Nearly 3,000 companies are exhibiting this year, either through standalone booths or as partners within national and regional pavilions. Growth is particularly visible across Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific, all of which have expanded their footprint for 2026. New and returning exhibitors include Angola, Mauritius, São Paulo and Uzbekistan, underlining the increasingly global nature of the business events marketplace.
The scale of participation is matched by strong representation from North America, Europe and the Middle East, alongside a major showing by the world’s leading hotel groups. Marriott International, Hilton and Radisson Hotel Group are all prominent on the show floor, with Hyatt and IHG Hotels & Resorts among those that have significantly scaled up their booth spaces to reflect rising demand for meetings and incentive travel.
The official Talking Point for IMEX Frankfurt is “Design Matters.” Spanning across exhibitor stories, booth concepts, and the redesigned Hall 9, this theme encourages the global events industry to embrace creative and experiential design as a core business superpower.
Africa’s Presence Grows in Confidence and Scale
Africa’s participation at IMEX Frankfurt 2026 is both broader and more strategic than in previous years. National convention bureaux, destination management companies and hospitality brands from across the continent are positioning themselves to capture resurgent global MICE demand, particularly from Europe and North America.
Major African pavilions anchor the continent’s presence. The South African National Convention Bureau is leading a large “Team South Africa” delegation, showcasing provincial tourism authorities, city convention bureaux and small and medium enterprises supported through development programmes. Morocco’s national stand brings together established private-sector operators and cultural event specialists, while Kenya and Rwanda continue to position Nairobi, Mombasa and Kigali as leading regional hubs for association meetings and incentives.
Uganda is highlighting its growing incentive travel and regional conference capabilities, while Angola and Mauritius stand out for their expanded booth space this year – a clear indication of intent to attract new European buyers and strengthen long-term trade relationships.
Beyond national pavilions, a range of specialised African DMCs are present, offering bespoke incentive programmes, experiential travel and corporate meeting solutions. These operators are increasingly focused on high-value, purpose-driven programmes aligned with sustainability, leadership development and cultural immersion.
Research, Announcements and Industry Direction
IMEX Frankfurt 2026 is also serving as a platform for major sector announcements. Over the next three days, destinations will unveil new convention bureaux, international airport developments and destination-led studies into event legacy and long-term economic impact.
Industry partners are releasing new research covering global economic contribution, sustainability, incentive travel trends and the evolving role of live events in a technology-driven world. These announcements reinforce IMEX’s role not just as a marketplace, but as a thought leadership hub for the global meetings industry.
More than 4,000 hosted buyers from over 80 countries are registered to attend, engaging with suppliers across all sectors of the meetings and events ecosystem. IMEX CEO Carina Bauer said the show’s purpose remains grounded in human connection.
“At its core, IMEX Frankfurt is about bringing people from all over the world together face-to-face – to build new relationships, nurture existing connections, learn and do business,” Bauer said. “In doing so, it also creates space for open, meaningful and trusted dialogue at a time when it’s needed more than ever.”
Learning, Inspiration and Professional Development
Alongside business meetings, IMEX Frankfurt offers a comprehensive learning programme of more than 200 sessions. Most take place in the Inspiration Hub in a re-designed Hall 9, a revitalised space created to surprise, welcome and inspire participants, while bringing the show’s Design Matters talking point to life.
The majority of sessions qualify for Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) or ICCASkills accreditation points, as well as Certified Special Event Professional (CSEP) approval, reinforcing IMEX’s commitment to professional development and industry standards.
As IMEX Frankfurt 2026 gets underway, Africa’s expanded presence reflects more than increased floor space. It signals a continent increasingly confident in its business events offering, clearer in its positioning, and more deliberate about how meetings, incentives and conferences can drive trade, investment and long-term economic impact.
