Istanbul is poised to welcome approximately 25,000 participants to four major medical congresses in 2026, with an anticipated economic impact of $100 million. This initiative is expected to significantly boost the city’s standing in the global congress market, building on its existing reputation in health tourism.
Istanbul: A Growing Hub for Medical Congresses
According to a statement from the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO), Istanbul is experiencing substantial growth in the global congress market. Following the success of health tourism, medical congresses are now taking center stage. The Istanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau (ICVB), in collaboration with its stakeholders, has secured 25,000 medical congress tourists for 2026, with expectations that the total number of congress tourists will surpass the 2024 figure of 48,000 when other events are included.
Istanbul was recently ranked 8th in the “Top 8 Cities for Medical Sciences Meetings in 2024” list by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). This recognition underscores the city’s increasing prominence in the medical congress sector.
Key Medical Congresses Scheduled for 2026:
- Asia Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) Scientific Meeting: Scheduled for April 22-25, 2026, this event is expected to attract 2,500 participants.
- European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Congress: From June 12-15, this congress is estimated to host 6,500 participants.
- World Buiatrics Congress (WBC): Taking place from September 6-10, with 3,000 participants anticipated.
- World Congress of Otorhinolaryngology (IFOS): Set for September 9-13, this event is projected to welcome 10,000 high-level attendees.
Furthermore, efforts by ITO and ICVB have successfully secured three major international congresses for Istanbul in 2027, 2028, and 2030:
- European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN 2027): One of Europe’s most prestigious congresses, expected to draw 6,000 participants.
- International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) 2028 Congress: Anticipating 3,000 visitors.
- A major global congress from a leading international medical association: Scheduled for 2030, with 3,000 participants.
Economic Impact and Strategic Importance
Şekib Avdagiç, Chairman of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) and Istanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau (ICVB), emphasized the prestige associated with attracting medical congresses to a city. He stated, “Through our stakeholder collaborations, Istanbul has secured a $100 million revenue stream from 25,000 medical congress tourists in 2026.”
Avdagiç highlighted that congress tourists spend 3-4 times more than traditional holiday tourists, with per capita expenditures reaching up to $4,000. He added, “Istanbul is becoming a growing center not only in tourism but also in the knowledge economy, academic production, R&D ecosystem, and international business networks through these congresses. The approximately 25,000 high-level participants coming to Istanbul in 2026 will directly strengthen the city’s brand value and create a sustainable competitive advantage in the congress sector.”
Avdagiç also noted that congress tourists often share their positive experiences of Turkey and Istanbul with their families and friends, encouraging repeat visits. “This clearly demonstrates the high added value of congress tourism,” he concluded.
Istanbul’s Global Role and Future Vision
Şekib Avdagiç affirmed Istanbul’s rise as a multi-layered brand city on the global stage, creating its own league. He stressed that the large-scale international congresses secured for 2026 should not be viewed as mere events, but rather as high-impact investments that strengthen Istanbul’s global reputation and strategic position.
“Each congress makes our city’s global role in science, innovation, health, technology, and trade more visible,” Avdagiç stated. “Our primary goal is to further expand Istanbul’s unique brand power in global markets and make our city one of the world’s most preferred meeting destinations.”
Source: Anadolu Agency (AA)
