Integrated event industry group, GL events has announced its 2026 Q3 revenue figures and they show a 44.3% rise to €415.9m. The nine-month revenue figure for 2026 comes in at €1.4bn (+19.4%).
The international operations’ share of the group’s nine-month revenue was 55%, up from 52% one year earlier.
Olivier Ginon, chairman-CEO GL events group, said: “GL events confirmed its positive momentum in the third quarter and the strength of its business model, bolstered by strong growth in the Live and Venues divisions and a portfolio of major international events. Our successful work on the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, a particularly full events calendar at Stade de France, the quality of our services for Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France and the vitality of our international operations provide concrete illustrations of our organisational capabilities and the dedication of our teams. As a result, despite a challenging global environment, we approach the end of the period with determination and confidence and, with a clearer outlook for the full year, are raising our annual guidance today.”
Diving into the group’s divisional performances, GL events Live generated revenue of €246.2m in Q3 2026, bringing revenue for the first nine months to €790.6m, up 25.1% from the corresponding period of 2025.
The largest contribution to the division’s performance during the period came from its work on the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The division also provided services for major international events, including the Esports World Cup (EWC), the 46th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government in Durban and COP17 on Desertification in Mongolia. In Europe, GL events Live contributed to high-profile events including the Cannes Yachting Festival and Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France.
GL events Exhibitions generated revenue of €33m in Q3 2026, bringing nine-month revenue to €156.8m, down 19.3% from the corresponding period of 2025. This decline, the group attributed to an unfavourable biennial event cycle and persistent difficulties in the Chinese market, particularly in the construction, renovation and fashion exhibition segments.
Adjusted for biennial event cycle effects, nine-month revenue increased by 12.8%. In France, major trade events such as Première Vision Paris in September, CFIA Toulouse and SEPEM Toulouse, together with medical congresses on elbow and shoulder surgery, visceral and digestive surgery, and Sjögren’s syndrome, contributed to the division’s activity.
Internationally, the Exhibitions division organised Estetika and ExpoPostos in Brazil, Expo Café in Chile, Tranoï in Tokyo and a July edition of Première Vision in New York.
GL events Venues division generated revenue of €136.7m in Q3 2026, bringing nine-month revenue to €434.8m, up 23.9% on the corresponding period of 2025.
In France, GL events Venues benefited from an extensive programme of events at Stade de France, including major concerts drawing large audiences by The Weeknd, BTS, System of a Down, PLK and Jay-Z. International fairs also made a positive contribution, with successful events in Marseille, Metz, Caen, Saint-Étienne and Strasbourg, as well as the Rose Festival in Toulouse.
Internationally, the division reported strong activity in Japan, Chile, Brazil (Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo) and Hungary.
The Group has also begun discussions on the potential sale of the Rio de Janeiro Arena after receiving an expression of interest. As announced on 2 October 2026, GL events was awarded the contract to manage and operate the Lima Convention Center in Peru.
