Vienna has reaffirmed its position among the world’s leading congress destinations, taking first place in the Union of International Associations 2025 global congress ranking and fourth place in the ICCA 2025 city ranking.
According to the latest UIA analysis of international association meetings, Vienna recorded 345 meetings in 2025, moving up from second place the previous year and returning to the top position for the first time since 2006. The Austrian capital finished ahead of Brussels, Seoul, Lisbon and Tokyo, accounting for 6.2% of all congresses among the 100 cities surveyed.
Vienna also performed strongly in the ICCA rankings, with 159 international congresses, placing fourth worldwide behind Lisbon, Paris and Barcelona. In the key knowledge sector of Medical Science, Vienna ranked first, ahead of Barcelona, Lisbon and Paris.
Norbert Kettner, CEO of the Vienna Tourist Board, said the UIA result underlines the city’s international competitiveness. “More than six percent of all recorded congresses take place in Vienna – a share we aim to maintain together with our partners,” he said, crediting the close collaboration between congress centres, venues, hotels, agencies and clients.
Anita Paic, Head of the Vienna Convention Bureau, said Vienna’s return to first place in the UIA ranking, alongside its fourth place in ICCA, was both recognition and motivation. “It shows that close collaboration with Vienna’s meetings industry, the consistent development of impact-oriented event formats, and the trust of our clients worldwide make all the difference.”