ICCA Ranking: Bologna in the Top 30 in Europe and Top 3 in Italy for the third year in a row

Bologna once again confirms its status as a leading international congress destination in the 2024 ICCA Ranking, unveiled during IMEX Frankfurt.

The annual report from the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) offers a global snapshot of the meetings industry, ranking destinations by the number of international association congresses they host.

Strong MICE Results for Bologna

With 43 international events held in 2024, Bologna ranks 51st worldwide and among the Top 30 cities in Europe, outperforming major hubs such as Abu Dhabi, Shanghai and Vancouver. Nationally, the city remains on the podium for the third year in a row, just behind Rome and Milan.

Italy as a whole also posts impressive figures: with 635 international events, it secures 2nd place worldwide and 1st in Europe for the second consecutive year, up from 553 events the previous year.

Convention Bureau and Intellectual Capital

These achievements reflect the joint efforts of local institutions, industry stakeholders and city organisations. A key player is the Bologna Convention Bureau, which in 2024 alone handled more than 400 event enquiries and worked on 54 congress bids, winning 8 events scheduled for the coming years. This momentum further strengthens Bologna’s competitiveness in the business-events market.

Several factors underpin the city’s success: its strategic location, the diverse, high-quality venue portfolio, and its remarkable intellectual capital. To leverage the latter, the Bologna Ambassador Programme was launched in 2018 by the Convention Bureau, the Municipality and the University of Bologna. Today, the network boasts over 100 active Ambassadors.

“We are delighted that, in a period of strong growth for Italy as a destination, Bologna has held third place nationally in the ICCA ranking for the third consecutive year,” said Matteo Lepore, Mayor of Bologna. “The quality of our services and overall offering makes Bologna increasingly competitive and attractive for both leisure and business tourism, creating a virtuous balance that enhances both segments. Our appeal to international events is a source of pride and an incentive to strengthen our position of excellence even further.”

“The 2024 ICCA ranking confirms the growth trend recorded in recent years,” added Daniele Ravaglia, President of the Bologna Welcome Foundation. “The virtuous mix of leisure and business tourism delivers steady visitor flows year-round, generating significant benefits across the entire supply chain—hospitality, food service, transport and other services— and reinforcing Bologna’s role as an attractive, competitive hub on the international stage. We could not be more pleased with this recognition, which encourages us to keep raising the bar.”