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GERMANY – IMEX FRANKFURT 2026: BUSINESS GROWS, BUT THE VALUE OF THE MEETING REMAINS AT THE CENTER
Over 13,000 attendees, more than 4,500 buyers, and approximately 73,000 scheduled appointments. These are some of the numbers that marked the conclusion of the 2026 edition of IMEX Frankfurt, which brought together meeting industry professionals from all over the world at Messe Frankfurt from May 19 to 21.
Beyond the sheer scale achieved by the event—which this year hosted nearly 3,000 exhibitors, including destinations, venues, agencies, and service providers—the 2026 edition consistently confirmed a long-standing trend across the sector: the centrality of face-to-face meetings as a tool for relationship building and business development.
This is further demonstrated by the volume of meetings organized during the exhibition. Throughout the three-day trade show, around 73,000 pre-scheduled meetings took place, over 63,000 of which were one-to-one appointments, testifying to a demand that continues to reward opportunities for direct contact between buyers and suppliers.
Among the examples cited by exhibitors were the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, which announced the acquisition of several international events planned for the coming years, and Mozambique, presenting at IMEX for the first time with the goal of positioning itself within the international events and incentives market.
The event also dedicated significant space to the economic impact of events. In the Place Leaders Forum, which brought together representatives from over 60 destinations alongside public decision-makers and industry stakeholders, discussions focused on the role of events as a lever for territorial development and investment attraction, moving well beyond just the tourism dimension.
This theme fits into a highly relevant economic context. According to the 2026 Global Economic Significance of Business Events Study by the Events Industry Council, the business events sector currently generates an impact equal to 1.8 trillion dollars in GDP globally.
Discussions regarding artificial intelligence were also prominent, a recurring topic in many sessions throughout the event. Yet, precisely as attention toward new technologies grows, another clear signal emerges from Frankfurt: for many professionals, the distinctive value of events continues to reside in personal relationships, trust building, and the unique opportunities born when people come together.