IMEX Frankfurt 2026 drew 13,515 participants, 2,900 exhibiting companies, and 4,739 buyers from 94 countries, according to post-show data from organizers.
The show took place May 19-21 at Messe Frankfurt and generated 73,000 meetings across three days. That total included one-to-one meetings, group meetings, and booth presentations, and marked an 8 percent increase over 2025.
Buyers drive show activity
Of the 4,739 buyers at IMEX Frankfurt 2026, 3,731 were hosted buyers. Agencies made up the largest buyer segment at 68 percent, followed by corporate planners at 16 percent and association planners at 10 percent.
Organizers also reported that nearly two-thirds of buyers represented organizations with annual purchasing power above $1 million. In addition, 22 percent controlled budgets of more than $10 million.
The numbers point to continued demand for face-to-face business development in the global meetings and events sector.
Global reach reflects industry growth
The show’s international buyer base comes as the Events Industry Council’s Global Economic Impact Report shows business events contribute $1.8 trillion to global gross domestic product.
The report also forecasts direct spending will grow from $1.3 trillion in 2025 to $1.6 trillion by 2028.
Xiomara De La Torre, representing Mexico, says her team doubled its exhibit space this year, partly due to World Cup interest and a larger push behind Mexico City and Jalisco.
“Our glass meeting room was full since day one,” De La Torre says. “We’ve even had groups coming to meet the tourism board, something we didn’t see last year.”
Hall 9 redesign earns recognition
IMEX Frankfurt 2026 also included a redesigned Hall 9, home to the Inspiration Hub, activations, food courts, and the Hosted Buyer Lounge.
The redesign earned Gold Better Stands Initiative Awards for the Inspiration Hub and Hosted Buyer Lounge. The Better Stands Initiative encourages reusable exhibition booth construction and reviews booth designs through a 10-point reuse framework.
“At IMEX Frankfurt 2026, the GDS-Movement team conducted independent assessments during both the build and breakdown of the show,” says Cori Samuel, impact consultant and project manager. “The IMEX team set their sights on a Gold-level build from the very start of their redesign over 18 months ago.”
IMEX America will open Oct. 13 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Buyer registration is open.
About IMEX Frankfurt
IMEX Frankfurt is a global business events trade show that brings together meeting planners, hosted buyers, destinations, venues, hotels, suppliers, and event industry professionals. For more info, visit www.imex-frankfurt.com.
Press release submitted by IMEX. Edited by Exhibit City News for clarity, length, and style.
