This near 20 percentage-point increase shows that global instability is no longer a background concern for the sector; it is now a central factor influencing conference planning, destination selection, risk management and participation. The research also found that 65.38% of respondents had experienced travel disruptions for clients and/or participants, up from 41.67% in 2025, while 58.46% reported reduced international attendance or participation. Almost half of respondents reported increased costs to their teams, and 48.46% said costs had increased for clients and/or participants.
The impact is already being felt across the full event lifecycle. More than one-third of respondents (33.07%) said they had frequently or occasionally had to cancel, postpone or relocate events, or withdraw planned participation, due to safety concerns or regional instability. A further 42.31% reported shifting event locations away from regions perceived as politically unstable.
The survey also highlights the growing influence of government policy on future event planning. 59.32% of respondents said USA government policies enacted in 2025 and 2026 had affected their ability to plan and execute events in 2026, 2027 and 2028. Funding restrictions affecting academic and scientific experts’ ability to travel, alongside visa and immigration policies affecting international participants, staff and speakers, were identified as the most significant policy-related challenges.
For IAPCO members, the findings reinforce what many Accredited PCOs are already seeing every day: clients, destinations and participants are operating in an increasingly complex environment. The role of the Accredited PCO has never been more important.
From contingency planning and destination advice to stakeholder confidence, budget management and participant safety, IAPCO Accredited PCOs continue to play a critical role in helping clients navigate uncertainty and make informed decisions in a fast-changing world.
