In the event industry, it’s almost never truly “quiet” — but certain news and reports clearly set the tone for the coming months. And, as usual, a significant part of the agenda is shaped by artificial intelligence: from exhibition analytics to audience engagement and staff training:
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UFI: the exhibition industry is growing, and AI is already used by the vast majority of companies
Scale: ⭐⭐⭐
Our roundup opens with UFI, which published the latest Global Exhibition Barometer: the sector overall shows steady growth in revenue and floor space, more and more companies report double-digit profit growth, and the adoption of AI tools is approaching a “new normal” for exhibition operators.
Why it matters: it’s a global “thermometer” for exhibitions, showing that the industry hasn’t just recovered from COVID — it’s entering a phase of active transformation, with a focus on new formats and technologies. -
International AGF Awards 2026: sustainability is becoming a real standard for festivals and venues
Scale: ⭐⭐
A Greener Future has announced the finalists of the International AGF Awards 2026 — “green” awards for festivals and venues. The shortlist includes dozens of projects from different countries, and the categories cover food, transport, energy, water, waste, communications, and innovations in a sustainable approach.
Why it matters: the AGF Awards are gradually becoming a de facto standard for assessing event sustainability. For major festivals, this is no longer just a “nice bonus,” but a factor that affects sponsors, cities, and reputation. -
Audience “digital twins”: predictive participant design instead of “after” surveys
Scale: ⭐⭐
Major event agencies in Europe and the U.S. are experimenting with the concept of the Digital Doppelgänger — synthetic “digital avatars” of the audience that allow testing a program, format, messaging, and participation scenarios in advance. Essentially, it’s an attempt to bring the A/B approach from digital marketing into live events.
Why it matters: if these tools mature, some decisions on content, agenda, and event structure will be made based on audience modeling before the event, not only after the fact via feedback. -
AI Expo / similar events: the conversation shifts from “new models” to infrastructure and production
Scale: ⭐⭐
At specialized AI expos and conferences (London and other hubs), there is less talk about the “wow” of specific models and more about the boring but critical infrastructure: data quality, observability, compliance, security, and model updatability.
Why it matters: these practices later feed into major event platforms, registration systems, matchmaking, and analytics. A focus on reliability and risks is a sign that AI in the events industry is moving beyond experimentation and becoming part of the operational core. -
VR training for event staff: simulations instead of exclusively “offline briefings”
Scale: ⭐⭐
More and more venues and festivals are introducing VR or 360° simulations to train staff for complex scenarios: crowd crush, evacuation, long queues, incidents involving visitors. Standalone headsets have become cheaper, ready-made scenario libraries have emerged, and the results — in the form of better coordinated teams — are already noticeable.
Why it matters: this is an example of technology directly improving safety and service quality for visitors, rather than simply creating another “attraction” on site.
Keeping track of how the industry is changing is useful for organizers, venues, and technology partners alike: trends in AI, sustainability, safety, and new audience design directly affect which events will be in demand tomorrow.
We are gradually collecting current overviews and news of the event market within the Syampya.com ecosystem. Register — and be the first to learn about important changes and interesting events.
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