Record Attendance Marks UFI European Conference 2026 in İzmir

UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has successfully concluded the UFI European Conference, hosted by İZFAŞ in İzmir, Türkiye, from 3–5 June 2026. This year’s edition marked the largest UFI regional conference to date, welcoming more than 400 delegates from across Europe and beyond.

Tuğçe Cumalıoğlu, CEO of İZFAŞ, commented: “With more than a century of exhibition experience, İzmir has long been a centre for trade, cultural interaction and international gatherings. Welcoming the global exhibition community back to our city after many years was particularly meaningful. This conference once again demonstrates İzmir’s strong position within the global exhibition network and its organisational expertise.

The conference provided an important platform for developing a shared vision for the future of the exhibition industry. We believe it will contribute to new collaborations, knowledge-sharing and greater international visibility for İzmir.”

Nick Dugdale-Moore, Head of Regions and Regional Director Europe at UFI, added: “We were so happy to welcome such a large audience again this year, easily passing last year’s record attendance.

But far more important than the number is the quality of the delegates present, and the quality of the connections and conversations they had. We hope they enjoyed their stay in beautiful Izmir and took away valuable insights, new contacts and friendships, and lifelong memories.”

Programme highlights

A series of standout sessions shaped the conference programme, opening with world record-holding open-water swimmer and İzmir native Bengisu Avcı, who delivered a powerful and deeply personal account of resilience, failure, and determination as the first Turkish person to complete the Oceans Seven challenge.

Jonathan Weiner, the event entrepreneur behind HLTH, HumanX, Money20/20 and Shoptalk, delivered a masterclass in event brand building, sharing insights into the strategy, bold decisions and lessons learned from scaling some of the world’s most influential event brands.

Returning for a second consecutive year, the Insight Series Workshops brought delegates together for four interactive sessions focused on some of the most pressing challenges facing the exhibition industry today. Covering visitor experience, exhibitor relationships, the future of event formats, and inclusive and accessible experiences, the sessions encouraged the community not only to discuss the future of exhibitions, but to actively shape it.

Recordings of all sessions will be made available on demand to UFI members and conference participants in the coming days.
 

4th edition of Event Directors Summit

The Event Directors Summit returned for its fourth consecutive year as one of the most anticipated elements of the UFI European Conference. The exclusive two-day programme, led by Oscar Cerezales (MCI Group), brought together exhibition, portfolio and event directors for hands-on workshops and interactive learning, complemented by coastal bike rides and boat trips that showcased İzmir’s spectacular setting.

İzmir in the spotlight

Beyond the programme, İzmir itself emerged as a highlight of the conference experience. From the networking dinner at the ancient Agora to post-conference tours of Ephesus and the beaches of Çeşme, the city offered an exceptional backdrop for connection and discovery.

Global Exhibitions Day

Global Exhibitions Day was celebrated on 3 June, with the UFI European Conference community coming together under this year’s theme: “Exhibitions drive opportunities for people, for the planet, and for performance.”
 

Join the conversation at upcoming events

As the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, UFI organises several events annually, including the Regional Conferences, the UFI Global Congress, the Global CEO Summit and the Event Directors Summit. The next event on the calendar is the UFI Global Congress in November, followed by the UFI Central & South American Conference in December.

From 2–4 June 2027, the UFI European Conference will take place in Rimini, Italy, hosted by the Italian Exhibition Group (IEG).

Full details about the UFI European Conference can be found on the event website
 

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