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15 Apr 2026

UK exhibitions reach highest level in a decade according to EIA 2025 SASIE report

UK exhibitions reach highest level in a decade according to EIA 2025 SASIE report

The Events Industry Alliance (EIA) – the collective associations of AEO, AEV and ESSA, has published the tenth Size and Scale Index for Exhibitions (SASIE) report.

SASIE continues to provide the authoritative market intelligence for the UK exhibitions and wider business events sector. Based on a decade of consistent research and analysis, SASIE provides an unparalleled view of both long‑term trends and year‑on‑year performance. It plays a crucial role in strengthening the case for appropriate government recognition and support, while giving investors the confidence to back a sector that has once again demonstrated its resilience and growth potential.

The scale and impact of the UK’s events industry in 2025 underline this success. Now worth an estimated £68.7 billion to the national economy, the sector is without doubt a cornerstone of UK growth, driving innovation, enabling trade and showcasing the UK as a world‑class destination for business and tourism. Business events account for a substantial share of this contribution, with exhibitions alone generating £11.5 billion in economic output and supporting 126,000 jobs.

Ian Taylor, chief operating officer, NEC, AEV chair and current EIA chair, commented, “The findings in the 2025 report are encouraging. The total number of UK exhibitions increased significantly compared with 2024 and reached their highest level since 2015, confirming sustained growth since 2022 despite the combined impacts of Brexit, global uncertainty and ongoing inflationary pressures.”

In 2025, there were an estimated 1,154 exhibitions and conferences (with an exhibition element) at the UK’s main exhibition venues with an estimated 6.8m visits. Trade exhibitions accounted for the largest share (42%) with consumer exhibitions accounting for just under a third.

Taylor added,  “The sector has long played a central role in promoting the UK’s strengths at home and internationally and 2025 was no exception demonstrated by the announcement that DreamHack and ESL One – two of the world’s largest and most prestigious events in the field – would come to Birmingham in March 2026, marking a major vote of confidence in the UK as a destination for global, next‑generation events. While this is a single example, it represents a microcosm of the much wider impact the events sector has across some of the UK’s most strategically important industries, including advanced manufacturing, technology and life sciences.”

Rachel Parker, CEO, AEV said “As an industry, we must continue to champion the vital role exhibitions play in supporting local economies and innovative industries including those from the Industrial Strategy, creating jobs and enabling the success of the UK’s most dynamic and high‑growth sectors.”

Taylor continued, “Our sincere thanks go to the members of AEV and AEO who continue to share performance data and insights. Without their ongoing commitment, SASIE would not be possible. I encourage you to read, use and share the report widely.”

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  • The events industry is only as good as the sum of its parts – the EIA represents all parts of our amazing industry. We are members because together we are so much stronger and are therefore so much better placed to deal with both our challenges and the massive opportunities that lie ahead.
    Simon Parker
    CIBSE
  • The EIA serves as the quintessential industry forum and working group representing the cornerstones critical to all events; the organiser, the venue and the supply chain providing goods and services to the sector. Whilst it’s always been a valuable alliance for the industry, in these times of post-pandemic economic uncertainty and geo-political challenges, the ability for the industry to convene, confer and communicate as a unified sector is imperative as we seek to grow and have an even greater impact on the UK’s social and economic landscape.
    Shaun Hinds
    Newbury Racecourse
  • The EIA is a great forum for collaboration between three of the major UK business events associations. It’s so important as an industry that we speak with one voice, that we collaborate on the biggest issues that we face and that we build mutual understanding and respect. The EIA provides the opportunity to do all of these things and is a made more powerful by all of our contributions.
    Carina Bauer
    IMEX

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