Knowing what to expect when it comes to the growth of the meetings and events market will help planners stay ahead of tariff changes, macro trends and global economic shifts.

Even with all the turmoil this year has brought to date, the market size for events and exhibitions is anticipated to expand from $47.66 billion in 2024 to $50.32 billion in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6%. This growth is in large part thanks to factors such as enhanced business networking opportunities, a rise in consumer’s demand for experiences, economic development, support from government and institutions, infrastructure development and increased investment in marketing by corporations.

But that’s just for this year. How will the event and exhibition market size evolve and over the next several years? According to the Event and Exhibition Global Market Report from The Business Research Company, expect more robust expansion for the event and exhibition market in the coming years. The report anticipates projections placing the segment’s worth at $63.1 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 5.8%.

Among the factors behind this growth over the next four years are the emergence of hybrid and virtual events, the development of nascent markets, an upsurge in demand for experiential marketing, amplified expenditure on event technology, and a rise in corporate and consumer events. Key trends to be on the lookout for over the rest of this decade include the union of virtual and augmented reality, events with sustainability and environmental considerations, a rise in the use of AI and automation in event planning, strategies for events based on data, and customized event experiences, according to the report.

One of the biggest drivers propelling the growth of the event and exhibition market is an anticipated surge in funding for corporate conferences and events as companies dedicate resources and finances to arrange gatherings for networking, brand advertising, knowledge exchange and business expansion. Corporate events that emphasize networking, brand exposure and direct client interaction are gaining prominence, according to the report. As the investment in this type of event increases, look for a corresponding increase in demand for venues like hotels and conference centers as well as unique event spaces, which likely will lead to longer booking lead times.

Technology also is a major driver in making operations more efficient and boosting engagement by facilitating safe payment transactions, effective ticket distribution, immediate validation, and holistic event ticket management. One example cited in the report is an integrated merchant services solution introduced in 2023 by Leap Event Technology, a U.S. event tech company, to facilitate payment management for event organizers. This solution, powered by Stripe, also provides tools to protect against fraud to ensure the security of transactions without adding costs.