The Polish city of Katowice will host the 18th European Economic Congress (EEC) from 22 to 24 April 2026, reaffirming its status as a central hub for high-level economic dialogue in the region. The event, one of Central Europe's most significant business forums, will be staged across the International Congress Centre and the iconic Spodek arena.
Katowice, historically the core of Poland's Silesian coal basin, symbolises the continent's complex transition from heavy industry. Today, it is a city where post-industrial landscapes intersect with ambitious modern architecture, a growing tech sector, and vibrant cultural institutions. This transformation provides a fitting backdrop for a congress dedicated to Europe's economic future.
A Platform for Shaping Europe's Economic Agenda
For nearly two decades, the EEC has served as a critical nexus where ideas from the boardroom, the Bundestag, and the academy converge. Its debates have a documented impact on policy and investment flows, not only within Poland but across the wider European Union and its neighbourhood. The 2026 edition continues this tradition, structuring three days of intensive discussion around the most pressing continental challenges.
The official programme will focus on several core themes: Europe's geopolitical positioning and strategic sovereignty, the relentless pace of the green energy transition, and the competitive race in digitalisation and emerging technologies. The definition of economic development itself is evolving here, now encompassing social responsibility and sustainable practice alongside traditional growth metrics.
The scale of the congress is substantial. Previous iterations have attracted approximately 1,300 speakers and over 13,500 participants to more than 200 panel debates. A similar attendance is anticipated for 2026. Beyond the formal agenda, the event's value is often found in the thousands of informal meetings that occur, forging the business relationships and public-private partnerships that drive tangible projects.
Notable Participants and Accompanying Events
The speaker roster underscores the congress's reach across the spheres of politics, finance, and innovation. From Poland, confirmed attendees include Jerzy Buzek, former Prime Minister and former President of the European Parliament, and Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski, who holds the digitalisation portfolio. Key business figures such as Rafał Brzoska, founder and CEO of logistics giant InPost, and Sebastian Kulczyk, a prominent international investor, will also contribute.
The international perspective will be provided by voices like Guy Standing, a professor at SOAS University of London, and Mark Brzeziński, the former United States ambassador to Poland. Their participation highlights the forum's role in connecting Central European dynamics with global trends and capital.
Integral to the congress are its accompanying galas. The Investor Without Borders 2026 Gala will honour both foreign investors active in Poland and Polish companies expanding abroad. Meanwhile, the TOP Investment 2026 Gala will spotlight innovative and impactful projects spearheaded by local governments, reflecting how urban centres are tackling development pressures. This focus on municipal innovation echoes discussions at other international forums, such as the recent World Urban Forum which confronted the global housing crisis as European cities face similar strains.
The debates in Katowice will inevitably touch on Europe's need for secure energy and resource pathways, a topic of parallel urgency in other regions. For instance, while Central Asian states grapple with water management, as seen in the recent proposal for a UN Water Agency, European policymakers at the EEC will be dissecting their own continent's transition to sustainable and sovereign energy systems.
By bringing together such a diverse array of stakeholders in a city that embodies economic transformation, the European Economic Congress 2026 is poised to be more than a talking shop. It is a strategic node in Europe's business and policy network, where the concrete plans for the continent's next chapter will begin to take shape.
