QEII Centre Reports 25% Rise in AI-Focused Events

The London venue has recorded its strongest year-on-year growth in AI-related events, with the sector emerging as a new revenue stream and attracting almost 24,000 delegates across confirmed bookings.

AI is emerging as one of the fastest-growing event sectors at London’s QEII Centre, which has reported a 25% year-on-year increase in AI-focused events since hosting its first event in the sector in 2024.

The growth reflects AI's transition from a specialist technology topic into a strategic priority across industries, with the conference sector providing a platform for organisations to explore both its opportunities and implications.

The QEII Centre's first AI-focused event was AI UK 24, held in 2024 for Turing Innovations Limited. The event returned to the venue in 2025, alongside a growing range of AI-focused gatherings spanning multiple industries.

These included the Global AI Conference 2025, organised for The Royal College of Radiologists, the Legal Business AI Summit 2025 and the GenAI London Conference.

The diversity of these events reflects the expanding reach of artificial intelligence beyond the technology sector, with applications and strategic questions emerging across healthcare, legal services and other areas of the economy.

From technology niche to cross-industry priority

The growth has continued into 2026, when a further five AI-focused events took place at the QEII Centre. Another two AI events have already been confirmed for 2027.

Taken together, the AI events booked at the venue are expected to attract almost 24,000 delegates, turning what was initially a niche segment into a significant new source of business for the centre.

Saf Ismail (right side), Chief Executive, The QEII Centre, says: “The increase in AI-focused events at the QEII Centre reflects the fact that businesses across every sector are looking for practical answers on how to adopt AI, manage its risks and maximise its potential, and events have become an important place for those conversations.

“AI is no longer confined to dedicated technology conferences. It is now a major topic across industries from healthcare and finance to manufacturing and retail. At the same time, it’s also transforming the events industry itself. We expect demand for AI-focused events to continue to grow, both in the number of events being launched and the breadth of industries involved.”

The venue expects this trajectory to continue as organisations use conferences and exhibitions not only to discuss AI developments, but also to address implementation, risk management and practical applications within their own sectors.

The trend also points to a wider shift in the business events market, with emerging technologies generating new event communities while simultaneously becoming subjects of discussion across established professional and industry associations.
 

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