Associations World Congress 2026

We are delighted that the Lagoa Congress Center, Algarve will be hosting the Associations World Congress in 2026.

The Lagoa Congress Center, Algarve (formerly the Arade Congress Center) is a purpose-built venue for conferences and events in the Lagoa region of Algarve, Southern Portugal.

The municipality of Lagoa purchased the center from the former owners recently, implementing a complete refurbishment, and taking over the operational management and sales.  The center held a number of events in 2025 and re-opens all its conference facilities in May 2025 with the first of what will be many association conferences.

With an exceptional location next to the mouth of the Arade River, it has easy and fast accesses, both from the Faro International Airport (60 kms highway) and the surrounding hotel offer that surpasses the 6,000 rooms.

Divided into 3 floors, the Center has an auditorium for 1000 people, which occupies the three floors of the building, equipped with sound systems and lighting, stage with 460m2, cabins, technical and simultaneous translation booths and 6 support dressing rooms , a multipurpose Pavilion with 700m2 of exhibition and / or catering area, and which still offers the possibility of dividing into three meeting rooms for 180 people / each or a single for 500 people.

The center has excellent conditions to host events, due not only to the quality of the infrastructure it has, but also to the quality and competitiveness of the hotel and leisure offer, accessibility, climate and quality of urban life.

 

January 14, 2026

The Mayor of Lagoa, Dr. Luís Encarnação, emphasized that “ the Lagoa Congress Center is a strategic infrastructure for the future of the municipality. Its re-opening in May 2026 reinforces our ambition to establish Lagoa as a benchmark destination for business and event tourism. This promotional work is already bearing fruit, with events confirmed for the post-reopening period, including the 32nd National Congress of Internal Medicine in May, and the AHRESP National Congress in October 2026, which demonstrates the sector's confidence in this facility and in our municipality .”

The Lagoa Congress Center presents itself as a modern and multifunctional facility, capable of hosting national and international events, contributing to the revitalization of the local economy, the reduction of tourism seasonality, and the enhancement of the territory.

With this initiative, the Municipality of Lagoa reaffirms its commitment to the strategic development of the municipality, consolidating the MICE segment as a fundamental axis for sustainable growth and for strengthening Lagoa's reputation in the national and international landscape of major events.

Location

Encosta do Arade
8400-611 Parchal
Lagoa, Algarve
Portugal