London will host the four-day conference from 3 to 6 November 2026 at the new ICC, which forms part of Olympia’s £1.3 billion redevelopment project. Under the theme “Port Leadership for a Brave New World”, the programme will include plenary sessions, breakout formats, roundtables, briefings and site visits. According to IAPH, the conference is expected to welcome around 700 delegates from more than 60 countries, representing the ports, shipping, finance, policy and technology sectors. More than 75 percent of attendees are expected to travel internationally.

Expanded conference format reflects strategic growth ambitions

The 2026 edition will expand from the traditional three-day structure to a four-day programme with additional interactive and multi-stream formats. According to IAPH, the new ICC at Olympia has been designed to support large-scale international conferences with integrated hospitality, accommodation and event infrastructure. Representatives from IAPH, Olympia Events and the London Convention Bureau highlighted London’s role as an international centre for shipping, trade and global business events. The conference was first held in London in 1965 and returns to the city as IAPH continues to expand its international participation and conference programme.