Exhibitions + Congress
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Sector at a Glance
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Contributes circa £11 billion to the UK economy.
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Supporting an estimated 180,000 businesses.
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1100 UK exhibitions attracting circa 9 million visitors per year.
Sector Overview

Exhibitions + Congress

Trade exhibitions are aimed primarily at those working within a particular trade sector and its peripherals. Visitors to trade exhibitions are usually required to establish their trade credentials and buying power.

Trade exhibitions are quite diverse within their industry sector, with B2B services and equipment as the core focus, often in the IT/Telco sectors, alongside more specialist congress events which primarily support the healthcare and pharmaceuticals sectors.

Consumer shows (also referred to as public) are primarily organized to attract the consumer or general public and usually charge for admission. These are strongly orientated to the leisure, lifestyle, wedding and homeware sectors.

The business events sector contributes circa £11 billion to the UK economy. Trade and consumer exhibitions support an estimated 180,000 businesses. The main UK exhibition venues host 1100+ p.a. attracting circa 9 million visitors. Venues, organisers and suppliers including AV, exhibition design and construction companies all work together to deliver exhibitions.

Exhibitions + Congress Sector Industry Events Calendar
April 26
29-30
ABPCO Festival of Learning – Connect, Collaborate and Learn
The Festival of Learning brings the association events community together, creating a space to connect, collaborate, and challenge. It provides valuable opportunities for sharing knowledge, exploring new ideas, and strengthening relationships across the industry. Building on the success of last year’s record-breaking event, the 2026 Festival promises to be bigger and better than ever.
ABPCO LOGO 924kb Heather Lishman scaled
July 26
7-9
AEME Forum 2026
The #AEME2026 overarching theme is ‘Events for a Changing World: Responsibility, Equity, and Impact’ which will explore events as sites of responsibility and contestation, as well as spaces for imagination and meaningful impact. In particular, the Forum welcomes work that critically engages with events education, its pedagogies, curricula, institutional contexts, and partnerships as a key lever for shaping ethical practice, inclusive futures, and socially responsive event professionals in an uncertain world.
AEME Blue Logo1 Adrian Bossey 1
September 26
3
AEO CONFERENCE 2026
The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) is pleased to bring you the annual AEO Conference. This event brings together key players within the events industry, offering networking, insight and motivation. With an outstanding speaker line-up delivering inspirational, dynamic and thought-provoking content, the AEO Conference 2026 is fantastic platform from which to debate, learn and share ideas with your peers, which can help shape your organisation and the industry.
Screenshot 2026 04 01 17.22.34
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