AI Drives 15% Surge in Global Tech Conferences; Seoul Rises to Top 5
Creatrip Team
22 days ago
ICCA’s Global Watch 2025 report shows medical (2,688), technology (2,363) and science (2,038) were the top international conference fields last year. Technology conferences grew fastest, up 15%, led by sustained interest in AI (artificial intelligence) — AI events hit a record 79 in 2024 and remained high in 2025. Automation moved from 9th to 5th place since 2015, boosting demand for robotics and AI software meetings. Seoul jumped into the world’s top five cities for technology conferences in one year, and South Korea ranked 9th by country in the tech field. Medical conferences remain the largest by attendance, with more mid- and large-scale events, while science meetings (up 7.6%) continue shaping long-term priorities in areas like quantum computing and climate engineering. ICCA forecasts continued growth: by 2030 there could be over 15,000 annual international conferences with 6.7 million participants spending $18.5 billion, and argues that AI’s rise paradoxically increases the value of in-person events for trusted expert exchange.
