IAAPA Expo Europe 2026 concludes after record-breaking London event
IAAPA Expo Europe 2026 has officially come to a close at ExCeL London, bringing together the global attractions industry for five days of business, education, networking and discovery.
This year’s event welcomed 16,530 verified attendees from 18,719 registered visitors, including 11,710 qualified buyers representing 8,956 buying companies across 118 countries.
The show floor covered more than 22,800 square metres, making it the largest in IAAPA Expo Europe’s history. More than 870 exhibitors were on hand to showcase new products, technologies, services and experiences from across the attractions sector.
The milestone show floor represents 50 per cent growth since IAAPA Expo Europe was last held in London in 2022, reflecting the continued scale and diversity of the global attractions industry.
Visitors represented a wide range of attractions and businesses, including amusement and theme parks, water parks, family entertainment centres, zoos, aquariums, museums, resorts and cultural attractions.
“The growth we’ve seen since we were last in London four years ago speaks volumes about the strength of the attractions industry,” said Peter van der Schans, Executive Director and Vice President, IAAPA ESA. “You could feel the momentum across the show floor all week long. From collaborative innovations being unveiled to new information being shared, Expo Europe is ultimately about bringing our industry together, and London gave us an incredible stage to do just that, while also looking ahead to what’s next.”
Education and industry insight
The event extended well beyond the exhibition floor, with more than 70 educational opportunities featuring 190 speakers.
Sessions gave attendees the opportunity to hear from industry experts and explore some of the key issues shaping attractions today, including the changing guest experience, emerging AI technologies, safety, sustainability, leadership and operations.
Attendees could also take part in exclusive EDUTours visiting some of the UK’s leading attractions. The programme included Chessington World of Adventures Resort and LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, alongside A Merlin Entertainments Halloween hosted at Thorpe Park, home to one of the UK’s leading Halloween events.
Strong media presence
IAAPA Expo Europe 2026 also attracted considerable media attention from across the UK and international markets.
More than 160 journalists and media professionals visited the onsite IAAPA Press Office, with representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands and other markets.
Coverage from outlets including De Telegraaf, London Daily News, The Caterer and National World highlighted new developments, emerging trends and the continued growth of the global attractions industry.
Across five days, IAAPA Expo Europe 2026 provided a meeting point for the attractions community, bringing together businesses, operators, suppliers and industry professionals to share ideas, discover new developments and look towards the future of the sector.
The next edition of IAAPA Expo Europe will take place in Vienna, Austria, from 20–24 September 2027
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