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.
