Global Meetings Industry Day, an international day of advocacy that spotlights the economic and networking value of in-person events, will take place on May 6, 2026.

 

The Toronto Sign at Nathan Phillips Square lit blue

Led by Meetings Mean Business Canada, destinations, meeting venues, industry partners and attractions will celebrate the day! To highlight the importance and vital contribution of the meetings, conferences and events industry, attractions, and landmarks across Toronto are lighting blue for Global Meetings Industry Day on May 6, 2026.

  • Toronto Sign at Nathan Phillips Square
  • CN Tower
  • Metro Toronto Convention Centre
  • Exhibition Place

To help raise awareness Meetings Mean Business has created a toolkit of resources for the meetings and business events industry. Find the toolkit here.

 

This global day of advocacy for the industry is also an opportunity to remind elected officials that business events are:

  • A catalyst for collaboration, investment and trade
  • A critical source of business income, high-value jobs and tax revenue
  • An opportunity to leverage Canada’s expertise to a global audience

Thousands of jobs are supported by meetings and conventions in Toronto – from hotels to convention centres, audio-visual and staging, transportation and logistics, and event planners, emcees and entertainers. 

Toronto hosted 74 major events and conventions in 2025, welcoming 378,000 delegates and generating $982 million in economic impact for Toronto’s visitor economy.

2026 will be another busy year in Toronto for citywide conferences, meetings and events. The industry still needs continued focus and support to focus on continuing to drive business for the years ahead.

 

This calendar year, Toronto welcomes the following:

 

​The meetings, conferences and events industry is vital to economic recovery in Toronto, the province and across the country. Not only do meetings and events fuel the economy and create jobs, they are a driver for innovation, infrastructure and destination development. Business meetings and conferences are often a “first date” with a city for investors and talent.