Exhibition leaders from across the globe will gather at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on 10β11 September 2026 for CEIR Predict 2026, the annual outlook conference run by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), the research arm of IAEE. The two-day programme digs into where the B2B exhibitions industry is headed over the next three to five years β global economic pressures, the latest CEIR Index performance numbers, shifting attendee and exhibitor behaviour, how AI is reshaping event delivery, and the geopolitical shifts complicating international trade show participation. There's also space for new thinking on growth, in a market still recovering its footing after a turbulent few years. For IEIA members, Predict has become something of an industry weather vane β the forecasts discussed here tend to shape how leading global organisers plan their calendars and strategy for the year ahead.
What it covers:
β’ Global economic trends and their impact on exhibition budgets and travel
β’ Latest exhibition industry performance data (CEIR Index trends)
β’ Evolving attendee and exhibitor behaviour post-pandemic
β’ Technology and AI's growing role in event delivery
β’ Geopolitical shifts affecting global trade show participation
β’ New strategic approaches to driving industry growth
