WCOA 2026 Begins in
WCOA 2026 will take place from November 17–19, 2026, in Seoul, South Korea. The Korean Institute of Certified Public Accountants (KICPA) and IFAC will serve as joint hosts, working closely to welcome professional accountants from around the world for the event.
Starting in 2026, the World Congress of Accountants will have a new biennial format, wherein the event will be held every two years. In-person participation in WCOA 2026 is invitation only. Select sessions will be livestreamed so that interested members of the public are included in these important conversations virtually.
Participants will have the opportunity to join in plenary sessions, panel discussions, and hear from distinguished subject-matter experts. The event will include opportunities to attend networking events, to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among professionals from various sectors. In-person WCOA 2026 attendees will be composed of IFAC PAO leadership (staff and volunteers), professional services firms, standard-setters, regulators and other government officials, representatives of multilateral and development agencies, and the business and investor communities.
Schedule Overview: Week of November 16th, 2026
IFAC is hosting a number of other events that will occur in the same week at the World Congress. For an overview of the week's events, please see the diagram below.
Thematic Agenda
Day 1 – Together
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Geopolitical disruption impacts everyone. Amid volatility, the accountancy
profession remains a foundation of stability through integrity and consistency.
Key Topics
- How geopolitical tensions are shaping the global economy
- How the accountancy profession contributes to financial stability, economic resilience, and national competitiveness
Day 2 – Connected
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Three forces identified in IFAC’s Strategic Plan are reshaping the profession and every institution represented at WCOA 2026.
Cross-sector panels will motivate attendees to consider that what they do with these forces will define what the profession,
and the institutions around it, become.
Key Topics
- Leading Through AI and Digital Transformation
- Attractiveness of the Accounting Profession
- From Scorekeepers to Strategists: The CFO’s Expanding Mandate
- AI in Practice for SMPs
- Behavioral Ethics
- Education Innovation
- And more
Day 3 – Tomorrow
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As WCOA 2026 concludes, we turn to what success looks like for the profession.
How do we equip ourselves to lead, and how do we ensure that by WCOA 2028,
we can point to meaningful progress and real-world impact?
Key Topics
- Transparency, Trust, and the Public Interest
- The Transformation of Corporate Reporting
- Sustainability Standards
- AML/Anti-Corruption
- Trust in Tax
- And more
Wrap-up:
What will your institution contribute to a globally trusted, future-ready profession?
Trust and shared purpose set the course for WCOA 2028.
What will your institution contribute to a globally trusted, future-ready profession?
Trust and shared purpose set the course for WCOA 2028.
Participant Groups
WCOA is designed as a leadership forum, with a strong emphasis on strategic dialogue between the profession and the institutions that shape financial reporting, governance, and economic development worldwide.
Ecosystem Stakeholders
WCOA will also convene senior representatives from institutions that interact closely with the profession and play a critical role in financial governance and capital markets. To ensure strong national and regional representation, IFAC will work closely with member organizations to identify and invite relevant stakeholders within each jurisdiction. Invitations may be extended either directly by IFAC or jointly with the relevant member body.
What is the World Congress of Accountants?
The World Congress of Accountants (WCOA) is the flagship event for the global accountancy profession. The event brings together global representatives from accountancy and the wider financial ecosystem to strengthen the global accountancy community and work together to shape the future of the profession in the public interest.
IFAC’s World Congress of Accountants provides:
- A platform for thought leadership and best practice: Showcasing insights and innovations shaping the future of the accountancy profession.
- Collaboration and dialogue: Enabling meaningful exchange among standard-setters, regulators, firms, and global stakeholders.
- Networking opportunities: Connecting leaders and professionals across sectors to build partnerships and drive collective progress.
Previous WCOAs have taken place in Mumbai, India (2022), Sydney, Australia (2018), Rome, Italy (2014), and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2010).
