Representatives from UFI member companies worldwide attended the opening of the association’s General Assembly in the Kingdom of Bahrain, 2 November, where they reviewed UFI’s activities from 2026 and shared priorities for 2027.

Chaired by incoming UFI president Wolfram Diener, the meeting took place ahead of the 93rd UFI Global Congress, which is being hosted by Exhibition World Bahrain and the Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority, 2-5 November 2026.

Chris Skeith OBE, UFI CEO and managing director, summarised the year by saying: “The exhibition industry has navigated a complex and rapidly changing environment in 2026. What has stood out, time and again, is the power of our community to face uncertainty together. UFI exists to strengthen that community, and this year has reaffirmed why that mission matters more than ever. Strength Through Unity is not just a theme for this report. It is what defines us as an industry.”

Panittha Buri, UFI president, added: “This year, UFI turns 101. An association with such a long history needs strong foundations to serve the generations ahead. Part of that work happens behind the scenes: connected systems, clear processes and one central, reliable source of information that our team can work from confidently. 

“Our strength lies in our willingness to help one another – sharing experience, opening doors and making introductions. Inclusion becomes meaningful when members feel that they belong and can see the practical value of being part of this community.”

UFI events and communities

UFI’s events have remained at the heart of its member proposition.

UFI began 2026 with the Global CEO Summit in Vienna in January, before heading to Bangkok for the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference in March. June saw the biggest-ever UFI European Conference in İzmir, Türkiye, incorporating the UFI Event Directors Summit.

The 93rd UFI Global Congress in Bahrain will be followed by UFI’s first Central & South American Regional Conference and Event Directors Summit in Brazil, and the Africa Exhibition Forum, both taking place before the end of the year.

Advocacy

Advocacy remained a core pillar of UFI’s activity in 2026, supporting member associations across all regions through a wide range of initiatives.

UFI conducted delegation visits to Indonesia, Korea, and Bahrain, meeting with government ministers and highlighting the value of the exhibition sector. The 11th Global Exhibitions Day was celebrated in June, and it continued to grow in scale, reach, and engagement.

At a regional level, UFI is an active contributor to policy initiatives through the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) in North America and the European Events and Exhibition Industry Alliance (EEEIA) in Europe. Globally, UFI holds a Board seat on the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) and chairs ISO TC354 for Events, working to help drive global initiatives and standards for the sector.

Sustainability

UFI’s various Working Groups and task forces have continued to contribute to the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative, which welcomed a new project director, Joanna Fuhlendorf. The Better Stands initiative won the 2026 UFI Sustainable Development Award.

UFI Awards

The UFI Awards continue to recognise innovation and best practice across the exhibition industry, covering areas such as Digital Innovation, People & Culture, Industry Partners, and Sustainable Development, driven by the relevant UFI Working Groups. Winners were announced in June and will be featured during the Insight Series at the 93rd UFI Global Congress and a newly developed webinar programme at the end of the year.

Research

UFI has updated the Global Exhibition Industry Statistics Report and World Map of Venues, and participation in the bi-annual Global Exhibition Barometer continues to grow, with two editions published during the year.

UFI also developed country-level economic impact studies and updated the Oxford Economics Global Economic Impact Report, based on 2024 activity, which estimates that exhibitions generate approximately €368bn in total output, €215bn in GDP, and support approximately 4.3m jobs worldwide.

Learning

UFI continues to review and develop its learning portfolio in response to changing member needs, now known as Learning. Activity remains focused on providing practical, learning opportunities for professionals at different stages of their careers.

The Exhibition Essentials Course is broadening its reach, as is the Event Directors Summit, which geo-adapts into Central & South America this year. Previous delegates now have access to a 365 engagement platform extending beyond a single face-to-face event.

The UFI Next Generation Leadership Grants continue to give emerging professionals an opportunity to collaborate on a shared project. Previous winners now form the Next Generation Leadership Network, engaging throughout the year through bespoke webinars, contributing to the topic-setting and judging process for future NGL cohorts, and supporting other UFI initiatives such as UFI’s 5 Trends.

Outlook for the year ahead

2026 has seen UFI welcome a new Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Chapter chairs.

First on the UFI event roster for 2027 is the Global CEO Summit, scheduled to take place in Madrid, Spain, 27-29 January. The 2027 Asia-Pacific Conference will take place in Bali, Indonesia, hosted by IECA, the Indonesian Exhibition and Convention Association, 18-19 March.

Next, the 2027 UFI European Conference will be held in Rimini, Italy, 2-4 June, hosted by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG). To finish the year, the 94th UFI Global Congress will take place in Guadalajara, Mexico, 2-5 November, hosted by the Guadalajara Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Wolfram Diener (CEO, Messe Düsseldorf) will begin his UFI presidency at the end of the 93rd Global Congress. For the 2026-27 term, he will join UFI’s Presidential Trio with incoming president Said Al Shanfari (CEO, Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre) and outgoing president Panittha Buri (vice chairperson, BHIRAJ BURI GROUP). This also marks the end of Hugh Jones’s (CEO, RX) term in the Presidential Trio, and UFI extends its thanks to him for his commitment and support during the past three years.