16.8.2024 

According to the UIA report published in June, Finland ranks 16th in the international comparison of congress countries and is the most popular congress country in the Nordics.

Finland is the most popular Nordic country for hosting international congresses, according to the annual meetings statistics report*, published by the Union of International Associations (UIA) in June. Finland ranks number 16, the top three countries being Belgium, USA and Japan. Despite a slight drop in the global rankings, Finland outperforms its Nordic neighbors. Norway is right behind Finland in 17th place, Sweden is at number 19 and Denmark ranks 28th. In the comparison of congress cities, Helsinki ranks 16th. 

According to FCB's delegate survey, congress guests highly value the unique experiences that Finland offers in addition to the official congress program. Special praise goes to smooth local transport and moving around as well as safety and security in the congress cities, and the friendly and helpful locals. 

Visits to Finnish universities and research institutes and meetings with industry experts and potential new customers are a significant part of the experience for many congress participants. Congresses offer an excellent opportunity to present Finnish know-how and innovations to an international audience. 

In addition to professional value, Finland charms congress guests with its beautiful natural scenery and sauna culture. These unique experiences make visiting a congress in Finland an unforgettable experience. 
 

According to FCB's research, most of the congress participants are coming to Finland for the first time, and many of them are considering Finland as a travel destination in the future as well.

Finland is set to host a number of significant congresses in the coming years. One prominent example is ICN Congress of the International Council of Nurses, which will take place in Helsinki in June 2025. This event is expected to draw approximately 6,000 attendees. Turku will host several major conferences in 2025: The 21st International Conference on Renewable Resources & Biorefineries (RRB 2025) in June, with an anticipated 350 participants and The XXXII International Conference of Polyphenols (ICP 2025) in July, gathering around 400 experts in the field.

Looking ahead to 2026, Tampere University will host The IEEE International Conference on Image Processing (ICIP) in September. The conference is projected to attract 1,200 attendees. These and many other upcoming congresses and meetings highlight Finland's growing reputation as a hub for international academic and professional events. 

Other university cities in Finland have also won bids for future meetings in several fields of research in their respective cities. For more future congresses in Finland, see our Congress Calendar. 

* UIA.org / 65th International Meetings Statistics Report, June 2024.

According to the report, more than 8400 international association meetings took place in 2023. The report does not include corporate meetings or other corporate events. Since 1960, UIA has prepared statistics on the international meetings that have taken place worldwide in the preceding year.