London has been named Europe’s Top Meeting Destination for the fourth consecutive year, reinforcing its position as a leading global events hub. The recognition comes as the city continues to grow its business tourism offer with a wave of new hotels, venues and experiences.
The London Convention Bureau is set to welcome close to 80,000 delegates to the capital in 2026, to events that span a wide range of sectors, but a particularly strong recent trend has been the growth of major international medical and scientific congresses choosing London.
These include the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) – which took place at Excel London in June and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) – returning to Excel London in July for its 42nd Annual Meeting. The event is projected to attract around 12,000 delegates representing 140 countries.
These follow the successful hosting of the 41st Annual Congress of the European Association of Urology (EAU), Europe’s largest urology and urological science gathering, which brought together over 12,000 healthcare professionals earlier this year.
London’s appeal reaches far beyond its world leading medical sector. Olympia’s International Convention Centre (ICC) is set to host 1,500 international attendees for the 44th World Scout Conference between November-December 2027, which will follow the hosting of 700 delegates for the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) in early November 2027. As well as Cisco, bringing more than 50,000 delegates to Excel London under a new three year agreement, building on a strong pipeline of other major tech gatherings from 2025, including Databricks and SailPoint.
The International Trademark Association (INTA) selected London for its first-ever event in the city, reinforcing the capital’s position as a premier global hub for flagship congresses and international collaboration.
There is no sign of momentum slowing. Major congresses are already confirmed for 2027 and 2028, with active bids extending as far ahead as 2035 – a clear demonstration of London’s long-term appeal and reliability for global event planners.
Barbara Jamison-Woods, Head of Europe, Convention Bureau at London & Partners, said: “Global organisations continue to choose London because of the city’s blend of expertise, connectivity, and a genuinely collaborative environment. Event planners value London’s high quality venues, its diverse academic and professional networks, and its ability to bring together delegates from around the world. With major congresses already secured and active bids in place for the years ahead, it highlights London’s enduring strength as a trusted, future focused home for the business tourism sector.”
Emerging neighbourhoods spark fresh growth
London continues to evolve, with new developments helping to revitalise neighbourhoods across the city. At Olympia, a £1.3bn regeneration is transforming the historic venue into a world class mixed use events and entertainment destination. Central to the project is the new International Convention Centre, which will increase the destination’s total event capacity to around 20,000 people, significantly enhancing London’s ability to host major global gatherings.
Speaking about this, Andy O’Sullivan, CEO at Olympia Events, said: “Olympia’s £1.3bn transformation marks a defining new chapter for London’s global events landscape. Our beautifully restored heritage halls, alongside a state-of-the-art International Convention Centre and The Addison premium lounge, will be complemented by new on-site accommodation, exceptional dining, and vibrant evening entertainment, creating a fully integrated global destination that seamlessly unites Olympia’s rich heritage with bold future-focused innovation. Through this transformation, we aim to set a new benchmark for world-class event experiences in the heart of the capital.”
Meanwhile, Excel London’s £220m expansion, completed in autumn 2025, has added 25,000 square metres (270,000 square feet) of premium event space and is expected to attract an additional 2.5 million visitors to the Royal Docks.
Other neighbourhoods are also expanding their offer for business event planners. In Canary Wharf, Landing has introduced a new design led venue with capacity for 450 delegates. Over in King’s Cross, MYO The Stables provides planners with 80,000 square feet of flexible space, including private offices, meeting rooms and dedicated event areas. All adding even more versatility to London’s most dynamic districts.
Continued momentum in hotel openings
At the heart of these emerging neighbourhoods, London is preparing to welcome a new wave of world class hotels, each bringing its own distinctive style and elevating the city’s already world-class hospitality scene.
Waldorf Astoria Admiralty Arch – opening in late 2026, is an iconic landmark that is being transformed into what is anticipated to be ‘the finest hotel in London’. The property will feature 100 beautifully appointed rooms and suites, all offering remarkable views over The Mall and Trafalgar Square The Other House, Covent Garden, also set for a late 2026 debut, is a residential style luxury hotel that will provide relaxed social spaces, bars and dining areas – ideal for receptions, informal corporate gatherings and extended stay guests seeking a home from home experience.
Hyatt Regency London Olympia will be welcoming guests from July 2026. Hyatt’s second Regency property in the capital will anchor the revitalised Olympia destination, joining the newly announced CitizenM London Olympia.
These openings join an already impressive roster of recent luxury arrivals, including The Chancery Rosewood, which opened in September 2025 in the former US Embassy on Grosvenor Square; Six Senses London, Bayswater, a wellness focused property within the Whiteleys redevelopment offering elegant spaces for meetings, dinners, and wellbeing led events; and The Zetter Bloomsbury, a stylish, design driven addition to the neighbourhood that continues the brand’s reputation for characterful boutique hospitality.
Find out more on the London Convention Bureau website.
