Finland: Nordic congress powerhouse

7.8.2025

According to the UIA report published in June, Finland ranks 15th 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 15^th, the top three countries being the USA, Belgium and Italy. Finland moved up one spot in the ranking, remaining the leader of the Nordic countries. Finland's Nordic neighbors followed close behind: Sweden ranks 17th, Norway is 19th, and Denmark is 22nd. In the comparison of congress cities, Helsinki ranks 14th.

According to research by Finland Convention Bureau, most congress attendees are visiting Finland for the first time, and a significant number are now considering a return trip for leisure. With several significant events already on the calendar, Finland is cementing its reputation as a top choice for international congresses.

There are plenty of confirmed association meetings and congresses for Finland in the latter half of 2025 and beyond. For example, the EPSC Europlanet Science Congress, which will take place at the newly renovated Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, is expected to attract 1000 participants in September. Finlandia Hall will also be the venue for the 18th European Public Health Conference, welcoming 2000 healthcare professionals in November.

Espoo will host the 5th Conference on Floating Solutions 2025 WCFS (250 participants) and International Conference on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Geomatics UAV-g (300 delegates), both in September.

Oulu will proudly host the ECSA2026 Conference of the European Citizen Science Association in March 2026, welcoming 400 researchers, policymakers, science funders and practitioners in the field of citizen science. In June 2026, 500 polar dielectrics scientists from all over the world will meet in Oulu at ECAPD 2026 European Conference on Applications of Polar Dielectrics.

ISEK Congress 2026 (The International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology) will take place in Jyväskylä in June, with 500 people expected to attend.

Tampere will be the host city for the European Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference this September, welcoming 350 professors, students, industry and professional organisations. In August 2026, the city will welcome the European Conference on Educational Research ECER (2500 attendees) and in September 2026 it will host the IEEE International Conference on Image Processing ICIP with 1200 experts, academics, innovative professionals and practitioners.

Other university cities throughout Finland have also been successful in winning bids to host future meetings in a variety of research fields. For a complete list of upcoming congresses, please refer to our Congress Calendar.

* UIA.org / 66th International Meetings Statistics Report, June 2025.

According to the report, almost 8900 international association meetings took place globally in 2024. 
Number of countries represented for the reporting year (2024): 167. 
Number of cities represented for the reporting year (2024): 1299.

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.