IAPCO shared the findings of the 2026 Global Socio-Political Impact Survey at IMEX Frankfurt 2026, held in Germany in May. According to the survey, global conflicts, policy changes and socio-political instability are having an increasing and measurable impact on the international meetings and conference industry.
Based on responses from 130 organizations worldwide, the survey provided insights into how the current geopolitical environment is affecting events, destinations, participants and Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs).
Global Conflicts Affect Congress and Meeting Planning
According to the findings, global conflicts are causing increased disruptions in the sector in 2026 compared with 2025. A total of 73.84 percent of respondents said that global conflicts have affected their ability to plan or host international meetings. IAPCO noted that this figure was 53.92 percent in 2025. The survey also found that 65.38 percent of respondents had experienced travel disruptions affecting their clients or participants, compared with 41.67 percent in 2025.
A total of 33.07 percent of respondents said they had to frequently or occasionally cancel, postpone or relocate events, or withdraw their planned participation due to security concerns or regional instability. Meanwhile, 42.31 percent of respondents reported moving away from destinations perceived as politically or regionally unstable and avoiding conflict-prone areas.
