own annual study on the full scope of Parisian conference activity, with a broader scope that measures all events held in the capital and aims to better understand the scale, dynamism, and impact of hosting these events on the region.
This study reveals that the destination has never hosted so many international conferences:
The sector will generate € 942 million in economic impact in 2025 alone, a 2% increase compared to 2024. The sector is undergoing a major transformation (conferences are becoming smaller and more specialized) without any decline in overall economic impact.
Paris, je t'aime is continuing its efforts to boost its appeal in its sectors of excellence: design and creativity, technology, health, culture, sport/esport and gastronomy. These areas are powerful levers for attracting conferences and professional events. In addition to the values inherent in the city, an event organiser will choose a destination where its sector is firmly rooted in the local economic fabric, encouraging meetings and discoveries.
This is also part of a legacy approach, where the importance of the conference lies in its ability to leave a positive mark, to generate beneficial spin-offs locally or even to contribute to a great cause, such as research or innovation.
To support this momentum and strengthen the driving role of business tourism in the destination’s economy, Paris je t’aime – Convention Bureau and Choose Paris Region are announcing the creation of a “Major Events” one-stop shop.
This innovative initiative offers international organizers a centralized, streamlined, and efficient point of entry for their projects in the region. It addresses a strong need within the sector, strengthens the destination’s international competitiveness, and enables more effective support for major events while maximizing their positive impact on the region.
