Photo Credit: Courtesy of IMEX
IMEX Frankfurt, the global meetings
show that will take place May 19-21, 2026, at Messe Frankfurt in Germany, is on track to welcome an estimated 4,000 hosted buyers. The show will also include exhibitors representing over 100 countries. The numbers closely mirror those of the show’s 2025
edition, despite current global unrest.
While the Iran war has disrupted travel to the Middle East,
destinations including Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Oman, Qatar and Ras Al-Khaimah have
confirmed their participation as exhibitors at the show, which IMEX CEO Carina Bauer attributes to their "determination and resilience." Event organizers from
the region also will be represented among the hosted buyers from more than 60
countries.
"Despite the global disruption that's impacting many, global
pressures haven’t dented appetite for our community to come together and
advance the conversations that matter, using IMEX as a springboard for both
short and long-term business and relationship building," noted Bauer.
Exhibitor expansion
In other exhibitor news, Africa will have one of its
largest-ever representations at IMEX, with Mozambique and Angola participating
for the first time.
A number of destinations have increased the size of their
stands. Among them are Japan, Malaysia, Egypt and Mexico.
And, for the first time, California will have its own stand; the
Golden State previously attended IMEX Frankfurt as part of the Brand USA coalition
of U.S. destinations.
"With worldwide suppliers turning out in force and
international buyer registration numbers tracking ahead of previous years,
current demand for the show sends a clear signal: Our industry is defined by
collective determination, solid business momentum and a sense of unity," said Bauer.
New education tracks
This year’s IMEX Frankfurt will feature 11 education
tracks, including four new offerings:
- Designing for human needs, which looks at unlocking
human potential by creating environments where everyone can thrive. With 15–20
percent of the global population estimated to be neurodivergent, inclusive design will be one of the topics explored. A stage director will offer experience-design
tips, using theatrical principles to map the emotional arc of an event and a
session will introduce a 'joy meter' that measures data and emotional
uplift.
- Design matters is based
on the new IMEX Talking Point. Sessions will include show-and-tell tours around
the exhibition floor, and participants will discover tangible examples of how
thoughtful design helps organizations, brands and events stand out and stay
memorable.
- Regenerative design will focus on sustainability reporting
that is now compulsory for many European organizations. Practitioners will
share the highs and the lows of their sustainability strategies and unpack
real-world examples of circular design in action.
- Tech-enabled futures
will build on the strong demand for tech and AI learning at IMEX 2025; this
track will go beyond the hype to focus on practical tools, skills and
applications that deliver genuine results. Industry experts will demonstrate
how planners can make smart use of their existing ecosystem, consolidate their
tech stack and identify overlapping tools.
"The world keeps shifting — AI tools and mindsets are reshaping workflows,
sustainability requirements are hardening into policy, and attendees are
arriving with expectations that didn't exist five, or even three years ago," said Tahira Endean, IMEX head of programming. "This year's program is a direct
response to those realities. Not around where the industry has been, but where
it is right now, and where it's all heading."
A full list of IMEX Frankfurt’s
offerings can be found here.