IMEX Frankfurt 2026 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

IMEX Frankfurt 2026 is Europe’s largest specialist trade show for the meetings, conventions, and incentive travel industry (MICE). It takes place at Messe Frankfurt (Frankfurt am Main, Germany) and brings buyers and suppliers together under one roof— the people who make events profitable, tech-enabled, and truly memorable.

If you’re not just coming to “look at exhibition stands,” but to hold dozens of targeted meetings in three days, IMEX Frankfurt 2026 hits the mark.

Video about IMEX Frankfurt

To get a feel for the show’s energy and see the pace of the show floor, watch the official highlights video from one of the most recent editions.

About IMEX Frankfurt 2026 : what happens on site

The show format is built around business outcomes: the main engine is pre-scheduled meetings and negotiations. In 2025, the event hosted 67,000+ pre-arranged meetings over three days.

• Exhibition showcase of MICE suppliers: destinations, hotels and hotel groups, venues, DMCs, airlines and cruise lines, event tech, services, and production.
• Education and inspiration: talks, panels, and hands-on formats designed to help upgrade your events and improve business performance.
• Networking: purposeful meetups, evening formats, and “quick” introductions that often turn into contracts.

The key feeling at IMEX Frankfurt is the high density of solutions. It’s easy to find partners, compare offers, and lock in the next step right on the spot.

Who will benefit most from IMEX Frankfurt

IMEX Frankfurt is made for people who buy and sell events— and those who manage them at the level of strategy, budget, and results.

• Professional planners (agencies, PCOs, event teams) who need destinations, venues, technology, and suppliers.
• Corporate buyers and in-house event departments planning conferences, offsites, and incentive trips.
• Associations and international organizations selecting cities and venues for congresses.
• MICE suppliers: destinations, CVBs, hotels, DMCs, carriers, venues, tech providers, and production teams.

Historical facts about IMEX Frankfurt

IMEX Frankfurt first took place in Frankfurt in 2003, and has since become an annual showcase for the European and global MICE market.

In 2025, the show staged its 21st edition and set a record for exhibitor booth space, underscoring rising demand for face-to-face meetings and live negotiations.

Advantages of IMEX Frankfurt: numbers that matter to attendees

IMEX Frankfurt has a strong competitive edge: it’s a show where “time converts into business”. It’s no coincidence the organizer puts the spotlight on meetings and buyer programs.

• In 2025: 13,335 attendees, 2,882 exhibiting companies (100+ countries), 4,466 buyers.
• In 2025: 67,000+ pre-scheduled meetings, and the number of one-to-one meetings increased year over year.
• In 2024: around 12,000 participants, 63,000 business meetings, 4,200 hosted buyers, 3,100 exhibitors from 150 countries, 179 media representatives.

In official public materials, the exhibition footprint is typically presented as record-breaking compared to previous years, without stating a fixed number of square meters. But “the largest exhibitor stand space” in 2025 means one simple thing for the market: the choice of suppliers and destinations got even broader.

Notable exhibitors at IMEX Frankfurt

Below are six standout participants that help you quickly understand “who’s who”.

• Meet In Wales. The destination team highlights the value of face-to-face meetings and the ideas that happen when people connect in person. For planners, it’s a fast way to compare locations and options for business events.

• London Convention Bureau. London is consistently one of the most in-demand congress destinations, and at IMEX the team actively negotiates and schedules meetings. In 2025, they noted strong interest at the stand and a high volume of appointments.

• BWH Hotel Group. Hotel brands at IMEX are valued for quick access to real accommodation terms, MICE infrastructure, and meeting capabilities. The group’s representatives have emphasized how critical “personal contact” is for MICE.

• InVision Communications. Agency expertise at IMEX is useful for anyone seeking more than a venue— it’s about experience design and production scenarios. Their comments at the show often come up in the context of trust and transparency in partnerships.

• Accente Catering & Hospitality. Catering at Messe Frankfurt level isn’t “just a food supplier”; it’s part of the guest experience and event logistics. At the Messe Frankfurt stand in 2025, visitors could get advice on catering and service formats.

• Gahrens + Battermann. One of the notable players in event technology. At IMEX, companies like this are valuable because you can discuss technical delivery and audience-engagement scenarios on the spot.

What categories of products and services are featured at IMEX Frankfurt 2026

The supplier ecosystem at IMEX Frankfurt is broad, yet logically structured—everything you need to deliver an event end to end.

• Destinations: national and regional convention bureaus, tourism offices, and MICE destinations.
• Venues: convention centers, exhibition venues, unique event locations, and city infrastructure.
• Hotel groups and accommodation: branded hotels, resorts, and hotel-based venues.
• DMCs and on-the-ground services: programs, logistics, guest experiences, team activities.
• Travel: airlines, cruise lines, solutions for moving groups.
• Event tech: platforms for meetings, registration, analytics, matchmaking, and communications.
• Event management and production: agencies, project management, experience design, technical and creative suppliers.

Tips for visitors to IMEX Frankfurt: how to get the most out of 1–3 days

At IMEX Frankfurt 2026, it’s easy to burn out from the sheer number of opportunities. Here are a few practical moves that consistently deliver results.

• Arrive for Smart Monday. It’s a smooth way into the show: education, first introductions, and getting your focus and pace set before the main exhibition days.

• Schedule meetings in advance. IMEX runs on appointments, so the best conversations don’t happen “by chance” in the aisles— they’re booked before you arrive.

• Create a short priority list: 10 companies, 5 destinations, 3 tech solutions. Keep it on your phone so you don’t drift across the halls.

• Use the “quick” consultations at the Messe Frankfurt stand: in 2025, they offered dedicated hours for questions about catering, sustainable stand construction, and event technology.

• Write down the next step immediately. IMEX is great because after a strong meeting it’s easy to agree on a call, an offer, or a site inspection. Don’t leave that for “later”.

How to exhibit at IMEX Frankfurt 2026

If you’re exhibiting at IMEX Frankfurt 2026, you have two core tasks: fill your meeting calendar in advance and make your stand a place where negotiations feel effortless.

• Define your participation goal: lead generation, contracts, partnerships, brand impact.
• Prepare a “meeting-ready” kit: concise offer packages, pricing logic, case studies, and 3 scenarios for different customer types.
• Schedule meetings early and leave time slots for “hot” conversations on site.
• Plan your exhibition stand design as a working tool: a meeting area, demos, clear navigation, and fast contact capture.

We at ESBAU help exhibitors at Messe Frankfurt show up with confidence and win meetings—not just foot traffic. Want to stand out at IMEX Frankfurt 2026 and turn your booth into a magnet? Order a custom exhibition stand build from ESBAU — we’ll design a space that matches your meeting style, handle production and on-time installation, and get you show-ready without stress.

If you prefer a faster launch and a fixed budget, choose exhibition stand rental from ESBAU. We’ll propose a ready configuration, tailor the design to your brand, and build a functional zone where it’s easy to book meetings and close deals.