Average Size, Duration, Visitor and Exhibitor Numbers at UK Exhibitions Remain at 75% to 90% of Pre-Covid Levels

Indexed to 2015 as 100, most average measures for UK exhibitions had still not returned to pre-Covid levels in 2025: the average gross size index stood at 79, with trade exhibitions on 82 and consumer exhibitions on 90; the average number of exhibiting companies per event was at 74, with trade on 75 and consumer on 78; and the total number of exhibiting companies at primary venues was at 78, with trade on 81 and consumer on 72. Taken together, average gross size, duration, visitor numbers and exhibitor numbers sit at roughly 75% to 90% of their pre-Covid levels. For trade exhibitions, average gross size and exhibitor numbers have been static since 2022 at around 75% to 80% of previous levels; average hire days have reduced slightly since 2022 but open days have increased and are near their 2019 level. For consumer exhibitions the picture is more varied: average exhibitor numbers have moved up and down since 2022 and are around 80% of pre-Covid, average gross size and hire days have declined since 2022 but stand at around 90% of pre-Covid, and open days levelled off in 2025.