Unicorn Awards 2026
7 – 8 September 2026, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Entries now open
Every year, the Unicorn Award honours the leading events - unicorns - in the European meetings industry and beyond. The unicorn is a testament to the magic that awaits in the world of events. Awarding the finest in the event business. A place where the best events in Europe come to compete. The unicorns of the events industry. The Unicorn Awards honour the exceptional minds behind events that captivated our hearts, minds, and imaginations. This year, the reimagined event competition will take place between 7 and 8 September 2026 in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
80+
unicorns named
27
jury members
14
years running
12
criteria segments
The Unicorn Awards competition is a prestigious recognition with a European reach. It blends the warmth of a family reunion with the charm of one of Europe’s most beautiful locations.
Jens Oliver Mayer
Jack Morton Worldwide
The Unicorn Awards competition is an ambassador for creativity and innovation. Its mission is to contribute to the development of the events industry by showcasing its power to drive change.
Inese Lukaševska
Luka Agency
The mission of the Unicorns Award is to push the limits in our events industry. It also allows us to promote our industry and see what our neighbours are doing.
Boris Kovaček
Pepermint
The Unicorn Awards reward impactful, creative, and innovative events that raise industry standards and inspire others.
Angeles Moreno
Jack Morton Iberia
Quality awards like the Unicorn Awards recognise excellence and serve as powerful tools to spark and spotlight industry talent.
José G. Aguarod
Sports & Events World
The leading European events
Since 2012, the Unicorn Awards competition has been shining a light on the best European events. The evaluation of events follows a unique 80:20 model, where 80% of the votes come from the jury and 20% from the audience.
Renowned competition
Founded in 2012, the competition, formerly known as the Conventa Best Event Award, sought to unearth Europe’s most impressive events. Since then, the competition has become a benchmark for leading industry events across the Baltics, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Balkans. The rebranding into the Unicorn Awards is a logical step in the competition’s evolution.
Expert Jury
Our expert jury ensures the best events in Europe are evaluated according to strict criteria. All submitted entries are evaluated by a jury consisting of international experts from the field of event organisation. This year, 24 jury members, helmed by Jury President Angeles Moreno, examined the projects to determine which event stood out the most.
Entries open
If you believe your event exceeded the confines of a dull meeting and deserves to be crowned a “unicorn”, this competition is the right fit for you. The deadline for registering your event is 17 July 2026.
Programme highlights
17 July 2026
Deadline for entries
The deadline for entering events into the Unicorn Awards competition is 17 July 2026. The early-bird deadline is 30 April 2026.
14 August 2026
Official proclamation of the finalists
The finalists of the competition will be announced after a thorough evaluation by the expert jury.
24 July 2026
Materials submission
Save the date and submit your winning project for the jury. Let the unicorn hunt begin!
7 September 2026
Live pitching
The first day is dedicated to live pitching from the leading European event agencies. Attendees have a front-row access to the most creative, daring, and impactful event ideas on the scene.
8 September 2026
Inspiration day
The Conventa team is curating a rich programme for all participants, bringing together highly relevant topics and inspiring speakers to answer your questions and expand your perspective.
Relive past events
Unicorn Awards 2025
Every year, the Conventa Best Event Award honours the leading events - unicorns - in the European meetings industry and beyond.
Learn more →
Conventa Crossover 2025
Conventa Crossover brings leading international experts in experience marketing and event organisation to Ljubljana every year to exchange ideas and high-quality networking opportunities.
Learn more →
Conventa Trend Bar – digital
Reviving one of Conventa’s most successful formats in a digital edition, Trend Bar focuses on knowledge sharing, data-driven insights, and practical examples from the meetings industry.
Learn more →News and updates
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