What is the difference between a conference, a congress and a symposium?

Conferences, congresses and symposia are very popular in the business events industry. Various organisations hold them annually or every few years. But what's the purpose of a conference or congress, and what are the differences?

These three events are organised around a particular theme to exchange knowledge. Those attending are often people from the same company or association. At each, several speakers take the floor, often dozens of them, so the central topic is examined from different points of view.

Conferences, congresses and symposia don't always last just one day. On the contrary, it's more common for them to be multi-day events. Visitors often come together from all kinds of countries, and the gathering often takes place only occasionally. So there's usually a need to spread it over several days.

A conference is a gathering, usually with a social or societal focus. The topic at a conference centre is often highly topical, such as climate, sustainability or poverty. And a summit is a large-scale meeting where the most senior government leaders of different countries come together. The topics discussed here vary widely. The purpose of a conference is to share knowledge, but also to set things in motion.

A congress is a business event with a more scientific theme, in which commercial parties are more often involved too. Members of the organisation, researchers or experts exchange knowledge at a congress venue through speakers and discussions. Congresses come in different sizes. A gathering for a few hundred visitors can be organised in a congress hotel, but you also see congresses where tens of thousands of people come together in a large congress centre.

Symposia are becoming increasingly popular. A symposium is a combination of a conference and a congress, but specifically in a medical, scientific or political setting. The purpose of a symposium is more about broadening knowledge and less about discussion among participants.

Although the words congress, conference and symposium are often used interchangeably, there are real differences. All three are large one-day or multi-day gatherings, often with international members, where knowledge around a central topic is exchanged. The biggest differences are the theme and the target group. Where a conference is more political or societal in focus, a congress centres on a business or scientific theme. A symposium is the combination of the two, but with less discussion.

A good venue for such a large gathering is essential. Depending on the purpose of a conference, congress or symposium and the number of visitors it attracts, you can start looking around. Planning your event in Brabant or close to Den Bosch? Then take a look at our congress venue in Den Bosch.

Written by: Robert Zentjens | Marketing Coordinator