International Convention

Taking place once every five years, the A.A. International Convention marks the anniversary of Bill W.’s first meeting with Dr. Bob and the birth of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935. A.A. members and their families and friends from around the globe attend the event. At the International Convention people attend meetings, workshops, dances and events. A highlight is the traditional flag ceremony to celebrate sobriety worldwide.

Make plans to attend the 2025 A.A. International Convention scheduled in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Vancouver will welcome A.A. members from around the world for the 2025 International Convention. This will mark the 90th anniversary of the beginning of our Fellowship's founding. The International Convention will take place from July 3 - 6, 2025, at the Vancouver Convention Centre and BC Place Stadium.

As the Convention approaches, we will update our website with registration information. Let's celebrate sobriety together in Vancouver in 2025!

 

Experience Vancouver

Experience Vancouver

FAQ

Concerned about travel barriers to Canada or Want to know the theme of the Convention? Check out our FAQs.

History of A.A. International Conventions

International Conventions, steadily growing in size, have been held since 1950. That year, 3,000 A.A. members, including Bill W. and Dr. Bob., gathered in Cleveland, Ohio.

Attendance at Conventions has grown steadily since.  Most recently, in 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia, an estimated 57,000 A.A. members attended. The convention had 5,000 volunteers - some local, others from distant states and countries.

As usually happens at A.A.’s International Conventions, attendees virtually took over the city, filling hotels and crowding the coffee shops. A.A. members enjoyed many activities - live music, dances, hospitality rooms, and more than 250 meetings, which were held in more than 10 languages, including ASL (American Sign Language). 

As soon as I walked into the registration hall, I knew this weekend would be like no other in A.A. Everywhere people were smiling, laughing and hugging one another. Excitement filled the air. Until that day, I hadn’t realized just how big A.A. really is."
— A.S., Middletown, PA Grapevine, December 2016
Past Conventions
Date Location Themes
July 28-30 , 1950 Cleveland, Ohio 15th Anniversary
July 1-3, 1955 St. Louis, Missouri 20th Anniversary
July 1-3, 1960 Long Beach, CA Recovery, Unity, Service
July 2-4, 1965 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Responsibility
July 3-5, 1970 Miami, Florida Unity
July 4-6, 1975 Denver, Colorado Let It Begin With Me
July 3-6, 1980 New Orleans, Louisiana The Joy of Living
July 4-7, 1985 Montreal, Quebec, Canada Fifty Years With Gratitude
July 5-8, 1990 Seattle, Washington 55 Years - One Day At A Time
June 29-July2, 1995 San Diego, California A.A. Everywhere - Anywhere
June 29-July 2, 2000 Minneapolis, Minnesota Pass It On - Into the 21st Century
June 30-July 3, 2005 Toronto, Ontario, Canada I Am Responsible
July 1-4, 2010 San Antonio, Texas A Vision For You
July 2-5, 2015 Atlanta, Georgia 80 Years - Happy Joyous and Free
July 2-5, 2020 *Detroit, Michigan Love and Tolerance is Our Code

* Unfortunately, the 2020 International Convention in Detroit, Michigan, had to be canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic. An online International Convention Experience was hosted on aa.org instead.

 

2025 International Convention Vancouver

2025 International Convention Vancouver