Editor’ s Note
Big new year issues: The importance of understanding your data, and this year’ s new collaborative model
lenty of M & A news to digest in this issue,
P with some big deals going down involving the likes of Montgomery and Diversfied.
Our friends at GMA also give us a review of some of the acquisitions of the outgoing year and it’ s clear momentum is continuing in 2026.
While there have been many New Year industry previews and predictions, Mark Parsons digs deep into an issue that maybe has not made the‘ top 10 lists’ of many social media posts: He draws on five years of teaching aspects of the exhibition industry in higher education to reveal how organisers are really changing in 2026. Understanding your own data – interrogating it, questioning it, exploring it,” he says,“ cannot be delegated.” He adds that,“ The students entering the industry over the next few years are increasingly AI-native, and the assumptions they bring about data, automation and decision-making will quietly but profoundly reshape the day-to-day reality of exhibition organisers, whether we are ready for it or not.” I highly recommend a read of Mark’ s analysis on p30-31.
Another new year model is the way major international organisers are putting their strong suits forward and collaborating on new events where one plus one can equal three. On p38-39 we hear from dmg events president Matt Denton and Messe München’ s CEO Stefan Rummel about how they brought the IFAT brand to Saudi Arabia. This latest move follows dmg events developing a strong track record in this collaborative approach, having partnered with DWTC’ s KAOUN for The Saudi Food Show and Koelnmesse to bring events such as the ORGATEC Workspace Saudi Arabia and the FSB Sports Show to Saudi Arabia.
We also look at a big new investment in Prague Convention Centre’ s exhibition infrastructure and hear about UFI’ s plans for the year in our regular column, as well as their trends coverage and World Map of Venues project with jwc consultancy.
Our‘ Stateside with Stephanie’ in this issue reviews the recent monster CES show in Vegas and, for those, looking for inspiration at the UK’ s most inspiring show for the events industry – drop by and meet our team at International Confex at Excel London, 25-26 February. EW
Paul Colston Editor X: @ ExhibitionWorld Instagram: @ ew _ magazine
Managing Editor: Paul Colston; Portfolio Director: Iain Stirling. International Marketing Executive: Jack Belcher. International Account Director: Myran Balasingham. Graphic Design: The Magazine Production Company. Contact us: Subscriptions:+ 44( 0) 20 8481 1128, Editorial: + 44( 0) 20 8481 1152, Advertising: + 44( 0) 20 8481 1122, Production:+ 44( 0) 20 8971 1132. Exhibition World is published by Mash Media, Second floor, Applemarket House, 17 Union Street, Kingston Upon Thames, KT1 1RP, UK. Tel: + 44( 0) 20 8481 1122 fax: + 44( 0) 20 8481 1144, Email: info @ mashmedia. net Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of the publishers. Printed by Pensord Press Ltd.
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