International Meetings and Conferences

An important area of interest within the field of international associations are the meetings and events organized by these bodies. This has been a significant theme of research at the UIA: necessitating the rigorous collection of data on international meetings; guiding studies and commentary about international conferences, their challenges and technical aspects of their organization; motivating investigation into facilitating participant interaction and the sharing of knowledge; and inspiring exploration into the progressive potential of transformative conferencing and dialogue for sustainable communities and development. For general information on international conferences, please see the FAQ.

Databases and general information

The UIA has been maintaining databases on international conferences since its creation in 1910. These databases cover the period from the earliest international meetings centuries ago, to information on over 15,000 international conferences scheduled decades into the future. Relevant resources include: 

• The International Congress Calendar, detailing international meetings including conferences and meetings of IGOs and NGOs, international symposia, regional (sub-continental) conferences and congresses, and general assemblies of international bodies. 
• The Yearbook of International Organizations, containing summary listings of current, past and future international events including meetings, conferences and congress series.
• The Annual International Meetings Statistics Report, a statistical study of the data in the International Congress Calendar, on the preceding year's international meetings.