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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 600+ professional accountants and accountancy stakeholders from around the world in-person for this 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.
Session Summaries*
Day 1 – Together
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Afternoon | Keynote
Building Competitive, Resilient Economies (25 minutes)
The assumptions shaping the global economy are changing. Explore how resilience, trusted institutions and long-term thinking are redefining competitiveness.
Afternoon | Leadership Exchange
Leading Without a Playbook (50 minutes)
Leaders discuss how they make high-stakes decisions, balance competing priorities and build resilient institutions when certainty no longer exists.
Afternoon | Fireside Chat
The Future of Financial Stability (20 minutes)
Strong economies are built on more than sound policies. They depend on institutions and markets that people trust. This conversation will explore how financial systems can remain resilient as global markets continue to evolve, and why international cooperation remains essential to preserving confidence in an increasingly interconnected world.
Day 2 – Connected
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Morning | Keynote
Rise2040: Human-Led. AI-Powered. Future-Ready Profession (30 minutes)
Drawing on global insights from the Rise2040 initiative, this keynote explores how AI, trust, talent, regulation, and geopolitics are reshaping the future of the accountancy profession and why remaining Human in the Lead™ will be essential to creating lasting value for business and society.
Morning | Leadership Exchange
Leading Through AI and Digital Transformation (50 minutes)
AI is transforming the way organizations operate, but trust remains the foundation of every financial decision. Leaders from technology, regulation, and the profession will explore how to harness AI's potential while preserving the confidence that underpins markets, concluding with one practical question: “If delegates remember just one message from today's discussion, what do you hope it will be?”
Morning | Interactive Demonstration Session
The Art of the Impossible: Building Agentic AI with Microsoft Copilot (45 minutes)
Interactive demonstration of agentic AI in finance and professional services. Through real-world examples and live demonstrations, delegates will gain practical insights into how organizations can move beyond experimentation to harness the next generation of AI.
Morning | Leadership Exchange
Beyond the Hype: How AI Is Transforming the Profession (40 minutes)
AI is transforming not only the work of accountants, but also how professional accountancy organizations serve and support their members. Drawing on new global research, PAO leaders will share how they are rethinking strategy, education, and member value to prepare for an AI-enabled future.
Morning | Plenary Panel Discussion
The Next Generation: The Critical Success Factors to Attract and Retain Future Talent (60 minutes)
Across the globe there is a battle for talent. The accountancy profession must reflect on how rapid changes in technology and reporting, as well as the lived experiences of young professionals, impact its ability to win the fight for talent and ensure its longevity into the future.
Delegate Networking Lunch
Afternoon | Concurrent Sessions (45 minutes each)
- Value through Education Transformation: EdTech's Role in Developing the Next Generation of Accountants
- Trust Without Borders: The Future of Global Audit (Tentative)
- Better Together: A Global Leadership Exchange (Tentative)
- How External Investment is Reshaping the Profession
Afternoon | Plenary Panel Discussion
Keeping Pace with Innovation: The Future of Global Standard Setting (45 minutes)
As business, markets, technology, and stakeholder expectations continue to evolve, global standard setters must navigate an increasingly complex environment while maintaining trust and serving the public interest. Leaders of the global standard-setting boards will discuss the forces shaping their work, how they are responding to change, and what will be needed to keep international standards relevant and fit for the future.
Afternoon | Fireside Chat
Trust in Global Markets (20 minutes)
A virtual Fireside Chat with Jean-Paul Servais and Andrew Bailey. Gain insights into how international cooperation, effective governance, and trusted institutions can strengthen financial stability, support investment, and preserve confidence in an increasingly interconnected world.
Day 3 – Tomorrow
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Morning | Plenary Panel Discussion
Building Stronger Institutions for Sustainable Development (50 minutes)
Strong institutions are essential to sustainable development, but resources are never unlimited. Explore how governments, development partners, and the profession can make strategic investments that strengthen public financial management and create lasting public value.
Morning | Keynote
Shaping the Trust Infrastructure for the Next Decade (30 minutes)
Trust is one of the world's most valuable strategic assets. Explore how leaders strengthen confidence in markets and institutions.
Morning | Plenary Panel Discussion
Reporting That Matters: Rethinking Corporate Reporting for Better Decisions (50 minutes)
Does more reporting lead to better decisions? Perspectives from business, investors and the profession.
Morning | Plenary Panel Discussion
Audit Quality and Regulatory Innovation (40 minutes)
To examine how regulatory innovation can improve audit quality, using Korea's Accounting and Audit Reform Act (KARA) and selected jurisdictional case studies as reference points.
Delegate Networking Lunch
Afternoon | Concurrent Sessions (45 minutes each)
- From Transparency to Trust: Strengthening Public Financial Management
- Effects of Periodic Auditor Designation on Audit Quality (Korean Academic Study)
- Leading Through Uncertainty: Creating Value When Every Decision Counts
- Practice Transformation: What SMPs Need to Know
- Sustainability Standards Workshop (2-part session)
Afternoon | Plenary Session
Women in Leadership – Then, Now, Next (45 minutes)
The next generation of leadership will be defined not by hierarchy, but by adaptability, resilience, and the ability to lead through disruption. Drawing on their experiences leading organizations through periods of profound change, this panel will explore the decisions, setbacks, and leadership practices that build stronger organizations, and what every leader can do to develop the talent that will shape the profession's future.
Afternoon Closing Session
Close of the 2026 World Congress of Accountants / Introduction of 2028 WCOA (SAICA)
* All sessions are subject to change.
Who Will Attend?
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.
Participant Groups
- Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Board Members
- Chief Executive Officers, Executive Directors, and Secretaries General
- Senior PAO Staff
- Members of IFAC Advisory Groups and the International Panel on Accountancy Education
- Senior representatives from global network firms
- Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Board Members
- Chief Executive Officers, Executive Directors, and Secretaries General
- Senior Staff Representatives
- Board Chairs
- Board Members and Senior Technical Staff
- Senior representatives from development institutions and global organizations working closely with IFAC
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.
Thanks to our Sponsors and Partners
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).
