Venues and destinations across Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, and the Middle East close out 2025 with strong results and forward-looking commitments. From record revenues and major capital investments to expanded exhibition footprints and new association partnerships, operators are positioning for sustained demand in meetings, conventions, and live events. The developments point to a market focused less on recovery and more on scale, infrastructure readiness, and long-term competitiveness heading into 2026.
ASIA-PACIFIC
Australia
ICC Sydney Won Gold for Business Events Venue at NSW Tourism Awards
International Convention Centre Sydney won Gold in the New South Wales Tourism Awards Business Events Venues category. During the judging period, the venue hosted 546 events and welcomed 1.5 million attendees, generating A$746 million in local economic impact. Activity spanned conventions, exhibitions, entertainment, and corporate events across the Convention Centre, Exhibition Centre, and TikTok Entertainment Centre. Judges cited consistent delivery across all facilities, alongside event services, risk management, and corporate responsibility practices. The result caps a strong operating year and reinforces Sydney’s role as a high-capacity meetings destination within the Asia-Pacific region.
EUROPE
Belgium
Research Shows Antwerp Delivers High Conference Spending and Repeat Visits
New Visit Flanders research shows Antwerp performs strongly as a conference host, particularly in accessibility, venue quality, and delegate satisfaction. Conference visitors generated more than $1,100 in direct local spending per person, with extended stays nearly doubling that figure. Antwerp earned the highest venue quality rating among Flemish cities at nine out of 10, while more than 30 percent of international delegates said they plan to return for leisure, highlighting repeat visitation potential linked to business events.
Austria
IAPCO names Vienna as destination partner beginning in 2026
The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) announced a two-year Destination Partnership with Meeting Destination Vienna, represented by the Vienna Convention Bureau, starting Jan. 1, 2026. Vienna joins IAPCO’s global network of destination partners and will participate in advisory meetings, awards programs, and industry initiatives. IAPCO said accredited professional congress organisers deliver more than 21,000 meetings annually, generating nearly $19.5 billion in economic impact worldwide.
United Kingdom
Connexin Live Hosts Vascular Society Meeting, Caps Strong Year for Association Events
Connexin Live in Hull hosted the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland Annual Scientific Meeting from Nov. 24 to 28, welcoming about 800 medical professionals. The program included plenary sessions, breakouts, exhibitions, and on-site networking, alongside a public vascular health outreach day. The meeting followed other association events in 2025, reinforcing Connexin Live’s ability to host large, multi-track medical conferences within a compact city center.
Excel London marks 25 years with permanent artwork installation
Excel London unveiled a permanent artwork to close its twenty fifth anniversary year, installing a thirty-square-meter photo mosaic in its newly opened 25,000-square-meter expansion. The piece incorporates more than 7,000 images submitted by organizers, exhibitors, suppliers, and visitors. Excel now totals 125,000 square meters and hosts about 400 events annually, welcoming close to six million visitors.
Legends Global presents Manchester multi venue program for event buyers
Legends Global hosted ten senior buyers in Manchester to present a coordinated venue program spanning AO Arena, New Century, and The Bridgewater Hall. Buyers reviewed options ranging from small meetings to conferences of up to 10,000 delegates, supported by walkable access between venues and a single operational contact.
Barbican outlines screen and filming activity at FOCUS 2025
The Barbican used FOCUS 2025 at London’s Business Design Centre to present recent filming, screening, and photo shoot activity. Case studies included streaming premieres, festival screenings, and ongoing demand from television and fashion clients across cinemas, halls, foyers, and public spaces.
City of London approves Barbican renewal investment
The City of London Corporation approved a $243 million delivery plan for the Barbican Renewal Program, securing long-term upgrades to performance, conference, and public spaces. The first phase focuses on infrastructure, accessibility, safety, and restored foyers, terraces, and the Conservatory. Most on-site programs pause from late June 2028 through June 2029, while cinemas remain open. Commercial events continue through June 2028, with new opportunities expected from summer 2029 as renewed spaces reopen.
Spain
Construmat expands to two halls at Gran Via venue in 2027
Construmat will expand to two halls at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue when it returns May 18 to 20, 2027. Net exhibition space increases twenty three percent to 13,500 square meters, with more than 400 exhibitors expected. The program centers on sustainability, industrialized construction, and housing supply, supported by an expanded international buyer presence.
Madrid links sustainability goals with growing meetings and events demand
Madrid continues to position itself as a meetings destination by combining business growth with sustainability policy. The city supports more than 200 parks and about 6,400 hectares of green space, alongside 218 direct flight connections and a diversified economy hosting more than 200 multinational companies and 3,500 startups.
Fira de Barcelona posts record 2025 revenues and advances major venue projects
Fira de Barcelona reported 2025 revenues exceeding $385 million, up seventeen percent year over year, with EBITDA of about $66 million. Results were driven by higher-value tradeshows and the integration of Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya into its portfolio. The organization hosted about 300 events across its venues and abroad. Strategic projects include Montjuïc renovations beginning in 2026 and the 60,000-square-meter Hall Zero at Gran Via, scheduled to open in 2027. The 2026 calendar includes major technology, medical, and food industry events.
NORTH AMERICA
Canada
ASAE selects Ottawa for 2026 Executive Leadership Forum
The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) will hold its 2026 Executive Leadership Forum in Ottawa from June 28 to 30, bringing about 100 to 150 association chief executives and senior leaders to Canada’s capital. The program takes place at The Westin Ottawa, with additional events planned at nearby venues. Participants are expected primarily from the United States, alongside select Canadian leaders. Ottawa was selected through ASAE’s partnership with Destination Canada and follows the 2025 forum in Montréal.
MIDDLE EAST
Saudi Arabia
EIF and Legends Global form venue operations joint venture
Saudi Arabia’s Event Investment Fund and Legends Global announced a joint venture to operate exhibition, convention, and entertainment venues across the Kingdom. Legends Global will provide management services for EIF-developed venues as projects are delivered. Initial facilities include an Olympic-standard shooting range in Riyadh, followed by a business convention and exhibition center and a multipurpose arena.
Egypt
Messe Düsseldorf reports growth from Cairo shows and Gulf expansion plans
Messe Düsseldorf reported strong growth from Food Africa Cairo and interpack Middle East Africa following the Dec. 9 to 12, 2025, editions in New Cairo. Exhibitor numbers across the co-located shows increased 63 percent to more than 1,200 companies, while exhibition space expanded to 50,000 square meters. The anniversary edition required additional temporary hall capacity to meet demand. Messe Düsseldorf said the Cairo results underpin its Middle East strategy, with five new trade show launches planned in Dubai and Saudi Arabia in 2026.
Image: (from left to right): Martina Font, Second Vice President of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce; Josep Santacreu, President of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce; Miquel Sàmper, Minister of the Department of Business and Labor of the Government of Catalonia; Jaume Collboni, Mayor of Barcelona; Pau Relat, Chairman of the Board of Fira; Constantí Serrallonga, CEO of Fira; and Laia Claverol, Municipal Manager of the Barcelona City Council.
