Trade Show

International Confex 2026: The Essential Guide for Event Professionals

Feb 25-26, 2026 · London, United Kingdom · 4 min read

International Confex 2026 returns to ExCeL London on 25-26 February, bringing together 5,500+ event professionals, 300+ suppliers, and 100+ free sessions across nine content theatres.

Every February, the events industry converges on London for two days of serious business. International Confex is the UK's leading trade show for event professionals, running 25-26 February 2026 at ExCeL London. With 5,500+ attendees, 300+ suppliers, and 100+ free education sessions spread across nine content theatres, it is the single most concentrated gathering of event industry buying power in the calendar. You can also explore the full event details on International Confex on TradeShowIntel.

The show covers the full spectrum of the events world: venues, event technology, AV and production, sustainability, creative agencies, catering, and event management software. If your work touches live experiences in any form, this is where the industry takes stock of where things are heading.

Who Attends International Confex 2026: Buyers, Planners, and the People Who Build Events

The audience at International Confex is deliberately broad, but the buying intent is real. 68% of attendees hold budgets over £200,000, which makes this a room full of people who can actually sign off on decisions.

The core attendee profiles break down like this:

• Corporate event buyers and marketing professionals sourcing venues, production partners, and technology platforms for brand experiences and internal events
• Agency directors and event managers looking for creative suppliers, new venue options, and technology that can give their clients a competitive edge
• Association executives and not-for-profit event organisers who need cost-effective solutions and are actively benchmarking suppliers across categories
• Venue managers and technology decision-makers attending to understand the competitive landscape and identify partnership opportunities

This is a buyer-heavy audience. The conversations on the floor tend to move quickly from introductions to briefs.

What's on the Floor at International Confex 2026: 300+ Suppliers Across the Events Stack

The exhibitor mix at International Confex reflects the full supply chain behind a modern event. Across the two days, attendees can expect to find:

Event technology platforms covering registration, audience engagement, hybrid event infrastructure, and data analytics. This category has grown significantly as organisers demand more measurable outcomes from their events.

Venues and destination partners from UK conference centres and hotel groups to international convention bureaus pitching for association congresses and corporate retreats.

AV and production companies showcasing staging, lighting, LED technology, and live streaming capabilities. Expect live demos rather than just brochures in this category.

Sustainability solution providers are increasingly prominent at Confex, reflecting the pressure event professionals face from clients and boards to reduce the environmental footprint of their programmes.

Creative agencies and experiential suppliers rounding out the floor with everything from bespoke set design to branded merchandise and catering concepts.

With nine content theatres running simultaneously, the education programme covers creativity, sustainability, technology, and leadership. The sessions are free to attend, which means the floor and the theatres compete for your time across both days.

What Exhibitors at International Confex 2026 Need to Get Right

Know which buyer type you're pitching before they reach your stand. A corporate event buyer sourcing a venue for a 500-person sales conference has completely different priorities from an agency director building a tech stack for a client. Confex attracts both in significant numbers, and a generic pitch that tries to speak to everyone will land with no one. Brief your team on how to qualify visitors in the first 30 seconds.

The show runs for 16 hours of face-to-face business across two days, but the floor gets busy fast. If you're selling event management software or AV production services, the buyers you want are often booked solid by mid-morning on day one. Pre-schedule meetings before the show opens by reaching out to registered attendees through the official platform. Treat the walk-up traffic as a bonus, not your primary strategy.

After two days of conversations, the follow-up problem is real. Use the Habsy App to scan badges or business cards on the spot, record a quick voice note about what was discussed (budget size, brief details, timeline), and tag each contact by category. By the time the show closes, your follow-up list is already structured and your AI-drafted emails are ready to send. At a show where buyers are meeting dozens of suppliers in two days, being the first to follow up with context matters.

Visitor Tips for International Confex 2026: Getting the Most from 300+ Suppliers

With 100+ sessions running across nine theatres simultaneously, build your content schedule before you arrive. Review the theatre programme in advance and identify the two or three sessions that directly address a challenge you're working on right now. Trying to navigate the programme on the day means you'll miss the sessions that matter most.

If you're an event planner or agency director evaluating technology suppliers, a common mistake is spending too long at the first stand that catches your attention. The event tech category at Confex is dense. Walk the full technology section before committing time to any single vendor, so you have a baseline for comparison. Then go back to the two or three that stood out.

You will collect a lot of business cards across two days. Rather than leaving with a stack of cards that lose context by the time you're back at your desk, use the Habsy App to scan each card immediately after the conversation and add a short note about what was discussed. When you're briefing your team or following up on a venue proposal the following week, the context is already there.

Why International Confex 2026 Belongs on Your Events Calendar

For anyone who plans, produces, or supplies events professionally, International Confex 2026 is two days well spent. The combination of serious buying intent, a genuinely broad supplier base, and free education content makes it one of the most efficient ways to move multiple projects forward at once. The concentration of £200,000+ budget holders in a single venue for 16 hours is an opportunity that doesn't repeat itself until the following year.

Book your place at international-confex.com and plan your floor time before February arrives.

If you're exhibiting with a team, set up your Habsy Platform before the show so every rep's scans, notes, and lead tags feed into a shared dashboard in real time. You'll leave ExCeL knowing exactly which prospects your team met, what was discussed, and who needs follow-up first.

Frequently asked questions

When is International Confex 2026?

International Confex 2026 runs on 25-26 February 2026. The event spans two days at ExCeL London.

Where is International Confex 2026 held?

International Confex 2026 takes place at ExCeL London, located at Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL. ExCeL is in east London and is accessible via the Elizabeth line and DLR.

Is International Confex free to attend?

The 100+ education sessions across the nine content theatres at International Confex are free to attend. For registration and any attendance fees, check the official site at international-confex.com.

How many exhibitors are at International Confex 2026?

International Confex 2026 features 300+ suppliers, venues, and technology providers across the event industry. Categories include event technology platforms, AV and production companies, venues, sustainability providers, and creative agencies.

Is International Confex only for UK event professionals?

No, International Confex draws event professionals from across the globe, including international venues, convention bureaus, and suppliers pitching for association congresses and corporate events. While it is held in London, the audience and exhibitor base are international.

Does International Confex happen every year?

International Confex is held annually, typically in February at ExCeL London. The 2026 edition runs 25-26 February 2026.

What industries does International Confex cover?

International Confex covers the full events industry stack, including conferences, exhibitions, corporate events, association events, and not-for-profit event management. Key sectors represented include event technology, AV and production, venues, sustainability, catering, and creative agencies.

What is the best way to capture leads at International Confex 2026?

Using a lead capture app like [Habsy](https://habsy.ai/event-lead-capture?utm_source=tradeshowintel&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=international-confex-conference-and-exhibition-industries-exhibition&utm_content=faq) lets you scan badges or business cards on the spot and attach voice notes with context such as budget size, brief details, and follow-up timing. With 5,500+ attendees across two days, having structured notes ready before the show closes makes post-event follow-up significantly faster.

Who organises International Confex?

International Confex is managed through its official domain at international-confex.com. For organiser contact details and exhibitor or sponsorship enquiries, the official website is the primary point of contact.

Is International Confex a B2B or B2C event?

International Confex is a B2B trade show. It is designed for event professionals, suppliers, and buyers operating within the events and conferences industry, not for general consumers.