Brussels has once again secured its position as the world’s top city for international meetings, according to the latest annual report from the Union of International Associations (UIA).

The Belgian capital also experienced a record-breaking year for tourism in 2024, according to tourism agency visit.brussels.

In the 66th edition of the UIA’s respected ranking—widely regarded as a key benchmark in the global convention industry—Brussels led the way for the fourth consecutive year. The city hosted 388 of the 8,859 international non-profit organisation meetings held worldwide last year, representing 7% of the global total. Vienna followed in second place with 239 meetings, trailed by Seoul (180), Barcelona, and Tokyo.

Tourism hits historic high

Brussels also saw an unprecedented surge in tourism. The city registered nearly 10 million overnight stays in 2024, an increase of 4.8% compared to 2023 and 3.6% higher than the previous record set in 2019.

Notably, the city experienced stronger visitor numbers even during its traditionally quieter periods. Overnight stays rose in January and February, while July, November, and December saw particularly strong growth. “This led to a more even distribution of visitors throughout the year,” noted visit.brussels.

The UIA, a non-profit and non-governmental research organisation, has been tracking international meeting trends since 1960. Its annual statistics provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape of global civil society gatherings.