World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) 2026 – Call for bids

The Global Alliance board of directors invites all Global Alliance Members to make a bid for the site of World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) 2026 – 13th Edition.

The Global Alliance’s signature program, virtually from the organisation’s inception, has been its biennial assembly of public relations and communication professionals from around the world who meet to examine major issues affecting the profession and affected by the profession.

The Guide for Potential bidders WPRF 2026 can be found below:

The World Public Relations Forum (WPRF)

The World Public Relations Forum has become a unique opportunity to gather professionals with academics and students from across the world, to produce important outcomes for the advancement of the profession and share best practices.

The World Public Relations Forum helps achieve all four of the Global Alliance’s strategic priorities:

• Sharing knowledge – through “big picture” thought leadership from leaders of the profession;

• Raising standards – by facilitating small-group dialogue that enables the exchange of ideas and best practices in public relations education, credentialing, and practice;

• Strengthening associations of public relations professionals by sharing best practices in association management and services for practitioners; and

• Advocacy for the profession – by making a case for the value of public relations and commanding attention beyond the industry itself.

The World Public Relations Forum has been held:

• 1st World Public Relations Forum, Rome, Italy, 2001

• 2nd World Public Relations Forum, Trieste, Italy, 2004

• 3rd World Public Relations Forum, Brasilia, Brazil, 2006

• 4th World Public Relations Forum, Cape Town, South Africa, 2007

• 5th World Public Relations Forum, London, United Kingdom, 2008

• 6th World Public Relations Forum, Stockholm Sweden, 2010

• 7th World Public Relations Forum, Melbourne, Australia, 2012

• 8th World Public Relations Forum, Madrid, Spain, 2014

• 9th World Public Relations Forum, Toronto, Canada, 2016

• 10th World Public Relations Forum, Oslo, Norway, 2018

• 11th World Public Relations Forum, Chennai, India, 2023

• 12th World Public Relations Forum, Bali, Indonesia, 2024

The Structure of the WPRF

This flagship event combines the Global Alliance’s meeting (in conjunction with a 1-day workshop for association leaders, 1-day workshop for universities and 2-day of Global Alliance board meeting) with a full 3-day Forum (1-day of Research Colloquium and 2-day of Business Program) hosted by a member organisation. The Global Alliance and the host organisation work in close partnership.

The Global Alliance provides:

• its guidance in developing the content for the Forum;

• the prestigious World Public Relations Forum brand, built on twelve previous WPRF events;

• its network of member associations on every continent; and

• its own expertise.

The host organisation provides:

• the venue for the Forum, the association leaders and the universities workshops and the Global Alliance board meeting;

• the organization of the WPRF; and

• the financing of the whole event, with a view to generating a target profit to help fund the vital programs of both the Global Alliance and the host organisation.

Criteria for Site Selection for the WPRF

1. Cost: The host organisation has to work within budget to guarantee the required income, and if possible generate income to help fund the Global Alliance’s international programs.

2. Capability: The organizing committee must demonstrate the capabilities to design, manage and market a world-class event for the global public relations community.

3. Convenience: The site location must provide ease of travel in and out of city: airfares, convenience, and cost.

4. Destination: Desirability of host city /country as a destination for business or cultural tourism.

5. Geography: The event should rotate to key markets in which public relations is practiced around the world.

6. Venue: The venue must offer guests a high-quality experience with sufficient meeting facilities to accommodate the full event program without leaving hotel. Provide sleeping rooms for all attendees.

The Process

1. The board is inviting presentations from any interested parties at the Global Alliance board meeting.

2. Proposals may be submitted by December 31, 2024. Here are the requirements for a proposal:

a. Overview of proposed location: Profiles of host country, host PR organisation, host city, host venue.

b. Governance structure: Names of conference committee, with their titles, roles/accountabilities and a brief profile of each member’s experience in developing and managing events and activities for public relations professionals.

c. Program: What is your vision for the WPRF? This is an opportunity to outline initial themes, potential speaker commitments and top-line ideas (content or process) for the program. We would also welcome your thoughts on the process to engage and involve Global Alliance members in both program development and program delivery.

d. Financial commitment: There would be an initial payment of a commitment fee of EUR 10,000 to support Global Alliance activities, plus a 50% share in any profit generated by the event. This ensures fair value for the use of the WPRF brand and Global Alliance endorsement, and also provides critical support to the Global Alliance’s international programs to raise standards, share knowledge, strengthen PR industry associations and advocate for the global public relations profession.

e. Business plan & budget, including your assessment of any confirmed or potential sponsors.

f. Marketing plan to build awareness and attract delegates from the global public relations community.

3. The full Global Alliance board will evaluate yours and any other bid(s) based on the six criteria noted above.

4. An evaluation and due diligence process would take place, with a final decision expected by March 2025.

5. Please send in your bids to the Global Alliance CAO – Chief Administrative Officer Mateus Furlanetto: cao@globalalliancepr.org , by December 31, 2024 at 17:00 GMT. Candidates will be invited to present to the full board.

6. Contract negotiations will be finalized by March 2025. The Global Alliance and the host organisation will then start working on an action plan, agreeing clear milestones for the organisation of the event, the dates of the event and the date of the public announcement.

The bids should be received by the Global Alliance Secretariat no later than December 31, 2024 at 17:00 GMT. All bidders will be requested to present their offers at the Global Alliance board meeting.

If you need further information, please send an e-mail to Global Alliance CAO – Mateus Furlanetto: cao@globalalliancepr.org .