Exhibitions + Congress
Home / UK Events Industry / Exhibitions + Congress
Sector at a Glance
1
Contributes circa £11 billion to the UK economy.
2
Supporting an estimated 180,000 businesses.
3
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.

Sector News
AEV Teams Up with Excel
The Association of Event Venues (AEV) has announced that its 2025 annual conference will take place at Excel London, on 14th November. AEV Director, Rachel Parker, made the announcement, saying: “Our members requested varied location in venue selection, so we are looking forward to returning to Excel London for our ninth AEV conference. The conference continues to grow year on year, our members enjoy reconnecting, learning and meeting industry colleagues and we are thrilled to do that at Excel London – perfect timing to mark their 25th year in operation.” Excel London opened in November 2000, in London’s historic Royal Docks and has been at the forefront of the area’s regeneration. Every year the venue hosts over 400 events, welcoming 40,000 exhibiting companies and over four million people, from across the globe. Simon Mills, Chief Commercial Officer, Excel London, commented: “We are delighted to be hosting the AEV conference on […]
Carbon Literacy Course Launched
DECORDIA has launched its Carbon Literacy Course for Events, to offer an accessible and interactive education on how outdoor events can begin – or further reduce their carbon emissions – and look after people and the planet. Specialists in designing, building, and curating inventive and sustainable sets, decor and theming for festivals, venues and experiences, DECORDIA has been striving for sustainability across the event industry. The course has been developed with The Carbon Literacy Project, which was recognised as one of 100 worldwide Transformative Action Programs at the UN at COP21, in Paris. The course provides organisations with the tools and resources needed to deliver a day’s worth of climate change training, empowering them to reduce their carbon impacts and supporting their audiences to do the same. To date, over 100,000 people from over 7,800 organisations have officially been certified as Carbon Literate, the aim is to reach one million […]
ICCA Conference in Leeds
The UK & Ireland Chapter of ICCA, the global association for the international meetings industry, has opened registration for its 2025 annual conference, set to take place in Leeds from 26th to 28th February 2025. With the theme ‘business beyond borders’, the conference invites attendees to break down barriers and explore opportunities that go beyond physical, professional, and personal boundaries. The programme will feature international perspectives, inspiring content, and opportunities for personal growth. The three-day event will include workshops, case studies, and discussions with a global focus, enabling attendees to reflect on how the UK & Ireland are viewed through an international lens. It will also challenge delegates to step outside their comfort zones and explore innovative approaches to their roles within the meetings industry. Suzanne Singleton, Chair of the ICCA UK & Ireland Chapter, said: “‘Business beyond borders’ reflects not only our international outlook as part of ICCA’s global […]
In the Middle
Meet Leicester shines the spotlight on why Leicestershire is the perfect destination for your next event.
ALL news
Sector Community Support
SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS
ASSOCIATIONS
INDUSTRY MEDIA
UNIVERSITIES
Latest Sector Research
UK Events Report 2024
UKEVENTS
UKEVENTS, the umbrella organisation of the UK’s events industry, is pleased to announce the findings of its anticipated UK Events Report 2024. The report, compiled by Great Potential Consultancy, highlights the industry’s critical role in the economy, generating £61.653 billion annually and affirming its resilience following the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Event Industry Insight App Registration Findings
THE POWER OF EVENTS (UK)
Temperature check 2022-2023: An exploration of sustainable progress in the UK event industry.
The Temperature Check 2022-2023 is the first industry report from events industry body isla examining sustainable progress in the UK event industry.
Purple Guide
Designed to establish consistently safe standards for the running of outdoor events, from music concerts to country fairs, the Guide is an online publication, which enables it to be constantly revised and updated.
Sector Events Calendar
March 25
25
CHS Leeds
CHS Leeds returns for 2025! This one-day exhibition is for anyone organising business events, from small meetings to large conferences and everything in-between. Meet over 100 venues, destinations, and event suppliers, develop professionally and personally through the education programme and enjoy a VIP experience like no other! If you organise meetings, events, dinners and conferences, whether full time or as part of a wider role within your business then CHS Leeds is for you. Are you a… Corporate Event Manager Event Agent Professional Conference Organiser Venue Finder PAs EA VA Office Manager Association Event Manager Public Sector Event Manager Luxury and Incentive Travel Agent Register now to learn, develop new skills, find great new venues and suppliers and #BeAPartOfIt at CHS Leeds!
May 25
20-22
IMEX Frankfurt
IMEX Frankfurt is where the global meetings, events and incentive travel industry comes together annually for the largest trade show of its kind in Europe. Where 3,800-plus global meeting planners connect with 2,900 suppliers from across the world, building powerful working relationships—to create better events, meetings and experiences. This is where you can walk through the world in a day, immerse yourself in the latest industry developments and ideas, and find yourself at the heart of the global business events community.
October 25
7-9
IMEX America
IMEX America 2025 is a powerhouse show. It’s the most productive, creative, lovingly designed, inclusive, high-value and enjoyable business and learning experience you can give yourself this year. And the payback on three days of targeted, intentional business conversations? Priceless.
ALL EVENTS
Business + Brand Experiences
UK EVENTS INDUSTRY
EXPLORE OTHER SECTORS
Outdoor Events + Festivals
Get Involved
Download Now
Research

The event industry’s reliance on data to help it plan for the future, increase its resilience, manage risk and justify investment decisions, is growing year on year.

The engagement and access that The Power of Events (UK) has across all 7 sectors of the industry, enables data gathering and in-depth research projects to be delivered confidently and consistently. This will be primarily facilitated through the new insight app to be launched on 28th Sep 2023.

By bringing the industry and university partners together, research projects will be designed to deliver real benefits to the industry in terms of trend analysis, insights and performance improvements.

SUGGEST RESEARCH PROJECTS
Our Supporters
Drawn from across the seven core sectors the Power of Events (UK) supporters are committed to showcasing the UK Event Industry.
BECOME A SUPPORTER
Our Partners
The Power of Events (UK) partners are collaborating to share research, data and insights for the benefit of the whole UK Events Industry.
BECOME A PARTNER