EN Roundtables 2026

Join senior leaders from across the exhibition industry on 21st April for a series of expert led roundtable discussions tackling some of the most important challenges and opportunities facing organisers today. Designed specifically for exhibition professionals, these sessions provide a space for open and honest conversations about the issues shaping the future of events.

Each roundtable brings together organisers, suppliers, and industry experts to share perspectives, exchange experiences, and explore practical solutions to common challenges. From the impact of AI on event marketing to the changing dynamics of audience growth, workforce challenges onsite, and the evolving value of networking, the discussions will focus on the topics that matter most to the industry right now.

Unlike traditional conference sessions, these roundtables are designed to be interactive and collaborative. Attendees will have the opportunity to contribute to the discussion, ask questions, and hear directly from peers facing similar challenges across the exhibition sector.

Expect practical insights, fresh thinking, and valuable connections with fellow industry professionals, all in a focused setting designed to encourage meaningful conversation and shared learning.

Spaces for each roundtable are limited to ensure focused, high-quality discussion.

Sign up for your free space now! 🚀

Roundtable Timings

09:00-09:40 | Arrivals & Registration

09:45-10:05 | Opening Keynote Session

10:10-10:50 | Discussion 1

10:55-11:35 | Discussion 2

11:40-11:55 | Networking Break

12:00-12:40 | Discussion 3

12:45-14:00 | Networking Lunch

Roundtable Sessions

• How organisers are evolving their offerings to meet the data and ROI needs of the sponsors
Hosted by: Bridged Media

Traditional sponsorship models are being challenged as organisers look for fresh ways to deliver value and drive revenue in a shifting market. While much of the conversation around AI focuses on marketing efficiency, its untapped potential lies in creating high-margin, AI-native products that sponsors are eager to fund—moving beyond simple branding to direct engagement and data-driven results.

This roundtable will explore how exhibition organisers can practically monetise AI-driven solutions to "put dollars in their pockets". We will discuss the emergence of sponsor-controlled agents and portals that provide exhibitors with real-time intent data, interactive engagement tools, and transparent ROI. The session will focus on turning AI from a back-end tool into a front-end revenue engine, ensuring events remain profitable even during market slumps.

• How Leading Exhibitions Are Filling Rooms Without Blowing the Ad Budget
Hosted by InGo

Marketing budgets are under pressure, yet expectations for audience growth continue to rise. So how are leading exhibitions driving registrations while keeping costs under control?

This session will explore the strategies organisers are using to grow attendance more efficiently, including referral marketing, community driven promotion, and smarter use of existing audiences.

• If AI Can’t Find Your Event, Does It Exist?
Hosted by ASP

As AI powered search tools become more common, the way people discover events is rapidly changing. If your event cannot easily be found by AI driven platforms and search engines, you may be missing potential attendees.

This roundtable will explore how organisers can ensure their events remain visible in an AI first search landscape, from improving digital discoverability to optimising event content and online presence.

• The CORE Ageing Onsite Workforce
Hosted by Flow Design & Build

The exhibition industry relies heavily on experienced onsite teams, but many areas of the workforce are ageing, raising questions about the long term sustainability of event delivery.

This discussion will examine the challenges facing the onsite workforce and explore potential solutions, including attracting new talent, developing skills pipelines, and adapting working practices to support the next generation of event professionals.

• The ROI of Connection: Validating the 2026 Networking Value Proposition
Hosted by MapYourShow

Networking has always been one of the core value propositions of exhibitions, but how can organisers effectively measure and demonstrate its impact?

This session will explore how organisers can better understand, track, and communicate the value of connections made at events, using data, technology, and new engagement strategies to prove networking ROI.

RT Sponsors