London, Barcelona and Madrid took the top three spots in Cvent’s 2026 rankings of Top Meeting Destinations and Top Meeting Hotels for Europe.

The meetings, events and hospitality technology provider unveiled the new rankings at an in-person press conference held today at IMEX Frankfurt 2026. It also presented its Top Meeting Venues UK list, which ranks hotel brands, independent properties and unique venues sourced through Venue Directory, a Cvent company.

The rankings are determined based on insights gleaned from more than $20B of global sourcing and request-for-proposal (RFP) activity through Cvent’s sourcing platforms in 2025, including the Cvent Supplier Network, one of the world’s largest group hotel and venue sourcing marketplaces.

The record sourcing activity seen in 2025 reflects more than demand-driven growth. It signals a structural shift as organizations across Europe are prioritising face-to-face engagement in an increasingly digital-first landscape. Around three-quarters (75%) of organizations perceive in-person events as more valuable than other sales, marketing, and business development initiatives, while 70% of planners expect the number of in-person meetings to increase by up to 20% during 2026.

Cvent’s annual global rankings are issued regionally for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America & Caribbean.

Top 10 European Meeting Destinations

This year’s Cvent Top Lists saw London (#1), Barcelona (#2), and Madrid (#3) cement their positions at the top of the European rankings for another year. Lisbon climbed one spot to #4 and Paris rose one place to #5. Munich and Vienna were the standout movers, with Munich climbing two places to #9 and Vienna surging three spots to break into the Top 10, reflecting the growing international appeal of both cities for association congresses and corporate events.

Europe’s Top 10 Meeting Hotels

This year’s Top 10 European hotels saw significant movement across the list. Meliá Avenida América (Madrid) claimed the #1 position, demonstrating the city’s strength as a leading MICE destination. The Hilton London Metropole (#2), The W Barcelona (#3), EPIC SANA Maquês (#4), and Sheraton Lisboa Hotel & Spa (#5) round out a Top 5 that directly reflects Europe’s most vibrant meetings cities: London, Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisbon.