The Events Industry Council (EIC), in partnership with Oxford Economics, has released the full 2026 Global Economic Significance of Business Events Study, providing a comprehensive examination of the scale and broad value of the global business events sector.
The study, supported by Global Vision Sponsors MPI Foundation and PCMA, and other stakeholders, estimates that business events brought together 1.65bn participants across 180 countries during 2025 and generated US$1.3tn in direct spending.
When indirect and induced activity is included, the sector supported $3.1tn in total business sales, contributed $1.8tn to global GDP and sustained 24.2m jobs worldwide, the study claims.
The full report offers an expanded analysis of global direct and indirect impacts, regional and country-level activity, workforce trends, trade shows, future growth forecast as well as insights related to the catalytic effects showcasing deeper more purpose driven elements of business events.
The findings draw on a global survey of over 1,600 event organisers, venues, destination marketing organisations and suppliers; country-level economic impact studies; third-party industry and government data, including exhibition-sector data from UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry; CEIR, and Oxford Economics’ global economic modelling. The analytical framework follows guidance developed by UN Tourism to support consistency across markets and event segments.
“This report gives our industry credible, current evidence to demonstrate that value, while also helping us tell a more complete story about the knowledge, relationships, investment and long-term progress created through face-to-face engagement,” said Amy Calvert, president and CEO of the Events Industry Council.
“This study gives every part of our global business events community a shared foundation for action,” added Stephanie Harris, chair of the Events Industry Council Board of Directors and president of the Incentive Research Foundation.
The report finds that business events directly supported:
- US$1.3trn in direct spending
- US$759bn in direct GDP
- 9.7m direct jobs
- 1.65bn participants
Each $1 in direct business event spending, the study claims, generated an additional $1.37 in indirect and induced expenditures throughout the global economy.
North America led global direct spending with $487.7bn, representing 37.8% of the worldwide total. Asia generated $352.8bn, overtaking Western Europe, which accounted for $328 billion.
Corporate and business events represented the largest share of direct spending, generating $566bn, followed by conventions, conferences and congresses at $383.2bn. Trade shows generated $178.5bn, while incentive events accounted for $86.6bn.
Oxford Economics forecasts direct business event spending will reach $1.6 tn in 2028, representing average annualised growth of 6.7% from 2025.
Direct employment is forecast to reach approximately 10.4m jobs by 2028, within 4.1% of 2019 levels.
“The results demonstrate both the scale of the sector today and its importance to future global growth,” said Adam Sacks, president of Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company.
Among survey respondents:
- 70% said relationship-building through face-to-face interaction was the event outcome most difficult to replace.
- Organisations reported that 28% of revenue would be lost without attending or exhibiting at in-person events.
- Respondents estimated $11 in incremental revenue for every $1 invested in attending or exhibiting.
- Organisations attributed 22% of new customers to attending in-person events.
“This research belongs to the entire global business events community,” said Paul VanDeventer, President and CEO of MPI and chair of the EIC Research and Advocacy Steering Committee. “We encourage our members, partners, destinations, event professionals and business leaders to use these findings in their own advocacy, investment and stakeholder conversations. Data gives us credibility, and a unified voice gives us momentum.”
The full, 114-page report is available for purchase for $395 here. The Executive Summary is available here.
