From May 19 to 22, 2026, the Québec City Convention Centre hosted IAIA26, the annual conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to environmental, social, economic and policy impact assessment. Here’s a look back at the largest international convention hosted at the Québec City Convention Centre in 2026.
With more than 1,400 delegates from 76 countries, the 45th edition of IAIA’s annual conference was the largest ever held in the association’s history, both in terms of attendance and the richness of its scientific program. A two-day pre-conference training program was also held on May 17 and 18, bringing together approximately 285 participants across 15 professional training sessions.
This marked the second time the event was held in Québec City, following its first visit in 1994. More recent editions took place in Bologna (Italy, 2025), Dublin (Ireland, 2024), Kuching (Malaysia, 2023), and Vancouver (Canada, 2022).
A Bid That Stood Out on the International Stage
Preparations to bring IAIA26 to Québec City began in February 2024, when the Association québécoise pour l’évaluation d’impacts (AQÉI) set out to develop its bid to serve as the event’s host organization. After several months of collaboration among destination partners, Québec City’s bid was selected by IAIA’s decision-making committee in the fall of 2024. The proposal distinguished itself through the quality of its presentation, the expertise of the organizing team, and the committee’s confidence in the destination’s ability to deliver a successful international conference.
A Large-Scale Logistical Operation at the Québec City Convention Centre
Planning IAIA26 required approximately eight months of preparation before the event. Coordinating spaces — 23 meeting rooms throughout the Convention Centre were dedicated to the conference — validating technical and catering requirements, and developing the conference program all required close collaboration between the Québec City Convention Centre team and IAIA organizers to ensure the event’s success.
“This was the largest IAIA conference ever held in terms of attendance, technical sessions, keynote presentations, technical visits, training activities, and sponsorships,” said Mr. Jean Hébert, Executive Director of the AQÉI and Co-Chair of IAIA26. At the same time, the Québec City Convention Centre and Maestro Culinaire, its exclusive food service partner, were also hosting two additional groups for separate events. The success of IAIA26 therefore relied not only on meticulous conference planning, but also on the ability of multiple teams to manage several major events simultaneously while maintaining an exceptional level of service.
Nearly half of the delegates were attending an IAIA conference for the very first time, enabling the association to welcome many new members to its international network from Canada and around the world.
Beyond the Convention Centre itself, participants also had the opportunity to discover the Québec City region through 10 technical and cultural tours, showcasing Québec’s expertise in environmental impact assessment. Destinations included Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier, Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area, Wendake, the Île d’Orléans bridge construction site, and Université Laval’s Roger-Van den Hende garden, among others. In total, 264 participants took part in these tours.
“One word to describe IAIA26 is friendly. Everyone is so friendly and Québec City is a great host“
“Québec City’s francophone culture, rich history, the quality of the Québec City Convention Centre’s facilities and the warm hospitality of its teams were among the aspects most appreciated by participants,” noted Ms. Annie Prince, President of the AQÉI and Co-Chair of IAIA26.
A High-Impact Event
A resounding success, the 45th edition of IAIA’s annual conference leaves a lasting legacy for both the international impact assessment community and the destination, including:
- Strengthening AQÉI’s international profile, reinforcing its position as a credible and influential organization within the global impact assessment community
- Providing exceptional international visibility for Québec City, further establishing it as a premier destination for scientific conferences while showcasing its culture, expertise, and unique environment
- Accelerating AQÉI’s strategic initiatives, helping advance projects such as the Professional Recognition System (PRS) and the Communicating Environmental Assessments More Effectively initiative
- Creating lasting networks and strengthening collaboration among experts, organizations, and public authorities representing nearly 80 countries
- Mobilizing volunteers and developing expertise through the active involvement of AQÉI members, volunteers, and partners
- Generating an estimated $3 million in economic impact for the Québec City region
For IAIA, a highly successful conference in Québec confirms the relevance, continuing importance and uniqueness of what is now our 45th annual event. Why unique? Because of its focus on sustainability impacts as they happen in places and are experienced by people. It is not a typical sustainability conference – it does not silo environment from social impacts, rather it discusses them as they are experienced – together. It also does not simply debate abstract theory but rather how to recognize and manage impacts on the ground with real projects. And all of this is done by bringing together practical, transparent lessons from around the world and from all stakeholders ― learning from experiences from the UK, Australia, Brazil, Ghana, Saudi Arabia and many other countries shared in joint panels between lenders, consultants, project developers, local authorities, civil society and Indigenous Peoples, creating a unique platform for learning, exchange and progress. In this regard, Québec City was the perfect destination to host such an event
Gary Baker President and CEO of IAIA
About IAIA
Founded in 1980, the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the theory and practice of impact assessment. Through a global network spanning more than 110 countries, IAIA promotes informed decision-making and positive environmental and social outcomes.
About AQÉI
Founded in 1991, the Association québécoise pour l’évaluation d’impacts (AQÉI) celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2026. The association brings together individuals interested in impact assessment and its application to planning and decision-making processes. Its membership includes approximately 600 professionals from government agencies, universities, and consulting firms. AQÉI is committed to advancing the continuous improvement of impact assessment practices, enhancing the professional quality of impact assessments, promoting the use of impact assessment, and improving public understanding of impact assessment and the roles of the various stakeholders involved. These objectives are achieved through a variety of initiatives, including its annual conference, professional training workshops, study days, newsletters, and webinars. AQÉI is an affiliate of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) and a member of the Secrétariat international francophone pour l’évaluation environnementale (SIFÉE).
