IBTM World 2026 launches with a bold focus on navigating disruption as registration opens

Next Previous

08 July 2026: Registration is now open for IBTM World 2026, taking place at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona from 17-19 November 2026. This year’s event will focus on The Age of Disruption, reflecting the real pressures shaping the industry today, including rapid AI adoption, tighter budgets, rising attendee expectations and increasing demand to demonstrate event ROI.

Alongside purposeful business meetings and high-quality networking, event planners will have the opportunity to get hands-on with the tools and technologies shaping the future of events at this year’s show. They’ll test AI in real-world scenarios, compare event technology side by side, meet suppliers solving the same challenges and learn directly from peers navigating the same pressures.

A dedicated Event Tech and Services zone will bring together AI platforms, registration systems, production technology and experiential suppliers in one place. Instead of spending months researching options independently, planners can explore solutions side by side and speak directly with providers to quickly identify the tools that best fit their events.

New for 2026, ‘AI for Events – Demo Day LIVE’, delivered in partnership with Boldpush, will give attendees the chance to see how AI is already transforming event planning through a series of live demonstrations. They will be able to watch AI build an event agenda in minutes, generate sponsorship proposals, automate attendee communications and analyse event ROI live on stage.

The IBTM Ignite start-up showcase will return in 2026, giving attendees early access to emerging companies developing new approaches to event planning, delivery and measurement. It offers a first look at the tools and ideas beginning to shape how the industry will operate in the years ahead.

The conference programme has been redesigned around the challenges event planners are dealing with today. Through workshops, discussions and practical sessions, attendees will explore how to deliver stronger events with tighter budgets, respond to changing audience expectations and demonstrate clear business impact, turning industry pressures into practical actions they can apply immediately.

Sessions will include looking at the next generation of event spaces and how they are evolving to meet changing needs, and will explore sustainability, tech integration, accessibility and the infrastructure powering the events of the next decade.  

Claudia Hall, Exhibition Director, IBTM World, said: “IBTM World has always been about doing business and intentional networking, but today's industry is looking for much more than a traditional exhibition. We're continually evolving the event to deliver richer experiences and more immersive, engaging environments that reflect the realities of our changing industry. Our role is to create an environment where event professionals can step away from the day-to-day, exchange ideas, discover new approaches and return with fresh thinking that makes a real difference. That’s what we are building for IBTM World 2026.”

Register to attend the event here.

Above: IBTM World Exhibition Director, Claudia Hall

Above: IBTM World 2025