Europe and the United Kingdom are accelerating their leadership in global meetings and events, reporting record attendance, sector-defining conferences and major investments in innovation. From Barcelona’s AI-driven urban transformation showcases and education-tech congresses to Antwerp’s blue-economy R&D pipeline and London’s return as host of the 2027 World Scout Conference, the region continues to shape the future of sustainable, knowledge-driven events.
Below are the key developments defining Europe’s event landscape this season.
Western Europe
Spain
Smart City Expo World Congress Reports Record Attendance in 2025
Europe’s largest smart-city event expands its AI-driven programming.
Smart City Expo World Congress closed its 2025 edition with more than 27,000 attendees from 143 countries at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue. The event showcased AI’s rapidly growing influence on urban transformation through a dedicated AI-enabled cities area. Running alongside Tomorrow.Mobility, Tomorrow.Building, Tomorrow. Blue Economy and the Barcelona Deep Tech Summit, the congress featured 1,190 exhibitors and more than 600 speakers. Rome was named Smart City of 2025, and the next edition will take place 3–5 November 2026.
EdTech Congress Barcelona 2026 Opens Registration with Focus on AI’s Impact on Learning
A leading education-technology forum addressing AI’s role in teaching and training.
EdTech Congress Barcelona 2026—set for 4–5 February at the Palau de Congressos de Barcelona—will convene 81 speakers and more than 60 companies to explore how AI is reshaping education and professional training. Key themes include accessibility, digital well-being, AI-driven university models and public policy. Delegates will also experience smart classrooms, simulations, startup pitches and access to ISE’s AV innovations.
Belgium
Antwerp Targets Blue Economy Conferences with Port-Focused Innovation Ecosystem
The city positions itself as Europe’s hub for sustainable water-linked industries.
Antwerp Convention Bureau is positioning the destination as a hub for blue-economy conferences through an innovation pipeline spanning research, startups and industrial deployment. BlueApp and BlueChem offer labs and pilot facilities for hydrogen, circular chemistry and water-reuse projects, while NextGen Demo and NextGen District provide testing and scale-up environments inside the port. Organizers can integrate site visits and technical tours into programs, supported by Antwerp’s venue sourcing, content design and legacy-planning services.
Portugal
Europalco’s Pedro Magalhães Recognized Across Two Major Industry Honors
A standout year for one of Southern Europe’s leading technical producers.
Europalco CEO Pedro Magalhães earned two significant recognitions in 2025, strengthening his prominence in event technology and live production. He was named to the Eventex Powerlist 2025 as one of the world’s 50 most influential event-technology professionals, selected from 2,250 nominees in a vote exceeding 21,000 ballots. He also received the Ingenuity Award at The Eventeers 2025 for excellence in real-time technical problem-solving. Europalco’s Nélio Lima and João Cardoso were also finalists.
Germany
MEDICA and COMPAMED 2025 Draw 78,000 Visitors and Set Direction for 2026
One of the world’s largest medical-technology marketplaces continues its upward momentum.
MEDICA and COMPAMED 2025 concluded in Düsseldorf with more than 5,300 exhibitors from 70 countries and 78,000 trade visitors. The events showcased strong demand for medical technology, robotics, digital health and supplier innovations. Start-up Park and the MEDICA Innovation Forum highlighted early-stage development, while global delegations from Europe, the U.S., the Gulf States and the UK emphasized broad industry engagement. Organizers will refine thematic structures for 2026 to support technology convergence across the sector.
United Kingdom
Scotland
UK Stroke Forum to Bring 2,000 Delegates to Aberdeen in 2025
Scotland strengthens its standing in life-science and medical meetings.
P&J Live will host the UK Stroke Forum from 25–27 November 2025, marking the conference’s 20th anniversary. The event will welcome 2,000 delegates and is supported by Aberdeen’s sustainability initiatives, including hydrogen and electric shuttle services. Local community engagement and youth education around stroke care also contributed to Aberdeen’s successful bid.
England
World Scout Conference to Return to London in 2027 After More Than a Century
A historic moment as the global Scouting movement returns to its birthplace.
London will host the 44th World Scout Conference from 29 November–3 December 2027, returning to the city for the first time since 1920. The event will be held at Olympia’s new International Convention Centre, opening in 2026 as part of a £1.3 billion redevelopment. More than 1,500 delegates from 176 National Scout Organizations are expected.
