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International Confex 2026: Where the events industry meets nternational Confex
I returns on 25-26 February 2026 at Excel London, and it’ s more than just a date in the calendar, it’ s the heartbeat of the UK events industry. The two-day show is where deals get done, ideas come alive, and the future of events takes shape. For exhibition organisers, it’ s a front-row seat to what’ s next.
This year, there are nine conference theatres, including Exhibition HQ Theatre which has been supersized. Literally. With growing demand from exhibition professionals for bigger ideas, bolder content, and braver discussions, the team has expanded the space and stacked the programme with sessions curated specifically for you. Among the unmissable sessions:
• 12:00- 12:45: Why good employer branding and culture is your company’ s secret weapon A panel featuring Kajal Mann, talent and employer branding specialist at Easyfairs, this session unpacks
how the best organisers aren’ t just attracting audiences, they’ re attracting the best to work for them, too. Expect insights on employee value propositions, culture-led recruitment, and why your stand team starts with your office team.
• 14:00- 14:45: Copyright or wrong, a fiery debate: Should stand builders charge for intellectual property? It’ s time to talk about the unspoken truths in build and design.
This debate will dive into contracts, concepts, and creative ownership, and whether we’ re protecting the designs behind the stands.
• 10:00- 10:45: What keeps event leaders awake at night( and how the industry responds) Things kick off with a no-fluff, allfeels panel discussion on resilience, responsibility, and the realities of leadership in a complex landscape. If you’ re running shows, managing teams, or juggling ROI with ESG, this is your wake-up call.
Over at the Keynote Theatre, Events Unplugged celebrates the EN30Under30 award ceremony which returns on Day 2, spotlighting rising stars shaking up the status quo.
But Confex isn’ t just about sessions. It’ s about immersion.
Across the show floor, you’ ll find 330 + solution providers ready to collaborate, from venues to geo-adapt, to next-gen tech wizards and sustainable suppliers who don’ t just talk the talk. Check out the expanded pavilions, from B Corpcertified innovators to the Exhibition Pavilion, offering hyper-relevant networking built around sectors, values, and shared challenges.
And let’ s not forget: speed networking is back, better and bolder. With curated sessions, matchmaking via the app, and new peer-to-peer learning with Braindate, the team is making the phrase“ ROI from day one” a reality.
Why attend? Because Confex isn’ t just about the now. It’ s about levelling up your entire year. Whether you’ re launching a new show, scaling internationally, or revamping your visitor experience, Confex is where you’ ll find the partners, peers, and playbook to do it right.
Exhibition professionals aren’ t just welcome here, you’ re at the centre of it all. EW Take a day, or two. Get out of the office. Invest in your event. # SeeYouAtConfex www. exhibitionworld. co. uk Issue 6 2025 27