Congress Award Graz
Recognizing Remarkable Contributions to Congress Life in Graz
The Congress Award Graz recognises outstanding individuals and organisations whose innovative meetings and congresses make a significant contribution to positioning Graz as a national and international centre of knowledge and science.
New from this year:
- Only one Congress Award will be presented.
- In addition, a Sustainability Award for certified Green Meetings will be presented.
- Only congresses that are certified as a Green Meeting under UZ 62 of the Austrian Ecolabel are eligible for this award.
The Congress Award is endowed with €10,000, while the Sustainability Award is endowed with €5,000.
Graz Congress Award Gala „Taste & Dine“
17 March 2026 | Congress Graz
The Congress Award Graz will be presented as part of the newly designed Graz Congress Award Gala “Taste & Dine”. The evening combines congress culture and culinary experiences, creating a special setting for encounters, exchange and recognition.
A culinary highlight will be provided by top chefs from the Graz Region, including Christof Widakowich (Schlossbergrestaurant), Alexander Posch (Die Genießerei) and Manuel Höfer (Genusstreffpunkt Höfer).
(The list of participating chefs is continuously growing.)
The event is intended to be organised in accordance with the criteria of the Austrian Ecolabel for Green Events.
Getting there:
- Tram lines 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
- Stops: Hauptplatz or Jakominiplatz (both just a few minutes’ walk away)
The event venue is wheelchair accessible. You can find more information here.
The invitation to the Graz Congress Award Gala “Taste & Dine” will be sent by email.
Submission/Application for Conferences
Applications can be submitted easily by uploading the relevant documents online.
Assessment period: 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025; submission deadline: 20 January 2026.
Eligible to apply are all organisers of congresses and conferences that took place in Graz in 2025. Additional application documents can also be sent electronically to the Graz Convention Bureau at kongress@graztourismus.at.
Selection Process I Jury 2025
The independent jury of the Congress Award Graz consists of experts from universities, research institutions and science communication. It evaluates all submitted events comprehensively and without fixed categories.
Evaluation criteria
- International profile of the event
- Scientific significance
- Overnight stays & economic impact
- Size & number of participants
- Image impact & social added value
- Economic relevance
- Regularity of the event
- Innovation & own initiative
- Sustainability (Green Meetings in accordance with UZ 62)
- Added value for the City of Graz
- Science-to-public aspect
These criteria ensure a comprehensive and fair assessment of all submitted events.
Contacts I Initiators
Stadt Graz - Kulturamt
Stigergasse 2/II (Mariahilferplatz), 8020 Graz
Messe Congress Graz Betriebsges.m.b.H.
Messeplatz 1, 8010 Graz
Graz Tourismus und Stadtmarketing GmbH -
Graz Convention Bureau
Messeplatz 1, 8010 Graz
kongress@graztourismus.at
