ICC Wales has signalled its intention to attract more business from international associations, with the announcement of a new partnership with industry body IAPCO. Under the new agreement, the venue will work with the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) as a designated Convention Centre Partner for 2026. The partnership aligns the £83.7 million venue with a global accreditation body whose 97 member organisations delivered a combined 21,322 events in 2024, generating an estimated economic impact of over €17.8 billion (£15.3b).

If you went to Event Tech Live last November and missed out on some of the sessions, you can now catch up and watch them on-demand.

The new 2026 Trends Report from asembl. identifies four trends, Connected Communities, Neurodivergent Marketing, AI Personalisation and Positively Playful.

Grassroots venues are to be the major beneficiaries of the first distribution by the LIVE Trust, while independent festivals are allocated £50,000. Launched in January last year, the LIVE Trust was pledged £500,000 within the first three months, with funds generated from a voluntary ticket levy of £1 per ticket sold for shows at venues with a capacity of more than 5,000. LIVE said that following the first distribution of £500,000, it will issue further funding rounds throughout this year.

Wyboston Lakes Resort in Bedfordshire has been recognised by WorkL as one of the World’s Happiest Workplaces in 2026

Elevate, the world’s largest free personal development community for event industry professionals, marked its 10th anniversary recently. Mentors and mentees, old and new, came together to celebrate a decade of impact. Elevate is free to join and has been designed with one goal in mind: to inspire, inform, and empower people across the sector.

Industry body UKHospitality has urged the government to implement a sector-wide reduction in business rates, following reports today that the Treasury is preparing to soften its planned tax hikes for pubs.

Acquisition aims to diversify client portfolio across fashion, beauty and technology sectors.

EventWell has introduced a new Quiet Room Safety & Supervision Standard (QSSS) in response to growing concerns about how quiet rooms are being implemented across the UK events industry.

Event tech platform Eventbrite is to be acquired by Milan-based tech company Bending Spoons. The transaction is valued at approximately €430 million and adds to Bending Spoons’ expanding portfolio, which includes Evernote, WeTransfer, Vimeo, and Meetup.

Identity has revealed its new strategic direction and brand identity, completing its transformation into a single, unified global experience agency following its integration with Smyle.

beam, the trade association for the business events, accommodation, and meetings sector, has announced the finalists for its inaugural 2026 beam Awards, recognising exceptional leadership, innovation, and collaboration across the industry.

93% of disabled delegates continue to encounter barriers when attending events, according to landmark research by The Business of Events (TBOE) and ICC Wales, supported by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Events.

First Sight Media has made two new appointments to their team, Tyrone Herbst as senior video editor and Noel Hoey as client engagement manager.

The National Shooting Show has announced a major new initiative designed to support the industry during challenging times. The show’s organiser, Stable Events, has launched StablePay, a pay delay scheme allowing stands to be booked with a £200 admin fee.

Joe Harris, the deputy general manager at 15Hatfields, shares his top 5 tips for making confident and informed venue choices from afar.