PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1816749
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1816749
Exhibitions are organized events where companies, organizations, and individuals showcase their products, services, or work to the public or industry professionals. These events provide a platform for businesses to highlight innovations, build connections, and generate leads. Exhibitions play a crucial role in networking, brand building, and maintaining market competitiveness.
The main types of exhibitions are traditional, virtual, and hybrid. Traditional exhibitions involve physical events where exhibitors set up booths and displays in a venue to present their offerings. Revenue streams for traditional exhibitions include exhibitor fees, sponsorship fees, entrance fees, and additional services. These events cater to a range of industries, such as consumer goods and retail, hospitality, art and fuel, energy, automotive and transportation, industrial, entertainment, and more. The enterprise sizes involved range from large enterprises to small and midsize enterprises (SMEs).
Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.
The sharp rise in U.S. tariffs and the resulting trade tensions in spring 2025 are having a notable impact on the services sector, particularly in business services, IT, and professional consulting. The increased costs of imported technology, office equipment, and critical digital infrastructure are driving up operating expenses for service providers, compelling them to either pass these costs on to clients or absorb the financial strain themselves. Outsourcing firms and IT service providers are grappling with higher hardware costs and supply chain delays, which are disrupting project timelines and squeezing profitability. Furthermore, retaliatory tariffs have weakened demand for U.S.-based professional services in key global markets, slowing export-driven revenues. To navigate these challenges, the sector must focus on accelerating digital transformation, optimizing costs, and strengthening domestic client relationships to sustain growth and remain competitive in an increasingly uncertain trade environment.
The exhibition market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides exhibition market statistics, including exhibition industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a exhibition market share, detailed exhibition market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the exhibition industry. This exhibition market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.
The exhibition market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $67.1 billion in 2024 to $70.64 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing disposable incomes, urban development, and cultural investments, government grants and support, and cultural tourism growth.
The exhibition market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $87.92 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to sustained urban revitalization efforts, advancements in digital and interactive technologies, expanding global cultural exchange programs, a rising focus on arts education, and public engagement. Major trends in the forecast period include virtual and hybrid exhibitions, increasing use of interactive and immersive technologies, the growth of specialized and niche exhibitions, an emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendly practices, and the rise of data-driven and personalized experiences.
The forecast of 5.6% growth over the next five years reflects a slight reduction of 0.1% from the previous projection. This reduction is primarily due to the impact of tariffs between the US and other countries. The U.S. may encounter increased operational costs due to tariffs on staging materials, interactive displays, and audiovisual hardware imported from China and the Netherlands impacting trade show executions. The effect will also be felt more widely due to reciprocal tariffs and the negative effect on the global economy and trade due to increased trade tensions and restrictions.
The growth of the arts and cultural industries is anticipated to drive the exhibition market forward. This sector includes a wide range of activities and organizations involved in creating, producing, distributing, and promoting cultural and artistic products and experiences. Factors such as rising disposable incomes and changing spending patterns are fueling this growth, leading to greater investment in cultural and artistic experiences. Exhibitions play a crucial role in the arts and cultural industry by providing platforms to showcase and promote artistic works, engage the public, facilitate cultural exchange, offer educational opportunities, support market development, and strengthen community connections. For instance, in March 2024, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) reported a 4.8% growth in the arts and cultural industry economy between 2021 and 2022. As a result, the expanding arts and cultural industries are expected to drive the exhibition market.
Major companies in the exhibition market are focusing on developing digitally advanced event and exhibition planning products, such as mobile applications, to enhance attendee engagement, streamline operations, and offer innovative solutions for a seamless event experience. These mobile apps provide comprehensive tools for managing event schedules, exhibitor logistics, attendee registration, and interactive features, thus improving the planning and execution of exhibitions and events. For example, in November 2023, Simpleview, a US-based marketing software provider, introduced the Eventsforce mobile app, designed as a cost-effective solution for tourism event organizations to enhance attendee engagement. The app includes user-friendly features for attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, and organizers, such as seamless integration with major association management systems (AMS) or customer relationship management (CRM) and event management systems, mobile and desktop access, advanced QR code scanning, and gamification tools to boost engagement.
In April 2024, CloserStill Media, a UK-based media company, acquired Elite Exhibitions for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to enhance CloserStill's portfolio in the cruise ship sector, complementing its existing events in the transportation and design industries. Elite Exhibitions is a UK-based exhibition and conference organizer company.
Major companies operating in the exhibition market are Reed Exhibitions, Informa Markets, GL Events, Ascential plc, MCH Group, Emerald Expositions, Messe Munchen, Clarion Events, Fiera Milano SpA, NurnbergMesse, Artexis Easyfairs, Comexposium, dmg events, Hyve Group, Tuyap Fairs and Exhibitions Organization Inc., Koelnmesse, RAI Amsterdam, Fira Barcelona, Pico Global, Tarsus Group, Messe Dusseldorf, Messe Frankfurt, ITE Group
North America was the largest region in the exhibition market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the exhibition market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.
The countries covered in the exhibition market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The exhibition market includes revenues earned by entities by providing services such as event organization, exhibitor space rental, sponsorship opportunities, ticket sales, and ancillary services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Exhibition Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses on exhibition market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for exhibition ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The exhibition market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.