IAAPA Expo Europe has finished a five-day run at Excel London on 24 September, with organiser IAAPA reporting that this edition featured its largest show floor yet.
More than 870 exhibitors filled over 22,800 sqm, up from 530 exhibitors on just over 15,800 square metres when the show was last in London back in 2022.
IAAPA (The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) says 16,530 people attended, from 18,719 registrations, including 11,710 qualified buyers from 8,956 companies in 118 countries. That’s more than last year’s Barcelona show, which had 15,877 verified attendees, but short of the 17,370 at Amsterdam in 2024. Visitors came from across the attractions business, from theme parks and water parks to zoos and museums.
Peter van der Schans, executive director and vice president for IAAPA Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa, said: “The growth we’ve seen since we were last in London four years ago speaks volumes about the strength of the attractions industry. You could feel the momentum across the show floor all week long.”
Education sessions and theme park visits
Alongside the exhibition, more than 70 education sessions featured 190 speakers, on subjects including AI, sustainability and safety.
The programme also took attendees outside Excel, with educational tours of Chessington World of Adventures Resort and Legoland Windsor Resort, plus a visit to Merlin Entertainments’ Halloween event at Thorpe Park.
The show goes back to Vienna next year, from 20-24 September 2027.
