LONG CELEBRATED for its rich cultural heritage and scenic beauty, Chiang Mai will soon also be known as an international conference scene if a tally of recent conference wins continues.
In a significant boost to Chiang Mai’s business events profile, the northern Thai city has secured six international conferences for 2025 and is already preparing to host another major event in 2026. The conferences are expected to draw a combined 3,600 delegates to Chiang Mai.
While Bangkok has traditionally dominated Thailand’s conference landscape, this year marks a turning point with Chiang Mai emerging strongly as one of Thailand’s designated MICE cities.
Described by Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) as the economic heart of northern Thailand, Chiang Mail has been hosting conferences spanning professional fields such as engineering, medicine, environmental science, and social science.
The events will be spread across a variety of venues, showcasing the city’s versatility – from the expansive Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre to upscale hotels like the Shangri-La and the Marriott.
“We are proud that Chiang Mai, one of Thailand’s MICE Cities in the destination competitiveness plan of TCEB, has earned international confidence,” said TCEB president Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya.
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“The totally different venues chosen to host each conference speak volumes of how organisers can maximise the capacity of Chiang Mai.
“What’s special is that while it offers comfort and convenience of modern-day city life, Chiang Mai features the setting of unique ‘Lanna’ culture, beautiful ecological attractions and wealth of activities contributing to local communities. The city, thus, can ensure memorable and meaningful experiences of international delegates.”
THE BIG 6…
- 25th Asia-Australia Conference of Radiological Technologists (AACRT 2025), June 5–7 at Chiangmai Grandview Hotel & Convention Center
- 7th International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP 2025), July 2–4 at Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre
- 15th International Conference on Precision Engineering and Sustainable Manufacturing (PRESM), July 6–11 at Chiang Mai Marriott Hotel
- Society of Instrument and Control Engineers Annual Conference (SICE), September 9–12 at The Empress Hotel and Convention Centre
- 39th International Conference on Information Networking (ICOIN 2025), January 15–17 at Kantary Hills Hotel
- 2nd International Conference on Materials for Green Future, April 28 – May 1 at Shangri-La Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai was also selected by the International Festivals & Events Association – Asia (IFEA-Asia) to host the IFEA Asia Pinnacle Awards & Asia Festival City Conference 2026, scheduled for February 4-6. This follows the city’s triumph at the Asia Festival Awards 2025, where it was named Asia World Heritage City and received Pinnacle Awards for Best Event Program and Best PR & Marketing for its iconic Yi Peng Festival.
The city is a 75 minute flight from Bangkok and its international airport connects directly to Phuket, Krabi, and Khon Kaen, as well as mainland China, Hong Kong, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Taiwan.
Main picture… Cultural performances are on the itinerary for many delegates visiting Chiang Mai for conferences
