The Meetings Star competition, one of the most relevant independent quality evaluation systems in the events industry, is entering the final phase of its 2025/2026 edition. The finalists will be announced on 30 January 2026, while the awards ceremony is scheduled for 11 February in Ljubljana, as part of Conventa 2026.
For 16 years, Meetings Star has served as a benchmark for event planners, destinations, and hotels seeking an objective assessment of quality. Unlike classic rankings, this system focuses on the overall experience of organisers and participants – from infrastructure and capacities to flexibility, sustainability, and the real needs of the industry.
In the category The Best Meeting Destinations in 2025/2026, 149 destinations from 34 countries are being evaluated this year, with a special category dedicated to the New Europe region. Rather than simply counting the number of hosted events, the evaluation focuses on the broader quality of destinations, including their capacities, resilience, and alignment with the real needs of event planners.
A novelty for 2026 is the introduction of a special category for unique event venues. These include unconventional spaces such as architectural and historical sites, as well as natural, outdoor locations, which are increasingly becoming a competitive advantage for destinations in attracting international events.
The organisers emphasise that the goal of Meetings Star is not merely ranking, but the long-term improvement of the quality of destinations and event venues through clear guidelines and comparable standards. For this reason, the results of the evaluation are increasingly used as a decision-making tool by event planners across Europe.
The full list of winners will be presented during Conventa 2026, and by the end of April an online catalogue is planned, featuring detailed profiles of the awarded destinations and venues.
