Padova strengthens its position in the international association meetings industry becoming the 63rd in Europe in the ICCA 2025 ranking.

Padova continues its growth path within the international meetings industry, achieving an excellent result in the ICCA 2025 ranking, the annual classification published by the International Congress and Convention Association dedicated to rotating international association congresses.

The city ranks 63rd in Europe with 24 international association congresses hosted, confirming a steady improvement over the years: from 90th place in 2023, to 75th in 2024, and rising to 63rd place in 2025. Padova also confirms its position as the only Italian city that is not a regional capital included in the ICCA ranking, as well as the leading destination in the Veneto region. This achievement is part of the wider growth of Italy, which in 2025 once again ranks first in Europe and second worldwide after the United States for the number of international association congresses hosted.

This continuous improvement in the ranking is also the result of a strong network of synergies built over the years through the collaboration between institutions, universities, industry operators, congress venues, accommodation facilities and the scientific community.

“The result achieved by Padova in the ICCA 2025 ranking represents an extremely important milestone for the entire destination,” says Roberto Crosta, President of the Fondazione Turismo Padova Terme e Colli Euganei. “The steady growth recorded in recent years demonstrates how Padova is increasingly consolidating its international positioning within the meetings industry. This achievement stems from the strong collaboration of our local network system, which has understood the strategic importance of the MICE sector for the future of the destination. It is the result of a shared commitment that is now being recognized in one of the most authoritative rankings worldwide.”

“This result confirms the effectiveness of the daily work carried out by the Convention Bureau together with the operators of the local congress industry,” says Laura Favaretti, Head of the Padova Convention Bureau, the meetings branch of Fondazione Turismo Padova Terme e Colli Euganei. “Padova’s growth in the ICCA ranking is the result of continuous promotional and bidding activities in international markets, developed in close synergy with congress venues, particularly thanks to the joint work with Padova Congress for major MICE events, accommodation providers, institutions and the academic sector. It is a solid network that is increasingly aware of the strategic value of the meetings industry, enabling the destination to strengthen its position within the international association congress sector. Being today the seventh Italian destination and 63rd in Europe is an important recognition, but above all an incentive to continue investing in quality, relationships and the ability to attract high-value events for the territory.”

The result achieved by Padova also confirms the importance of national and regional collaborations within the meetings industry. The work carried out by Convention Bureau Italia, the Italian Knowledge Leaders project and the Venice Region Convention Bureau Network contributes to strengthening the competitiveness of the territory and the city’s international positioning, increasingly establishing Padova as a benchmark destination within the European meetings industry.