CEIR Total Index Forecast to Grow 2.1% in 2026

Today, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE) released the “2026 CEIR Index Report,” a comprehensive analysis of 2025 business-to-business (B2B) exhibition industry performance paired with an economic and industry forecast through 2028. The CEIR Index is produced by IAEE’s research division, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) in conjunction with Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics Company.

“The outlook for the exhibition industry continues to improve, supported by steady gains in attendance, exhibitor participation and net square feet, as well as healthy demand evident in forward bookings,” said President of Tourism Economics Adam Sacks. “At the same time, downside risks remain. Trade policy uncertainty and elevated costs continue to weigh on business sentiment, while geopolitical tensions and higher travel expenses could affect international participation. These factors are unlikely to derail the industry’s recovery but may contribute to uneven performance across sectors and events in the near term.”

The CEIR Index provides data on the U.S. B2B exhibition industry across 14 key sectors. As an objective measure of the annual performance of the exhibition industry, the CEIR Index measures year-over-year changes in four key metrics to determine overall performance: net square feet (NSF) of exhibit space sold; professional attendance; number of exhibiting companies; and gross revenue. The 14 industry sectors are:

• Business Services (BZ)
• Consumer Goods and Services (CG)
• Discretionary Consumer Goods and Services (CS)
• Education (ED)
• Food (FD)
• Financial, Legal and Real Estate (FN)
• Government (GV)
• Building, Construction, Home and Repair (HM)
• Industrial/Heavy Machinery and Finished Business Inputs (ID)
• Communications and Information Technology (IT)
• Medical and Health Care (MD)
• Raw Materials and Science (RM)
• Sporting Goods, Travel and Entertainment (ST)
• Transportation (TX)

“The 2026 CEIR Index affirms that exhibitions remain a powerful, resilient driver of business growth,” said IAEE President and CEO Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM. “While we continue to navigate a complex economic landscape, the data reflects that our industry is adapting, innovating and moving confidently forward. IAEE is proud to provide the intelligence that helps our community make smarter decisions and seize the opportunities ahead.”

The “2026 CEIR Index Report” is complemented by the CEIR Index Dashboard, an interactive research tool powered by Oxford Economics’ BI Symphony engine that allows users to dynamically evaluate event results and tailor reporting to their specific needs.

A forecast update of the 2026 CEIR Index will be presented on 12 May 2026 in IAEE’s upcoming webinar, CEIR Index Update: Where the U.S. B2B Exhibition Industry Stands and What Comes Next, hosted by CEIR Vice President of Research Nancy Drapeau, IPC and President of Tourism Economics Adam Sacks. Click here for more information and to register.

Click here for information on purchasing the “2026 CEIR Index Report” and accessing the CEIR Index Dashboard.

Looking for insights beyond CEIR’s Index product options? CEIR can develop custom data reports using Index data tailored to your specific business information needs. Contact ndrapeau@iaee.com to discuss your objectives.

If you are an event organizer, take advantage of opening an account on the Event Performance Analyzer tool so you can see how your event performance compares to CEIR Index benchmarks. For more information, visit https://ceir.iaee.com/tools/event-performance-analyzer/.

CEIR sincerely appreciates the support for the “2026 CEIR Index Report” from its partners in the Predict, CEIR’s Annual Exhibition Industry Outlook Conference taking place 10-11 September 2026:

Collaborator Partners
CNTV
GES | OnPeak
Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority

Associate Partners
Maritz
New Orleans & Company
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center 

Contributor Partners
Choose Chicago
Convention Plant Creations, Inc.
CORT Event Furnishings
Georgia World Congress Center Authority
Louisville Tourism
Map Your Show
Orange County Convention Center
Oscar & Associates
TVS
Visit Orlando
Visit San Antonio 

About IAEE
Trusted since 1928, IAEE provides quality and value to its members through leadership, service, education and strong relationships. IAEE is the largest association of the exhibitions and events industry in the world, with a membership of show organizers, exhibitors and exhibition suppliers. Organizers of more than 20,000 exhibitions and buyer-seller events around the world are members of IAEE, and the organization advocates and promotes the awareness of face-to-face exhibitions and events as the primary medium for business development and growth. IAEE provides relevant, timely and innovative education to its members and the industry. IAEE recognizes its strategic partners: 4imprint, Convention News Television (CNTV), eShow, Freeman, GES | onPeak, IMEX, New Orleans & Company, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Risk Strategies Company | Buttine Insurance, Snöball and Swapcard. Visit www.iaee.com for more information.

About CEIR
The official research division of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE), the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) advances the growth, awareness and value of exhibitions and other face-to-face marketing events by producing and delivering knowledge-based research tools. These tools enable stakeholder organizations to enhance their ability to meet current and emerging customer needs, improve business performance and strengthen their competitive position. For additional information, visit www.iaee.com/ceir.

About Oxford Economics
Oxford Economics is one of the world’s foremost independent global advisory firms, providing reports, forecasts and analytical tools on 200 countries, 100 industrial sectors and over 3,000 cities. Best-of-class global economic and industry models and analytical tools allow for an unparalleled ability to forecast external market trends and assess their economic, social, and business impact. Headquartered in Oxford, England, with regional centers in London, New York, and Singapore, Oxford Economics has offices across the globe in Belfast, Chicago, Dubai, Miami, Milan, Paris, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Oxford Economics employs over 600 full-time staff, including 400 professional economists, industry experts and business editors – one of the largest teams of macroeconomists and thought leadership specialists. Learn more at www.tourismeconomics.com.

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Media Inquiries:
Mary Tucker
Sr. Communications & Content Manager | IAEE
+1 (972) 687-9226
mtucker@iaee.com

Geena Bevenour
Marketing Director | Tourism Economics, An Oxford Economics Company
+1 (610) 995-9401
gbevenour@oxfordeconomics.com