Will the Global Exhibitions Boom Continue into 2026 and Beyond?
Recent half-year results from Informa have once again put the global exhibitions industry firmly in the spotlight. With 20%+ growth across revenues, operating profit, earnings per share and free cash flow, and more than £2bn in first-half revenues for the first time, the question many exhibitors and suppliers are now asking is simple:
Is this momentum sustainable into 2026 and beyond?
From our perspective at Access Displays, the answer is less about short-term financial headlines and more about the long-term role that live, international B2B events play in how businesses grow.
What Informa’s Results Really Tell Us
The numbers themselves are impressive. Upgraded full-year guidance, operating margins approaching 30%, and over £3bn of already committed 2025 revenue (with more than £0.5bn booked into 2026) point to strong forward visibility. But beyond the balance sheet strength and shareholder returns, several deeper themes stand out.
- Live B2B Events Are Proving Their Value
Informa’s Live B2B Events division delivered 8.5% underlying revenue growth in the first half of 2025. This isn’t growth driven by novelty or recovery alone — it reflects sustained demand for category-leading events that offer real access to global supply chains, specialist content and face-to-face decision-makers.
For exhibitors, that reinforces a truth we see every day: digital tools support marketing, but live exhibitions accelerate trust, shorten sales cycles and open international doors in a way few other channels can.
Global Expansion Is Driving the Next Phase of Growth
Informa’s continued investment in high-growth regions — including India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East — signals where the next wave of exhibition-led opportunity lies. The launch of Money20/20 Middle East in Riyadh and deeper collaboration in the UAE highlight how international events are following economic and sectoral growth.
For exhibitors, this means:
- More opportunities to meet buyers in emerging markets
- Greater competition for attention on a global stage
- A growing need for consistent, high-quality exhibition presentation across multiple regions
This is where planning, modularity and brand consistency in exhibition stands become strategic assets, not just design choices.
Technology Supports Exhibiting — It Doesn’t Replace It
The deployment of Informa’s proprietary AI agent, Elysia, is another indicator of where the industry is heading. Technology is being used to enhance matchmaking, content relevance and customer insight — not to replace live interaction.
The most successful exhibitors we work with increasingly combine:
- Data-driven pre-show targeting
- Well-designed, adaptable physical stands
- Post-show follow-up strategies that extend the value of live engagement
The physical environment remains the anchor point.
So, Will Growth Continue into 2026 and Beyond?
All signs suggest that yes — but selectively.
Growth is likely to continue where events:
- Serve clearly defined industries
- Offer international reach and authority
- Deliver measurable commercial outcomes for exhibitors
What may change is expectations. As flagship organisers like Informa raise the bar, exhibitors will need to be more intentional about how they show up. A stand is no longer just a space — it’s a brand statement on a global platform.
What This Means for Exhibitors (and Their Suppliers)
At Access Displays, we see our role as more than a stand supplier. In a market shaped by global expansion, rising visitor expectations and tighter competition, exhibitors need partners who understand:
- International exhibition standards
- The pressures of exhibiting across multiple territories
- How stand design, logistics and reuse strategies support long-term ROI
The continued success of global organisers reinforces one thing: exhibiting remains one of the most powerful tools for international growth — when done well.
As we look toward 2026 and beyond, the opportunity is clear. The challenge is making sure every appearance on the global stage truly counts.
