EIC releases full 2026 Global Economic Significance study: business events supported US$3.1 trillion in sales and 24.2 million jobs

The Events Industry Council, with Oxford Economics, released the full 2026 Global Economic Significance of Business Events Study on 4 August 2026. Business events brought together 1.65 billion participants across more than 180 countries in 2025 and generated US$1.3 trillion in direct spending, US$759 billion in direct GDP and 9.7 million direct jobs. Including indirect and induced activity, the sector supported US$3.1 trillion in total business sales, US$1.8 trillion in global GDP and 24.2 million jobs; every US$1.00 of direct spending generated a further US$1.37. North America led direct spending with US$487.7 billion (37.8% of the world total), while Asia reached US$352.8 billion and overtook Western Europe at US$328 billion. By segment, corporate and business events accounted for US$566 billion, conventions, conferences and congresses US$383.2 billion, trade shows US$178.5 billion and incentives US$86.6 billion. Trade shows alone drew 318 million participants and supported US$444 billion in total business sales, US$256 billion in GDP and 4.3 million jobs. Oxford Economics forecasts direct spending of US$1.6 trillion by 2028, average annualised growth of 6.7% from 2025, with direct employment reaching about 10.4 million jobs, within 4.1% of 2019 levels. The study drew on a survey of more than 1,600 organisers, venues, DMOs and suppliers plus exhibition data from UFI and CEIR. Survey respondents attributed 22% of new customers to in-person events, said 28% of revenue would be lost without them, and estimated US$11 of incremental revenue for every US$1 invested.