Global business events generated more than $1.3 trillion in direct spending in 2025, as they brought together around 1.65 billion participants. These are the topline figures from the newly published ‘2026 Global economic significance of business events study’, commissioned by the Events Industry Council (EIC), in association with Oxford Economics.

The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Hospitality and Tourism is launching an inquiry into plans for a so-called ‘tourism tax’, and it is seeking responses directly from industry. This comes after last week’s confirmation that mayoral authorities will be granted powers to introduce the levy.

Experiential agency Brandfuel has launched a new internship programme, with four 12-month paid placements across roles from creative and production to business management. The scheme is designed to facilitate entry into the events and creative industries.

For a brief moment during the pandemic, Dan Bardgett saw something that didn’t quite make sense. The trade shows his agency XSEM delivered had gone fully virtual – a forced pivot at the time, and one met with the usual scepticism about whether digital could ever replicate the live experience. But when the results came in, the data told a different story.

The events industry has long argued for its place at the top table. It talks about impact, engagement and ROI. It points to packed rooms, standing ovations and post-event buzz as proof of success. But according to DRPG founder and CEO Dale Parmenter, the problem isn’t visibility – it’s language.

Creative communications agency, Brands at Work, has today completed its acquisition of Chorus, the boutique experiences agency, in a bid to strengthen its experiential marketing, creative communications and brand engagement offerings.

Alastair Winsey is the founder of Silchester Farm and CEO of AIVA Revolution. In his new guest article, he asks an important question, if prices can’t keep rising, how do we protect margins?

According to a new survey from MIA, around 73% of UK event professionals are currently being impacted by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Four months on from the UK Government’s wide scale plans to end ticket touting and protect consumers, many grey areas still remain. Katrina Anderson, the Principal Associate at national law firm Mills & Reeve, discusses the issues involved.

Event Industry News (EIN), the leading online publication for the global events sector, is proud to announce an exciting new collaboration with the UK Wedding Association (UKWA), marking a significant step forward in supporting and celebrating the business of weddings across the UK. The partnership follows the recent launch of EIN’s dedicated wedding news section, a new editorial hub focused on the professionals, venues, and businesses shaping the wedding industry. Designed to spotlight innovation, expertise, and commercial success, the section provides a much-needed platform for the business side of weddings – an area often overlooked in traditional wedding media. Through this collaboration, EIN and UKWA will work closely to champion outstanding wedding professionals and venues, providing them with enhanced visibility, recognition, and opportunities for growth.

In preparation for its inaugural show in September, CHS Manchester has announced the formation of a new advisory board which will bring together some of the most influential and well-connected people from across the UK events industry to ensure the show continues to evolve, reflect the industry, and spread its positive influence across the UK events community.

What do you do when your business lays in ashes after an office fire? Richard Belcher shares how he rebuilt First Sight Media and how it prepared him for COVID-19 lockdowns.

New data collected at a networking event hosted at Storyboard at Shepperton reveals a decisive shift in how events will be planned and delivered in 2026.

Ginger Owl Productions has released a whitepaper to help organisers prepare for Martyn’s Law, entitled ‘Accreditation Systems and Martyn’s Law: Practical Considerations for the UK Events Sector’.

Should Europe’s EES be paused during peak travel season to avoid long queues and very frustrated travellers?

The Live Recruitment Diversity Report 2026 has provided a second year of insight into representation, pay, and progression across the UK events industry. Drawing on data from over 48,000 professionals within Live Recruitment’s network, the findings highlight both encouraging signs of representation and clear areas where inequality remains.