Top event planning conferences to attend in 2026 in the UK
- Ben Percival
- Reading time: 10mins
The events industry is changing quickly, and every organiser’s top priorities are sustainability, using technology, and making sure attendees have a good time. In 2026, there will be a lot of great industry events in the UK and Europe for event professionals who want to improve their skills, find new suppliers, and meet other professionals.
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We have put together this complete guide to help you plan the top event planning conferences to attend in 2026. It lists the conferences, exhibitions, and summits that are truly useful for event planners, venue managers, and industry suppliers.
The season starts in spring 2026
International Confex
25-26 February 2026 | ExCeL London
International Confex is still a major event in the UK calendar after 43 years. Confex brings together corporate event planners, agencies, associations, exhibition organisers, and suppliers all in one place. There are more than 330 exhibitors (including Conference Badges), more than 150 speakers in ten content theatres, and more than 5,500 attendees.Â
The 2026 edition has a new format, with Day 2 being all about hands-on workshops. The Brand Experience Lab, Agency Hub, Exhibition HQ, People & Planet (for sustainability and inclusion), and London Calling (to show off the best venues in the capital) are all content theatres.Â
Confex is a great way to find new suppliers, learn about new trends, and grow your professional network.
Best for: Planners of corporate events, event agencies, exhibition organisers, and venue managers.
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Event Production Show
25-26 February 2026 | ExCeL London
Co-hosted with Confex at ExCel, The Event Production Show has been the UK’s longest-running event for professionals who plan outdoor and live events for more than 35 years.Â
EPS brings together the whole live events ecosystem to share ideas, solve problems, and look into new ways of doing things. This includes festivals, stadium tours, brand activations, and cultural celebrations. The 2026 edition will have more than 200 exhibitors and more than 100 speakers over two days. They will talk about crowd management, sustainability, creativity, technology, supply chains, and diversity. This free event, which is being put on with Access All Areas magazine, is a must-attend for anyone who works in live events.
Best for: People who plan festivals, production companies, outdoor events, and local government event teams.
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Edie, 26
25-26 March 2026 | Business Design Centre, London
Edie 26 is becoming more and more important for event professionals who care about sustainability, even though it’s not only about events. Edie is the UK’s only sustainable business event run by a certified B Corp. It brings together more than 1,000 leaders in sustainability and net-zero on two floors of the famous Business Design Centre.Â
Six themed stages, eight professionally run workshops, one-on-one advisory clinics, and decision-maker roundtables all offer useful advice on how to make events more sustainable. The Innovation Pavilion shows off the newest solutions that event planners can use right away.
Best for: Managers of sustainable events, venue operators with net-zero goals, and agencies that are creating sustainable event services.
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Top event planning conferences to attend in 2026 in the summer
The Meetings Show
24-25 June 2026 | ExCeL London
The Meetings Show is the UK’s top platform for the meetings and events community. It brings together more than 12,000 people and 250 exhibitors for two days of networking, learning, and connecting. Attendees get a full experience of meetings, events, and business travel because the show is held at the same time as the Business Travel Show Europe and TravelTech Show.Â
The programme covers useful topics like sustainability, hybrid events, diversity and inclusion, and professional growth. The new 25,000 square metre ICC Expansion at ExCeL London will make the venue better for 2026.
Best for: Corporate event planners, event managers for associations, and sales teams for venues.
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Reset Connect London
23-24 June 2026 | ExCeL London
The UK’s award-winning sustainability ecosystem event brings together 7,500 people, 400 speakers, and 300 exhibitors who are all working on decarbonisation and changing the way businesses work.Â
Reset Connect gives event planners ideas for net-zero strategies, green investments, and long-lasting solutions that they can use in their work. Peer-to-peer learning and problem-solving are encouraged at collaborative workshops and roundtables that focus on the problems of putting on sustainable events.
Best for: Event sustainability leaders, venue owners who want to cut carbon emissions, and suppliers who want to make eco-friendly products.
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Autumn 2026: Specialist events
Event Organisers Summit
12-13 October 2026 | Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre, London Heathrow
The Event Organisers Summit is not like other exhibitions. Instead of a trade show floor, this event is all about prearranged one-on-one meetings between buyers and suppliers. This makes sure that the conversations are useful and not just random encounters.Â
The program has keynote speeches, discussion panels, and certification programs that cover new trends and best practices. The summit shows that the industry is dedicated to diversity and inclusion by working with Women in Exhibitions (WIE).
Best for: Senior event planners who want to meet with specific suppliers, people who want to get certified, and professionals who value structured networking.
Event Tech Live
11-12 November 2026 | ExCeL London
Event Tech Live is the only event in Europe that is all about event technology. It shows off the newest tools that are changing how events are planned, delivered, and measured. The 2026 edition, now in its 12th year, will have live demonstrations, hands-on activities, and product launches for AI-powered tools, immersive visual design, registration platforms, and engagement solutions.Â
The Event Technology Awards that go along with this event honour new ideas in the field. This free event is a must-attend for anyone who is thinking about investing in event technology. It has over 2,500 attendees and 100 exhibitors.
Best for: People who buy event technology, digital event managers, venues that need to upgrade their tech infrastructure, and event agencies.
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The Sustainable Events Show
October/November 2026 (date and venue TBC) | Central London
For the sixth year in a row, the UK’s first event trade show focused on sustainability is back. This one-day event gives event buyers and suppliers who care about the environment a place to meet and talk. There are more than 100 environmentally friendly exhibitors at the show, covering venues, event services, and event technology.Â
Attendees can find suppliers who really care about the environment. The seminar program includes industry experts talking about real-world problems, and Innovation Hour shows off the newest eco-friendly event technologies. Conference Badges is happy to be the official registration partner for this important event in the industry.
Best for: Event planners who care about the environment, procurement teams with ESG requirements, and suppliers who want to show off their sustainable credentials.
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Maximising your conference investment
Attending industry conferences takes a lot of time, money, and effort. From our work with event professionals in many fields, here are some tips for getting the most out of your investment:
- Sign up early for hosted buyer programs if they are available. IMEX Frankfurt and other similar events offer hosted buyer packages that include travel and lodging in exchange for agreeing to meet at certain times.
- Before you get there, use event apps and networking tools to set up meetings. Most big conferences now have technology that helps people find connections that are relevant.
- Make a list of questions to ask suppliers at meetings. Everyone’s time is wasted when conversations are vague. Focused conversations about your real needs lead to successful partnerships.
- Go to educational sessions on purpose. Instead of trying to go to everything, pick three or four sessions that deal with the problems you’re having right now.
- Write down your thoughts right away to share with coworkers who couldn’t make it. The best time to use new ideas is when you write them down and act on them right away.
- Within a week, get in touch with all of your important contacts again. A short email that refers to your conversation keeps things moving and shows that you are professional.
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Building your 2026 calendar
Since events happen all year long, think about how each conference fits into your planning cycles and goals for professional growth. Commit to your attendance and get early-bird rates, great hotel rates and flights for those events happening during gaps between your clients’ events. Be more cautious about committing early to industry events that you may have to pull out of if your client events ramp up.
The 2026 calendar has great events for event professionals at all levels, whether you’re looking for new suppliers, learning about new trends, or building your professional network.
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About Conferences Badges
Conference Badges Ltd is a UK-based company that specialises in event registration and badges. We have been helping companies like Google, Microsoft, Heathrow, HSBC, and Ford deliver great onsite registration experiences for more than 20 years. We have eco-friendly badges, seed paper badges that grow wildflowers, and recycled PET lanyards made from plastic recovered from the ocean. We are the official registration partner for the Sustainable Events Show.
