# World Esperanto Congress: from 1905 to Melbourne 2027

Source: https://esperantopedia.org/about/world-congress/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-07

> The World Esperanto Congress has met since 1905: all 111 congresses with city, country and participants. Next: Melbourne 2027, Kaunas 2028.

The **World Esperanto Congress** (*Universala Kongreso de Esperanto*, UK) is the largest annual meeting of Esperanto speakers. It has been held almost every year since the first congress in **Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, in August 1905**, organised since 1933–34 by the [Universal Esperanto Association](https://esperantopedia.org/about/organizations/). Up to and including **Graz 2026**, 111 congresses have been numbered, of which 108 actually took place. The largest was **Warsaw 1987** with **5,946 registered participants**; recent congresses draw about 850–1,300. The next are planned for **Melbourne (2027)** and **Kaunas (2028)**.

Everything at the congress – lectures, debates, theatre, concerts, excursions – happens in Esperanto, without interpreters.

## What happens at a World Esperanto Congress?

A typical congress lasts eight days, usually in late July or early August. Regular parts of the programme:

- **Opening ceremony** (*Inaŭguro*), with greetings from speakers of each country, and a formal **closing** (*Solena Fermo*).
- **International Congress University** (*Internacia Kongresa Universitato*), a series of academic lectures; its first lectures were given in Geneva in 1925, and it has run every year since 1951.
- **Arts competitions** of the UEA (*Belartaj Konkursoj*) for poetry, prose, drama and music, with results announced at the congress.
- Meetings of the UEA's committee and of specialist associations – for doctors, teachers, railway workers, Catholics, scientists and many others.
- **A children's congress** (*Internacia Infana Kongreseto*) for the children of participants.
- Concerts, a national evening presenting the host country, an international evening, and a mid-week excursion day.

Young people have their own **International Youth Congress** (*Internacia Junulara Kongreso*, IJK), run by the youth organisation TEJO and first held in 1938.

## Firsts and records

| Record | Congress |
|---|---|
| First congress | Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, 1905 (688 participants) |
| Largest | Warsaw, Poland, 1987 – 5,946 registered participants (the Esperanto centenary) |
| Second largest | Nuremberg, Germany, 1923 – 4,963 |
| Smallest | San Francisco, USA, 1915 – 163 (held during the First World War) |
| First outside Europe | Washington, D.C., USA, 1910 |
| First in Asia | Tokyo, Japan, 1965 |
| First in South America | Brasília, Brazil, 1981 |
| First in the Caribbean | Havana, Cuba, 1990 |
| First in Oceania | Adelaide, Australia, 1997 |
| First in Africa | Arusha, Tanzania, 2024 |

Of the 108 congresses held up to 2026, 88 met in Europe. Germany and the United Kingdom have hosted the most (8 each). See [where Esperanto is spoken](https://esperantopedia.org/about/countries/) for more on the host countries.

## Which congresses were cancelled?

Three numbered congresses never took place:

- **1914, Paris (10th)** – cancelled when the First World War broke out; 3,739 people had registered, a record at the time.
- **2020, Montreal (105th)** and **2021, Belfast (106th)** – cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020 an online **Virtual Congress** with about 2,000 registered participants was held as a tribute; in 2021 the second Virtual Congress, with about 1,850, took the place of the Belfast congress. Montreal hosted the 107th congress in 2022 instead.

There were no congresses in 1916–1919 or 1940–1946 because of the world wars. In 1967 the congress planned for Tel Aviv moved to Rotterdam because of the tension that led to the Six-Day War.

## Complete list of World Esperanto Congresses

Participant numbers are the official registration figures published by the UEA. Some Wikipedia editions give slightly different numbers for a few years (for example 1909 and 1924).

| No. | Year | City | Country | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1905 | Boulogne-sur-Mer | France | 688 |
| 2 | 1906 | Geneva | Switzerland | 1,200 |
| 3 | 1907 | Cambridge | United Kingdom | 1,317 |
| 4 | 1908 | Dresden | Germany | 1,500 |
| 5 | 1909 | Barcelona | Spain | 1,500 |
| 6 | 1910 | Washington, D.C. | United States | 357 |
| 7 | 1911 | Antwerp | Belgium | 1,800 |
| 8 | 1912 | Kraków | Austria-Hungary (now Poland) | 1,000 |
| 9 | 1913 | Bern | Switzerland | 1,203 |
| 10 | 1914 | Paris | France | cancelled (war) |
| 11 | 1915 | San Francisco | United States | 163 |
| 12 | 1920 | The Hague | Netherlands | 408 |
| 13 | 1921 | Prague | Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic) | 2,561 |
| 14 | 1922 | Helsinki | Finland | 850 |
| 15 | 1923 | Nuremberg | Germany | 4,963 |
| 16 | 1924 | Vienna | Austria | 3,054 |
| 17 | 1925 | Geneva | Switzerland | 953 |
| 18 | 1926 | Edinburgh | United Kingdom | 960 |
| 19 | 1927 | Danzig | Free City of Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland) | 905 |
| 20 | 1928 | Antwerp | Belgium | 1,494 |
| 21 | 1929 | Budapest | Hungary | 1,200 |
| 22 | 1930 | Oxford | United Kingdom | 1,211 |
| 23 | 1931 | Kraków | Poland | 900 |
| 24 | 1932 | Paris | France | 1,650 |
| 25 | 1933 | Cologne | Germany | 950 |
| 26 | 1934 | Stockholm | Sweden | 2,042 |
| 27 | 1935 | Rome | Italy | 1,442 |
| 28 | 1936 | Vienna | Austria | 854 |
| 29 | 1937 | Warsaw | Poland | 1,120 |
| 30 | 1938 | London | United Kingdom | 1,602 |
| 31 | 1939 | Bern | Switzerland | 765 |
| 32 | 1947 | Bern | Switzerland | 1,370 |
| 33 | 1948 | Malmö | Sweden | 1,761 |
| 34 | 1949 | Bournemouth | United Kingdom | 1,534 |
| 35 | 1950 | Paris | France | 2,325 |
| 36 | 1951 | Munich | West Germany | 2,040 |
| 37 | 1952 | Oslo | Norway | 1,614 |
| 38 | 1953 | Zagreb | Yugoslavia (now Croatia) | 1,760 |
| 39 | 1954 | Haarlem | Netherlands | 2,353 |
| 40 | 1955 | Bologna | Italy | 1,687 |
| 41 | 1956 | Copenhagen | Denmark | 2,200 |
| 42 | 1957 | Marseille | France | 1,468 |
| 43 | 1958 | Mainz | West Germany | 2,021 |
| 44 | 1959 | Warsaw | Poland | 3,256 |
| 45 | 1960 | Brussels | Belgium | 1,930 |
| 46 | 1961 | Harrogate | United Kingdom | 1,646 |
| 47 | 1962 | Copenhagen | Denmark | 1,550 |
| 48 | 1963 | Sofia | Bulgaria | 3,472 |
| 49 | 1964 | The Hague | Netherlands | 2,512 |
| 50 | 1965 | Tokyo | Japan | 1,710 |
| 51 | 1966 | Budapest | Hungary | 3,975 |
| 52 | 1967 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | 1,265 |
| 53 | 1968 | Madrid | Spain | 1,769 |
| 54 | 1969 | Helsinki | Finland | 1,857 |
| 55 | 1970 | Vienna | Austria | 1,987 |
| 56 | 1971 | London | United Kingdom | 2,071 |
| 57 | 1972 | Portland, Oregon | United States | 923 |
| 58 | 1973 | Belgrade | Yugoslavia (now Serbia) | 1,638 |
| 59 | 1974 | Hamburg | West Germany | 1,651 |
| 60 | 1975 | Copenhagen | Denmark | 1,227 |
| 61 | 1976 | Athens | Greece | 1,266 |
| 62 | 1977 | Reykjavík | Iceland | 1,199 |
| 63 | 1978 | Varna | Bulgaria | 4,414 |
| 64 | 1979 | Lucerne | Switzerland | 1,630 |
| 65 | 1980 | Stockholm | Sweden | 1,807 |
| 66 | 1981 | Brasília | Brazil | 1,749 |
| 67 | 1982 | Antwerp | Belgium | 1,899 |
| 68 | 1983 | Budapest | Hungary | 4,834 |
| 69 | 1984 | Vancouver | Canada | 802 |
| 70 | 1985 | Augsburg | West Germany | 2,311 |
| 71 | 1986 | Beijing | China | 2,482 |
| 72 | 1987 | Warsaw | Poland | 5,946 |
| 73 | 1988 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | 2,321 |
| 74 | 1989 | Brighton | United Kingdom | 2,280 |
| 75 | 1990 | Havana | Cuba | 1,617 |
| 76 | 1991 | Bergen | Norway | 2,400 |
| 77 | 1992 | Vienna | Austria | 3,033 |
| 78 | 1993 | Valencia | Spain | 1,863 |
| 79 | 1994 | Seoul | South Korea | 1,776 |
| 80 | 1995 | Tampere | Finland | 2,443 |
| 81 | 1996 | Prague | Czech Republic | 2,972 |
| 82 | 1997 | Adelaide | Australia | 1,224 |
| 83 | 1998 | Montpellier | France | 3,133 |
| 84 | 1999 | Berlin | Germany | 2,712 |
| 85 | 2000 | Tel Aviv | Israel | 1,212 |
| 86 | 2001 | Zagreb | Croatia | 1,691 |
| 87 | 2002 | Fortaleza | Brazil | 1,484 |
| 88 | 2003 | Gothenburg | Sweden | 1,792 |
| 89 | 2004 | Beijing | China | 2,031 |
| 90 | 2005 | Vilnius | Lithuania | 2,344 |
| 91 | 2006 | Florence | Italy | 2,209 |
| 92 | 2007 | Yokohama | Japan | 1,901 |
| 93 | 2008 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | 1,845 |
| 94 | 2009 | Białystok | Poland | 1,860 |
| 95 | 2010 | Havana | Cuba | 1,002 |
| 96 | 2011 | Copenhagen | Denmark | 1,458 |
| 97 | 2012 | Hanoi | Vietnam | 866 |
| 98 | 2013 | Reykjavík | Iceland | 1,034 |
| 99 | 2014 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | 706 |
| 100 | 2015 | Lille | France | 2,698 |
| 101 | 2016 | Nitra | Slovakia | 1,253 |
| 102 | 2017 | Seoul | South Korea | 1,173 |
| 103 | 2018 | Lisbon | Portugal | 1,567 |
| 104 | 2019 | Lahti | Finland | 917 |
| 105 | 2020 | Montreal | Canada | cancelled (COVID-19), moved to 2022; online Virtual Congress as a tribute |
| 106 | 2021 | Belfast | United Kingdom | cancelled (COVID-19); replaced by the second online Virtual Congress |
| 107 | 2022 | Montreal | Canada | 859 |
| 108 | 2023 | Turin | Italy | 1,318 |
| 109 | 2024 | Arusha | Tanzania | 854 |
| 110 | 2025 | Brno | Czech Republic | 1,132 |
| 111 | 2026 | Graz | Austria | 1,138 |
| 112 | 2027 | Melbourne | Australia | planned: 3–10 July 2027 |
| 113 | 2028 | Kaunas | Lithuania | planned |

## Which congresses made history?

- **Boulogne-sur-Mer 1905** adopted the **Declaration of Boulogne**, which made the *Fundamento de Esperanto* the untouchable basis of the language, and the green flag – see the [history of Esperanto](https://esperantopedia.org/about/history/) and [flag and symbols](https://esperantopedia.org/about/flag-symbols/).
- **Prague 1921** saw the founding of SAT, the workers' Esperanto association, and was attended by a League of Nations delegate.
- **Warsaw 1987** celebrated the centenary of Esperanto in Zamenhof's city with the largest attendance ever.
- **Prague 1996** adopted the **Prague Manifesto**, a statement of the movement's seven principles.
- **Białystok 2009** met in Zamenhof's birthplace for the 150th anniversary of his birth.
- **Lille 2015** was the 100th congress.
- **Arusha 2024** was the first congress in Africa.

## When and where is the next World Esperanto Congress?

The **112th World Esperanto Congress** is planned for **Melbourne, Australia, on 3–10 July 2027** – only the second congress in Oceania after Adelaide 1997. The 113th is planned for **Kaunas, Lithuania, in 2028**; Kaunas was the birthplace of Zamenhof's wife, Klara. Check the UEA's congress pages for registration details.

## Common questions

### What is the Universala Kongreso?

It is the Esperanto name of the World Esperanto Congress, the main annual gathering of Esperanto speakers, organised by the Universal Esperanto Association.

### How many people attend the World Esperanto Congress?

Recent congresses have had about 850 to 1,300 registered participants: 854 in Arusha (2024), 1,132 in Brno (2025) and 1,138 in Graz (2026). The record is 5,946 in Warsaw in 1987.

### Where was the first World Esperanto Congress?

In Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, in August 1905, with 688 participants from about 20 countries.

### Do you need to speak Esperanto fluently to attend?

No, but the whole programme is in Esperanto, so you need at least a basic level to take part. Many participants are still learners and use the congress to practise.

### Where is the 2027 World Esperanto Congress?

In Melbourne, Australia, planned for 3–10 July 2027.

## Sources

- Universal Esperanto Association, [list of World Congresses](https://uea.org/kongresoj/listo) and [congress pages](https://uea.org/kongresoj)
- Vikipedio, [Universala Kongreso de Esperanto](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universala_Kongreso_de_Esperanto); Wikipedia, [World Esperanto Congress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Esperanto_Congress); Wikipedia (de), [Esperanto-Weltkongress](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanto-Weltkongress)
- Virtual Congress registrations: [2020](https://vk.esperanto.net/2020/aligxintoj/) and [2021](https://vk.esperanto.net/2021/aligxintoj/)
- La Ondo de Esperanto, reports on [Brno 2025](https://sezonoj.ru/2025/08/brno-34/) and [Graz 2026](https://sezonoj.ru/2026/08/graco-38/)
- Kaunas city, [113th World Esperanto Congress in Kaunas in 2028](https://kaunasin.lt/en/news/the-113th-world-esperanto-congress-will-take-place-in-kaunas-in-2028/)
- Vikipedio, [Internacia Kongresa Universitato](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internacia_Kongresa_Universitato) and [Internacia Junulara Kongreso](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internacia_Junulara_Kongreso)