AIPS Media

An unprecedented number, 113 countries, having registered and obtained their visas, have confirmed their participation in the 88th AIPS Congress, which is set to open a new chapter in the history of the association at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.

This will be the third time Switzerland is hosting the AIPS Congress after 1954 and 2019. And interestingly, this year marks 20 years since the AIPS headquarters moved to Lausanne, the Olympic Capital.

ELECTION Amid a Congress schedule that offers a unique and compelling twist, the association will usher in a new Executive Committee for the 2026-2030 term on 12 April. The outgoing EC will have their last meeting on 9 April.

PROGRAMME During the five-day event, the Congress delegates will visit the headquarters of five sports federations across three cities: FIFA in Zurich, UEFA in Nyon and IOC, FIVB and World Gymnastics in Lausanne. “We have created something new,” said AIPS President Gianni Merlo. “Usually the federations come to our Congress to give presentations, but this time we are going to the home of these federations to see how they operate. I think it will be a unique and interesting experience for the journalists.”

AWARDS The winners of the 8th edition of the AIPS Sport Media Awards will be celebrated on Friday, 10 April at the Olympic Museum.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND CONTENT CREATORS Other highlights on the programme include a presentation by FIBA and a panel discussion on Artificial Intelligence and content creators.

88th AIPS Congress Programme

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Morning Arrival of AIPS Executive Committee Members in Zurich 
All day Arrival of the delegates in Zurich 
3:00 pm AIPS Executive Committee Meeting at FIFA Headquarters

Friday, April 10, 2026

8:30 am Departure from Mövenpick Hotel Airport to FIFA Headquarters by bus
9:00 am FIFA talks and football match
12:00 pm Lunch
2:00 pm Departure from FIFA Headquarters to Lausanne by bus
6:45 pm Bus departs from Alpha Palmiers Hotel to Olympic Museum
7:30 pm Cocktail Party at Olympic Museum
8:30 pm AIPS Sport Media Awards 2025 Ceremony at Olympia Room of the Olympic Museum

Saturday, April 11, 2026

8:00 am Continental Meetings at the Alpha Palmiers Hotel
12:00 pm Departure for UEFA Headquarters by bus
1.00 pm Lunch at UEFA
2:30 pm UEFA talks and football match
6:30 pm Return to the hotel
Free night

Sunday, April 12, 2026

8:30 am Bus leaves to the Olympic Museum
9:00 am Congress at Olympia Room of the Olympic Museum: Panels and presentations
9:15 am FIBA presentation by Gustavo Arellano, Head of Commercial Development
9:30 am Michael Payne presents his book “Fast Tracks and Dark Deals”
9:45 am Panel on content creators and Artificial Intelligence
11:00 am Coffee break
11:30 am Congress
1:00 pm Light lunch at the Olympic Museum
2:30 pm Elections at the Auditorium at the first floor of the Olympic Museum

Monday, April 13, 2026

9:00 am Visit to International Olympic Committee, World Gymnastics and International Volleyball Federation (Group rotation: the delegates will be divided into groups to move between the different headquarters by bus and by the end of the day all delegates Ould have visited the three headquarters)

Tuesday, April 14 2026
All day Departure

Please note that this programme is subject to minor changes in the coming days.