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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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