3 New International Conventions Coming to Québec City Thanks to Destination Canada’s ICAF Program

Thanks to Destination Canada’s International Convention Attraction Fund (ICAF), the Québec City’s Ambassadors’ Club is pleased to announce that 3 new international conventions will be held in Québec City.

Launched in March 2024 and administered by Destination Canada, the ICAF program provides financial support to Canadian cities interested in hosting major international conventions. It is part of an overall $50 million investment by the Government of Canada to position the country as a top destination for conventions, conferences and business events. The ICAF offers support of up to $1 million per eligible bid and helps to strengthen Canada’s appeal at the most important step: the decision-making of a selection committee.

Estimated spinoffs of $8.1 million for the Québec City region

The 3 international conventions confirmed through the ICAF program will all be held at the Québec City Convention Centre and will attract hundreds of scientists, engineers and researchers from around the world:

IAIA26
2026 Annual Conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment
1,100 attendees expected
Estimated spinoffs: $3.7 million

ICOM14
2028 International Conference on Mycorrhiza
600 attendees expected
Estimated spinoffs: 1,6 M$

IUPAB 2030
2030 Congress of the International Union of Pure and Applied Biophysics
1,000 attendees expected
Estimated spinoffs: 2,8 M$

“We are glad that our destination has been selected by the selection committees of these 3 major events, thanks to the support of Destination Canada and its International Convention Attraction Fund. We’re also very proud of our ambassadors who, through their hard work and dedication, help Québec City shine on the international stage, while contributing to scientific advances.”

– Caroline Lepage, President and CEO of the Québec City Convention Centre

Thanks to the ICAF program, many Canadian cities have succeeded in attracting major international conventions, bolstering their status as key international business destinations and stimulating the Canadian economy. In just 7 months, 21 new international conventions have been confirmed.

“The City of Québec’s ability to attract international events sets it apart on the world stage! Thanks to historic investments through the International Convention Attraction Fund, the city has already landed three major conferences. These events are a great opportunity to showcase the best of what the capital has to offer, while creating economic opportunities for local businesses. Indeed, the 2,700 or so guests who attend these conferences spend twice as much as leisure travellers! We’re looking forward to welcoming the world to Québec!”

– The Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Québec

“Congratulations to Québec City for securing these outstanding conferences. The power of partnership and investment by the International Conference Attraction Fund is clear when three events of this caliber choose Québec and Canada as their next host destination. It is our goal to showcase the range of industries and expertise available in Canada and winning these international conferences is a good indication that the global business events industry is taking notice.”

– Virginie De Visscher, Executive Director, Business Events, Destination Canada

About Destination Canada
At Destination Canada we believe in the power of tourism. Our aspiration is to enhance the quality of life of Canadians and enrich the lives of visitors. Our mission is to influence supply and build demand for the benefit of locals, communities and visitors through leading research, building alignment with public and private sectors, and marketing Canada nationally and abroad. In collaboration with our partners, we promote Canada as a premier four-season leisure and business tourism destination around the country and world. We believe that Canada’s diversity, its greatest asset, is also, what touches travellers’ hearts most deeply. To that end, we are committed to inclusive leadership within our workforce, workplace, and interactions with partners and travellers alike. In addition, our Business Events team leverage in-depth global market analysis to target international clusters aligned with Canada’s priority economic sectors. Destination Canada is a Crown corporation wholly owned by the Government of Canada and formed under the Canadian Tourism Commission Act.