US$20,000 award recognises the power of international meetings to create lasting, positive change in communities worldwide
BestCities Global Alliance and the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) have named the Autism Europe Congress (AEC) 2025 the recipient of the 2026 Incredible Impacts Programme (IIP) Main Grant, recognising the association’s outstanding commitment to creating positive change through international meetings. The winner was selected by audience vote at the ICCA Congress, held in Panama City, Panama, from 8-11 November.
The Incredible Impacts Programme celebrates international associations that use business events as catalysts for social, economic, and environmental change. Two grants are awarded annually: a US$20,000 Main Grant to expand established impact initiatives and a US$5,000 Seed Grant to support emerging projects. The International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA) received the 2026 Seed Grant in August.
Held in Dublin, AEC 2025 turned autism advocacy into action, advancing inclusive event practices and employment opportunities for autistic people. Organised by Autism‐Europe, AsIAm, Keynote PCO, Fáilte Ireland, and the Royal Dublin Society, the Congress established a replicable model for making international meetings more accessible and inclusive.
The grant will help extend this legacy by sharing the model with future Congress hosts and other associations, while supporting efforts to reduce employment barriers and increase workforce participation among autistic people.
The Autism-Europe Congress 2025 was selected from three finalists shortlisted by an international judging panel from 24 submissions. Alongside International Social Housing Festival (ISHF) 2025 and WindEurope Annual Event 2025, the association presented its initiative at the ICCA Congress, where delegates voted to determine the Main Grant recipient.
Earlier this month, BestCities and ICCA released an impact report commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Incredible Impacts Programme. Featuring case studies from previous grant recipients, it examines how international meetings have addressed real-world challenges and improve lives in communities worldwide.
“We’re proud to recognise the Autism-Europe Congress 2025 for demonstrating how international meetings can translate advocacy into real action,” said Loren Christie, Managing Director, BestCities Global Alliance. “Over the past decade, the Incredible Impacts Programme has shown what’s possible when associations approach their events with purpose. This year’s finalists carry that ambition forward, demonstrating how international meetings can drive progress on some of the most pressing challenges facing communities today.”
“The Incredible Impacts Award celebrates what our industry can achieve when we look beyond the meeting itself and focus on the difference we can make in the world,” said Dr Senthil Gopinath, CEO, ICCA. “Autism-Europe 2025 demonstrates how international association meetings can drive meaningful, lasting change by bringing people together around a shared purpose and turning ideas into action. Their work is a powerful reminder that the true legacy of a meeting lies in what changes because we came together. I congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition and the example they set for our global community.”
To see previous winners’ stories and learn more about the Incredible Impacts Programme, visit www.incredibleimpacts.com.
