Belgrade to host IEA World Congress in 2026

The Serbian Association of Economists has announced that, according to the decision of the Executive Board of the International Economic Association (IEA), it has been selected to host the 21st IEA World Congress, which will be held in June 2026.

– Our offer to organize this prestigious event has been deemed the best by the president and the Executive Board of the IEA. In June 2026, Belgrade will be the economic center of the world. We expect the arrival of over 1,000 best economists from the most prestigious universities in the world – said the president of the Serbian Association of Economists, Aleksandar Vlahovic, according to the press release.

He said that the significance of this event was also shown by the fact that the program board of the Congress is led by Eric Maskin, a professor at Harvard University and a winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.

– We expect the arrival of several other Nobel Prize winners, as well as numerous economists who have been in the highest advisory positions within the leading economies of the world during their careers. It is important to note that the IEA World Congress is being held for the first time in our region and that, after 20 years, it is returning to Europe – said Vlahovic.

According to him, the IEA World Congress is also a big opportunity for universities in Serbia and the region for a firmer connecting with the global academic community.

Also, as he added, the creators of economic policies, as well as the business community of the entire region, will have the opportunity to exchange innovative ideas, experiences, and to use advice from leading world economists.

The Serbian Association of Economists says that, during the preparation of the bid for the organization of the World Congress, support from all relevant institutions in the state was received, especially from the Government of Serbia and the National Bank, as well as the business and academic communities, but also professional association and chambers of commerce from the neighboring countries.

The IEA World Congress in Belgrade will be held from June 22 through 26, 2026.

It is reminded that, since 2013, the Serbian Association of Economists has been a full member of the IEA and also the only representative of Serbia in this prestigious organization. Each third year, the IEA organizes the World Congress.

The previous IEA World Congress was held in 2023 in Medellin, Colombia.

Government of Serbia

National Bank of Serbia

Serbian Association of Economists

International Economic Association

IEA

Harvard University

Aleksandar Vlahovic

Eric Maskin

IEA World Congress

Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences

academic community

economists congress

world economists