Since its establishment in 1965 as the world’s first non-profit global body for the project profession, IPMA has brought together project professionals from around the world, fostering the development of project management across various sectors—business, academia, and society.

Events play a key role in IPMA’s global outreach and advocacy efforts. But why do events matter for the project profession?

IPMA’s track record of events began in 1967 with the first International European Internet Congress in Vienna, Austria. That same year, the first national conference on project management was hosted in Prague, organized by the network of IPMA, alongside political officials of the time. IPMA congresses welcomed participants from Western Europe, the Middle East, China, Eastern Europe, and the Soviet Union—an innovative approach during the Cold War era. This demonstrated IPMA’s early commitment to inclusivity and international cooperation. IPMA has played a transformative role in bringing together professionals from countries that otherwise had limited opportunities for scholarly or professional collaboration.

The flagship events serve not only as international platforms for networking, exchanging best practices, sharing ideas, and fostering global collaboration but also contribute to increasing the visibility and influence of IPMA’s national Member Associations (MAs) within their own territories. These events promote the IPMA ecosystem of products, services, and key stakeholders vital to the businesses and project communities of MAs.

To ensure global outreach to tailored audiences, IPMA hosts a variety of flagship events aimed at different target groups.

IPMA World Congress: For Global Network of Practitioners and Academia

The IPMA World Congress is the flagship event of IPMA, bringing together international expertise, practical content, and global networking—all in one place. This event creates a space for knowledge exchange and professional growth.

The Congress primarily addresses project practitioners, professionals, project-based organizations, C-suite executives of global companies, and key influencers in the project management discipline. In addition to the practice stream, the Congress hosts an academic stream that welcomes paper submissions with high academic standards on project-related topics.

For practitioners, the World Congress offers the latest trends, best practices, and tools in project management. For academics, it provides an opportunity to present research, engage in critical discussions, and explore how theoretical frameworks can be applied in real-world settings.

The first edition of the World Congress took place in Vienna in 1967. In 2025, IPMA will celebrate the 34th edition in Berlin, Germany, co-organized by GPM-IPMA Germany, one of IPMA’s strategic founding associations. The theme for the 2025 World Congress, “Shaping the Future of Project Management,” will mark the highlight of IPMA’s 60th anniversary.

From September 17-19, 2025, leaders and experts from around 70 countries will gather in Berlin for the IPMA World Congress, the most important global event for project management professionals. Keynote speeches, specialist presentations, practical examples, case studies, and scientific contributions will highlight the central role of projects and project management in overcoming global challenges.

Over 50 presentations will address current challenges such as digitalization, leadership, innovation, and the role of modern PMOs, with a practical, hands-on approach. Topics like digital transformation, sustainability, and AI will demonstrate how these trends will shape the future of projects and how attendees can harness them to their advantage. The event promises to deliver tools, methods, and best practices that can be immediately applied.

Read more: https://www.worldcongress-ipma.com/en/

In 2026, the 35th edition of the IPMA World Congress will take place in Hiroshima, Japan, the City of Peace.

IPMA Research Conference: Bridging Academia with Corporate World

Another flagship event is the IPMA Research Conference, which was established in 2013 in Berlin as a think tank-style forum. It has quickly gained recognition as a leading global academic event in project management and continues to take place annually. The conference focuses on connecting academia with corporate project managers, offering a unique platform where researchers can present their findings and corporate leaders can provide feedback on real-world challenges.

The Research Conference is known for its rigorous academic approach and high standards, aligning with Web of Science and Scopus indexing. It also offers valuable publication opportunities for researchers and is often considered one of the best academic events in project management.

The 14th edition will be hosted in Bogotá, Colombia, in April 2026, under the theme “Project Management Practice in a Disruptive Era: Integrating Technology, Innovation, and Sustainability.” The event will bring together leading academics, researchers, professionals, and visionaries from around the world to explore new frontiers of knowledge, share cutting-edge findings, and build the future of project management.

Read more: https://www.ipma-research-conference.world/

The Research Conference acts as a bridge between academia and industry, enabling discussions on high-impact research in dynamic and complex environments and fostering disruptive educational approaches in project management.

IPMA Global Project Profession Forum: Global Platform for Project Practitioners

The IPMA Global Project Profession Forum (PPF), introduced in 2023, has already gained significant recognition and importance in the project management community. Tailored for project professionals and project-oriented organizations, the PPF focuses on discussing the dynamic landscape and importance of the profession at the global level. It brings together business leaders, decision-makers, and project professionals to exchange practical solutions and share hands-on tips.

The PPF features no academic presentations, only business exchanges. IPMA invites global partners and facilitates discussions among key players, offering influential keynote speakers, a relevant program, site visits, and important side meetings.

The 3rd edition of the PPF will take place in London, UK, from November 26-29, 2025, supported by SPM-IPMA Japan and IPMA-UK. The 4th edition is already scheduled for Mahabalipuram, India, on February 13-14, 2026, under the theme “Co-creating a Global Transformation through Project Management: Embracing AI, Innovation, and Sustainability,” co-organized by PMA India.

Read more: https://ppf.ipma.world/

Regional Events and Collaborations

IPMA also supports regional cooperation through networks such as ASIANET, LATNET, NORDNET, and SENET. Regional events are crucial for building cooperation, promoting knowledge sharing, and supporting local project management communities.

For example, the 10th IPMA SENET Conference will take place in Belgrade, Serbia, from May 28-30, 2026, with the theme “Beyond Success: Happiness and Wellbeing in the Project Environment.” These regional events allow local professionals to connect, discuss regional issues, and learn from each other in a smaller, more focused environment.

Read more: https://senet.ipma.world/

Events for Young and Aspiring Project Managers

Recognizing the importance of developing project management competence from an early career stage, IPMA established the IPMA Young Crew in 2005. This initiative supports project professionals under the age of 35, fostering the growth of future leaders in the project management profession. The IPMA YC is a very dynamic network of young project professionals, reaching out to their peers through the dedicated social platforms and events. 

The Global Young Crew Workshop (GYCW) is one of the strategic events by YC, celebrated for bringing together a vibrant assembly of young professionals and students deeply engaged in the field of project management. In 2025, the GYCW will take place in Berlin, Germany, on September 19-21, to coincide with the prestigious IPMA World Congress. This strategic alignment underscores the event’s global reach and its dedication to offering diverse cultural and professional experiences.

Read more: https://yc.ipma.world/

Special Interest Groups

IPMA Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are communities of people, both novices and experts, who share a passion for various areas of project management. These groups interact regularly to learn, advance the industry, create new standards and training, and build relationships and networks along the way. Currently, IPMA has 16 SIGs, each of which is actively promoting its topic through online webinars for a global audience. From Megaprojects to Sustainability, and from DEI to PMO, the SIG webinars are unique international open-access events offered for free to a global audience. These events provide an opportunity for participants to engage with recognized experts in the field and advance their professional growth and knowledge.

Read more: https://sig.ipma.world/

Events for Global Outreach

Based on a recent internal survey, IPMA identified international events as one of the key vehicles for the outreach and advancement of the profession. Since 1965, IPMA has witnessed the constant evolvement of the project profession, leading to rapid changes and disruptive approaches on a global level. By gathering top experts from around the globe, IPMA ensures that the latest trends and best practices are communicated widely. Events are also essential for professionals to stay updated on the latest trends, research, and methodologies. These events help set standards within the project management community and contribute to professional development, as well as the advancement of the profession itself. Additionally, the international nature of IPMA’s events fosters important national, regional, and global partnerships. 

Whether it’s the IPMA World Congress, the Research Conference, the Global Project Profession Forum, or regional events like the SENET Conference, IPMA leverages them to fulfill its mission: to orchestrate the project profession for a better world.

Make sure to book your spot at next IPMA event!