Programme | ICCA CEC Ljubljana 2026

What to expect?

The programme centres on four key thematic pillars with an emphasis on dynamic session formats. Moving away from traditional long presentations, the agenda prioritises shorter, interactive sessions, extended networking breaks, member-driven storytelling, and dedicated student engagement. Early outreach to association representatives and panel contributors strengthens the program’s relevance and diversity.

Full programme

The ICCA CEC 2026 programme is designed as a dynamic, experience-driven journey that combines strategic insight, creative thinking, and meaningful networking. It is structured to actively engage participants and challenge conventional approaches within the meetings industry. The event opens with informal networking and business exchange, culminating in the official evening opening, setting a collaborative tone from the outset.

Time	Programme
ICCA CEC pre programme, Sunday, 6 September 2026
14:30 – 16:30	Discover Ljubljana Guided city tours Meeting point Town Hall
17:00 – 18:00	Track A, Town Hall Networking: Networking Session for ICCA First Timers Facilitated by Efi Koudeli Track B, Town Hall Networking: ICCA Business Exchange Regional networking, knowledge exchange and new business opportunities. Moderated by TBC (ICCA)
Welcome reception and opening night Sunday, 6 September 2026, Center Rog
19:00 – 22:00	Join fellow delegates for the official opening of ICCA CEC 2026. An evening of networking, celebration and the first spark of the Unicorn Awards, set in one of Ljubljana’s most inspiring creative venues.
Change Your Perspective, day 1 Monday, 7 September 2026, Cankarjev dom Ljubljana
07:00 – 08:00	Activation: Morning in Ljubljana’s Green Heart Start your day with a refreshing walk through Tivoli Park, Ljubljana’s green heart. Meeting point Museum of Modern Art
08:30 – 09:00	Coffee & networking
09:00 – 09:10	Welcome session: A New Perspective Begins, Welcome to ICCA CEC Chapter Chair: Marina Knittel Chapter Co Chair: Magdalena Holowinska
09:10 – 09:25	Opening ceremony: Connecting Perspectives Karmen Novarlič, Head of Business Communication Department, Slovenian Tourist Board Petra Stušek, CEO at Ljubljana Tourism Senthil Gopinath, CEO at ICCA Moderated by Patrick Delaney
09:25 – 10:00	Panel: Changing Perspectives, Leading Through Transformation Senthil Gopinath, CEO at ICCA Petra Stušek, CEO at Ljubljana Tourism Fredi Fontanot, CEO at Slovenian Convention Bureau Angeles Moreno, Jack Morton Moderated by Patrick Delaney
10:00 – 10:15	ICCA update: The Road Ahead Efi Koudeli, Senior Regional Director Europe
10:15 – 10:40	Keynote: How Creativity Makes Events Matter Aris Theophilakis, NOSLEEPTILLBROOKLYIN
10:40 – 11:00	Networking break
11:00 – 11:40	Active panel: What PCOs and Event Agencies Can Learn from Each Other The Great Event Exchange Panelists: Ori Lahav, Kenes Sissi Lignou, AFEA Congress Alexandre Meyrieux, KIT Group Moderated by Gorazd Čad
11:40 – 11:50	Market insight: Connectivity Alone Is Not a Strategy Why air access is only one part of destination competitiveness, by Kongres Magazine.
11:50 – 12:20	Round table: Aviation Reality Check Mateusz Dziudziel, LOT Polish Airlines Jürgen Deischl, Fraport Slovenija Boško Rupić, Air Serbia Johannes Müller, Lufthansa Group Moderated by Christoph Tessmar, Barcelona CVB
12:20 – 12:30	Market insight: What Guests Really Remember? Hidden insights from hotels and convention centres, by Kongres Magazine.
12:30 – 13:00	Round table: Are Venues Ready for What’s Next? Jure Novak, Director General of Cankarjev dom, CD Congress Centre Ljubljana Iztok Bricl, Director General of GR Ljubljana Congress & Convention Centre Selina Masnetz, Austria Center Vienna Magdalena Holowinska, Head of Sales Grupa MTP venue Moderated by Sven Bossu
13:00 – 13:05	A short welcome from Cankarjev dom
13:05 – 14:15	Networking lunch in the park
14:20 – 15:00	Track A, Alma Karlin Hall Workshop: Building Bridges, The Power of Ambassador Programmes Moderated by Gerald Howard, Lausanne Montreux Congress Track B, Club CD Fishbowl: AI Without the Noise Stefan Bonsels, Head of Convention Bureau Basel Oliver Wykes, Wind Europe and President, AC Forum Benoit Dubuisson, Managing Director at Downtown Europe Sven Bossu, International Association of Convention Centres Moderated by Alexandre Meyrieux, K.I.T. Group
15:00 – 15:20	Networking break
15:20 – 16:05	Changing Perspectives in Practice: Shared Table Discussions Moderated by Ivo Franschitz
16:05 – 16:45	Keynote: Designing Emotions, The Most Powerful Lever for Behavior Change and Impact Pigalle Tavakkoli, School of Experience Design
16:45 – 17:00	Closing session: Reflections and Closing of Day 1 Moderated by Marina Knittel and Magdalena Holowinska
17:00 – 18:00	Site inspection: Cankarjev dom, CD Congress Centre Ljubljana
A night in the City Museum Monday, 7 September 2026, City Museum
19:30 – 22:00	Step into the historic City Museum for an evening of meaningful connections, local flavours and relaxed networking. Celebrate the spirit of ICCA CEC while discovering the stories and heritage of Ljubljana.
Change Your Perspective, day 2 Tuesday, 8 September 2026, GR Ljubljana, Congress & Convention Centre
08:30 – 09:00	Coffee & networking
09:00 – 09:05	Welcome from GR Ljubljana, Congress & Convention Centre
09:05 – 09:15	Start the day together: ICCA CEC BINGO Moderated by Marina Knittel and Magdalena Holowinska
09:15 – 09:40	Keynote: Creating Moments the World Remembers Maria Laura IASCONE, Olympic and Paralympic Ceremonies Director, Milano Cortina 2026
09:40 – 10:00	Activation: Change Your Perspective, Interactive Energiser
10:00 – 10:15	ICCA Fire Talks: ICCA CEC Member Spotlight Three 3-minute lightning updates from ICCA CEC members, sharing new initiatives, success stories and opportunities. Elisabeth Kassantis – Pföss, Senior Marketing Manager, Salzburg Convention Bureau Agnes Opitzer, Director of Hosted Event Sales, HUNGEXPO Budapest Congress and Exhibition Centre Francisca Flajs Gonzales, Green Manager, Toleranca Marketing
10:15 – 10:45	Networking break
10:45 – 11:45	Panel Discussion: Association Perspectives, Rethinking the Bidding Process Anouk Buergisser Marti, International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation, ICRS Denis Schultz, WIP Renewable Energies Oliver Wykes, Wind Europe and President, AC Forum Moderated by Marina Knittel
11:45 – 12:15	Keynote: Staying Human in the Age of AI Dan Podjed, anthropologist & associate professor
12:15 – 12:30	Closing session: The Journey Continues Conference reflections & key takeaways Recognition of hosts and partners Announcement of the next ICCA CEC host destination Moderated by Marina Knittel and Magdalena Holowinska
12:30 – 13:30	Lunch in a park
13:30 – 14:00	Site inspection: GR Ljubljana, Congress & Convention Centre
14:00 – 14:15	Transfer to Ljubljana Castle to continue with the Unicorn Events afternoon programme
Do you believe in unicorns? Change Your Perspective Again Tuesday, 8 September 2026, Ljubljana Castle
14:20 – 14:40	The art of attention Reinier van der Veer, spoken word artist, Dichtwater
14:40 – 15:00	Creating moments the world remembers Adriano Martella, Creative Director of Olympic & Paralympic Ceremonies, Head of Creative at Filmmaster
15:00 – 15:15	Olympic F*ck Ups: The Things We Got Wrong
15:15 – 15:30	Short break
15:30 – 16:00	From festival to movement Alek El-Kazal, ULTRA Europe
16:00 – 16:30	Joker Out: Behind the Scenes of a Historic Event A television style conversation exploring the concept, execution and crisis management. Nik Jerovšek, Spontanzo Jure Maček, Joker Out
16:30 – 16:50	How to Become Antifragile and Thrive in an Uncertain World Bo Krüger, Moving Minds
16:50 – 17:00	The Unicorn Manifesto: What Should Never Change in Live Events? A fast paced closing session bringing together the day’s key speakers.
Unicorn Awards winners ceremony: A Castle Night of Celebration Tuesday, 8 September 2026, Ljubljana Castle
20:00 – 23:00	Celebrate the pinnacle of the Unicorn Awards at Ljubljana Castle, where innovation, excellence and inspiration take centre stage. Join us for an unforgettable evening of recognition, celebration and panoramic views over the city.

Venue and location	Google Maps
Cankarjev dom Prešernova cesta 10 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
City Hall Mestni trg 1 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Center Rog Trubarjeva cesta 72 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
City Museum Gosposka ulica 15 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
GR Ljubljana Dunajska cesta 18 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Ljubljana Castle Grajska planota 1 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Extra option: the Unicorn Awards' winners ceremony

Founded in 2012, the competition, formerly known as the Conventa Best Event Award, sought to unearth Europe’s most impressive events. Since then, the competition has become a benchmark for leading industry events across the Baltics, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Balkans. The competition aspires to showcase something scarce – unicorns – events that leave a lasting imprint, create communities and push the envelope.

You will have the chance to see the leading events across Europe as they win their much-deserved Unicorn trophies at Ljubljana Castle on 8 September 2026. Moreover, you will have the chance to meet event managers, creative heads, marketing experts, event organisers, providers of meeting services, representatives from companies, agencies, associations, and everyone else co-crafting the events and the advertising and marketing landscape.

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