After a 52-year hiatus, İzmir will once again host the UFI European Conference. The event, to be held at Fuar İzmir, will bring together exhibition professionals from around the world to discuss the key issues shaping the future of the industry.

İzmir is preparing to host an international event organized by the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) for the first time in 52 years. Hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and İZFAŞ, the UFI European Conference will take place at Fuar İzmir from June 3–5, 2026. The conference is expected to welcome approximately 350 delegates, including exhibition organizers, venue operators, service providers, and industry professionals from across Europe.

Next-Generation Applications
İzmir previously hosted UFI congresses in 1966 and 1974. The city, where the foundations of modern exhibition organization in Türkiye were laid with the 1923 İzmir Economic Congress, gained an important place in the international exhibition network when the İzmir International Fair became a UFI member in 1947. More than half a century later, the UFI European Conference will once again highlight İzmir’s deep-rooted exhibition heritage and strong position within the European exhibition industry.
Throughout the conference, participants will discuss topics shaping the future of the sector, including sustainability, digital transformation, data management, visitor experience, next-generation exhibition models, and new business networking approaches. Emerging applications such as AI-powered matchmaking systems, smart visitor analytics, and data-driven event management will also be examined. The event aims to create new networking and collaboration opportunities for industry representatives.

“We Will Welcome Leading Representatives of the Industry to Our City”
İZFAŞ General Manager Tuğçe Cumalıoğlu stated that hosting the UFI European Conference in İzmir is highly significant for the city’s exhibition identity.
“İzmir is among the most established exhibition centers in both Türkiye and Europe. Hosting a UFI event again after 52 years demonstrates our city’s extensive exhibition expertise and international organizational capacity. Thanks to the experience of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and İZFAŞ, the infrastructure of Fuar İzmir, and İzmir’s strong commercial culture, we will welcome some of the industry’s most important representatives to our city.”
Cumalıoğlu also emphasized that the conference would contribute to İzmir’s international promotion:
“Throughout history, İzmir has been a major center for trade and exhibitions. Through the UFI European Conference, we aim to increase our city’s international visibility, create opportunities for new partnerships, and further strengthen İzmir’s position within the global exhibition network. Cultural and technical tours organized as part of the conference will also introduce participants to İzmir’s historical, cultural, and tourism assets.”

Showcasing İzmir’s Historical, Cultural, and Tourism Assets
As part of the conference program, participants will be offered technical and cultural tours to various locations, including the Ancient City of Ephesus, Kemeraltı Bazaar, and İzmir’s city center. Throughout the event, delegates will be introduced to the city’s rich historical, cultural, and tourism values.
The conference is expected not only to foster new partnerships within the exhibition industry but also to enhance the international visibility of İzmir’s identity as a city of fairs and exhibitions.

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