Spain's exhibition sector celebrates the 11th Global Exhibitions Day with excellent prospects for 2026

The members of the Spanish Trade Fairs Association (AFE) and the wider exhibition sector celebrate the eleventh Global Exhibitions Day (GED) on 3 June, an initiative promoted by UFI, the Paris-based global association of the exhibition industry, of which AFE is a member alongside some 50 other national and regional associations. This year's campaign centres on the message 'Exhibitions drive opportunities' — for people, for business performance and for the planet. According to AFE's figures, in 2025 its members held 472 fairs (445 in 2024) with 64,236 exhibitors (+6.9%), 4,065,710 m² of net occupied space (+2%), 6.8 million visitors (+9.8%) and 386,033 registered virtual visitors. The annual impact of Spain's exhibition market is estimated at 13.6 billion euros, contributing 6.9 billion euros to GDP and sustaining 124,400 direct and indirect jobs. AFE president Xabier Basañez noted that 'once again this year, the benchmark indicators show growing figures for the Spanish exhibition sector' and said the association expects an excellent 2026. Globally, UFI estimates the market at 32,000 fairs a year, 1,530 venues, 4.7 million exhibitors, 317.7 million visitors and a GDP contribution of 215 billion euros, with 4.3 million jobs linked to the activity.