Show preview
Spotlight on Confex 2026: The power players behind the mic
nternational Confex 2026,
I taking place 25-26 February at Excel London, is once again set to be the UK events industry’ s ultimate stage for innovation, ideas and conversation. This year’ s speaker programme delivers more than just thought leadership, it provides a blueprint for where the sector is heading, who’ s shaping it, and how we’ ll work smarter, greener and more creatively in the year ahead.
Exhibitions get a reality check in Exhibition HQ, where Ruth Creely( Nineteen Group), Mark Eddy( Pragmatiko) and Julie Rey-Gore( Questex) are among a myriad of speakers diving into brand expectations, IP ownership, content staging and the ongoing‘ concession depression’ impacting organiser reputations.
Agency evolution takes a new stage in the Agency Hub. New for 2026, the shake-up of traditional models will be explored, from the RFP fallout to the growth of freelance-first businesses. A fireside chat between MCI UK and Meet & Potato will offer rare insight into scaling without sacrificing creativity.
The Brand Experience Lab focuses on doing more with less, immersive formats, employer branding, and internal comms reimagined. Expect sharp insight from Bryn Jones( ex-Wasserman), Adeloa Daramola( Octus), and Tamsin Goodwin-Connell( EasyJet).
Meanwhile, AI and data take a human-first twist in the AI & Data Zone, where attendees will explore how to truly unlock their tech stack, make platforms more human-centred, and cut through digital fatigue.
On the sustainability and inclusion front, the People and Planet theatre is packed with impact-led content. Harvey Goldsmith shares reflections on cultural change through events; Meera Somji( Clusivity) and Jamie Wallis( NeuroKind) explore DEI beyond box-ticking; and event leaders like Chrissy Beck( Worlds Better) and Anna Peters( Evolve Events) offer clear strategies for ethical supply chains and carbon tracking.
The London Calling Theatre spotlights immersive venue pioneers and senior voices from HeadBox, Elsevier and emap Publishing exploring how the capital stacks up against global competition and how greener data will drive better decisions.
And for those craving quality over quantity when it comes to conversations, the brand-new Braindate Lounge offers curated one-to-one and small group discussions that go beyond the surface. Whether you’ re chasing insights or partnerships, it’ s the place to dig deeper and make it personal. EW
n International Confex, organised by Mash Media takes place at Excel London, 25 – 26 February 2026 Register free at: international-confex. com www. exhibitionworld. co. uk Issue 1 2026 43