Annual and Spring Meetings

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The Annual and Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group bring together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, private sector executives, civil society representatives, and academics to discuss the state of the global economy and issues of international concern, such as the growth outlook, financial stability, and poverty reduction.
The Meetings are described as the only gathering of their kind in the world and a unique forum for discussion on economic policymaking.
Information updated April 2025.

The Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the IMF and World Bank Group take place in October in Washington, DC.
The Annual Meetings are held every third year in a city of another member country.
The International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) and the joint IMF-World Bank Development Committee (DC) also meet annually during the Spring Meetings, which take place every April in Washington, DC.

The Board of Governors consists of a high-level representative from each of the 191 member countries, typically the finance minister, central bank governor, or minister of development.
During the Meetings, the Governors participate in a plenary session, discuss challenges for the global economy, and decide on major policy issues related to the future work of the two organizations; those decisions are subsequently implemented by their respective Executive Boards.
The IMFC has 25 members drawn from the Board of Governors and oversees the work of the IMF, focusing discussions on the global economy, developments in financial markets, and other pressing issues within the IMF’s mandate.
The DC advises the Board of Governors of the World Bank on critical development issues and financial resources required to promote economic development and poverty reduction in developing countries.
At the conclusion of the IMFC and DC meetings, the IMFC and DC release statements that provide guidance to the Executive Boards of the two institutions.

Over 10,000 people have traditionally attended the Annual and Spring Meetings in person, with this number continuing to expand as the Meetings are held in a hybrid format.
Participants include governors and their alternates, members of delegations, observers from other intergovernmental organizations (such as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organization (WTO)), representatives from financial institutions and bodies (such as the Financial Stability Board (FSB)), journalists, academics, and representatives of civil society organizations.
Governors and country officials hold bilateral meetings with the staff and management of the IMF and World Bank during Annual and Spring Meetings.

Country group meetings: Various country groups, such as the Group of Twenty (G-20), the Group of Twenty-Four (G-24), and the Commonwealth, hold ministerial-level meetings ahead of or during the Annual and Spring Meetings.
Press Conferences: The Managing Director of the IMF and the President of the World Bank, as well as senior officials, hold press conferences on global and regional economic outlooks and other topical issues.
High-Level Seminars and Talks: The Program of Seminars is a premier global forum where leaders in policymaking, academia, civil society, private sector, and media engage in public dialogue on pressing global economic and financial issues. Expert in-depth discussions take place in established talk series, such as the New Economy Forum, Analytical Corner, Capacity Development Talks, and Governor Talks.
Civil Society Forum: A Civil Society Policy Forum is held during the Annual and Spring Meetings, including policy dialogue sessions that bring together civil society representatives with Fund and Bank staff, government officials, and others to discuss issues of concern.

IMFC and DC statements issued at the conclusion of their meetings provide guidance to the Executive Boards of the IMF and World Bank, which then implement the decisions and directions agreed by the Governors.