• In 2025, a total of 472 trade fairs were held, with more than 6.8 million registered visitors, 64,200 exhibitors and an economic impact of 13.6 billion euros
• The members of the Spanish Trade Fairs Association and the exhibition industry as a whole will celebrate the 11th edition of Global Exhibitions Day, or International Trade Fair Day, on Wednesday, 3 June

This initiative is promoted by UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, the world’s leading association for the sector, based in Paris, which brings together companies, organisations, institutions and professionals from more than 100 countries each year. AFE is a member of UFI, alongside 50 other national and regional associations that support the initiative within their respective areas of influence.

Global Exhibitions Day aims, above all, to raise awareness and improve understanding of the importance and economic and social impact of exhibition activity. This year, the GED campaign focuses particularly on one message: “Exhibitions drive opportunities”. Three key messages highlight the many opportunities that trade fairs offer:

• Exhibitions drive opportunities for people by encouraging teamwork, expanding skills and creating meaningful connections that support careers, communities and global collaboration.
• Exhibitions drive opportunities for performance by boosting business growth, opening up new markets and enabling companies of all sizes to thrive through direct interaction with customers and real connections with the market.
• Exhibitions drive opportunities for the planet by accelerating sustainable solutions, showcasing green innovations and promoting responsible practices that help industries reduce their environmental impact.

The president of AFE, Xabier Basañez, stated: “We have now reached the 11th edition of Global Exhibitions Day, which is a key date in the calendar for our industry and an exceptional opportunity for companies and professionals in the sector to celebrate. Fortunately, once again this year, the benchmark indicators show growing figures for the Spanish exhibition sector. GED 2026 has chosen to highlight the opportunities associated with trade fairs: opportunities for people, for businesses and for the planet, through innovations, sustainable practices and solutions, an aspect that is becoming increasingly important in our activity.”

The Spanish Trade Fairs Association, like similar associations around the world, has spent recent weeks sharing messages and images related to GED and to the exhibition industry through its website and social media channels. As in previous years, AFE members have joined this communication campaign and have planned different activities to commemorate the day, celebrating it alongside professionals from other countries and regions. These include videos, newsletters and press releases, internal events with staff, social media messages, website banners, institutional statements and group photos featuring GED visuals, among others.

The Spanish exhibition market

Regarding the activity of the members of the Spanish Trade Fairs Association, the figures for trade fairs held in 2025 are as follows:

• Total number of trade fairs and events with commercial exhibition space: 472, compared with 445 in 2024.
• Number of exhibitors: 64,236, up 6.9% compared with 2024.
• Total net exhibition space occupied by exhibitors: 4,065,710 m², up 2%.
• Total number of visitors: 6.8 million, up 9.8%.
• Other registered virtual visitors: 386,033, compared with 46,295 in 2024.

In addition, the figures relating to the annual impact of the Spanish exhibition market as a whole are:

• Economic impact: 13.6 billion euros, including direct, indirect and induced impact.
• Contribution to GDP: 6.9 billion euros, including direct, indirect and induced impact.
• Direct and indirect jobs generated by exhibition activity: 124,400.

These figures reflect the evolution and importance of exhibition activity in terms of economic impact and job creation. The association also expects an excellent 2026, both in the number of trade fairs held and in the remaining indicators, as has been reflected in the press releases and statements issued by its members across Spain in the months already elapsed this year.

Trade fairs still do not receive, in our view, the attention or recognition they deserve. They are essential tools for companies across a wide range of economic sectors and generate a significant regional impact, benefiting numerous local activities and contributing to the creation of wealth and employment.

The global exhibition market

To demonstrate the importance of the sector’s activity, the following are the main figures calculated by Oxford Economics and shared by UFI regarding the global exhibition market in 2025:

• Trade fairs: 32,000 annually.
• Exhibition venues: 1,530, including 520 in Europe.
• Exhibitors: 4.7 million, including 1.3 million in Europe.
• Visitors: 317.7 million, including 101.7 million in Europe.
• Net exhibition space occupied: 138 million m², including 43.2 million m² in Europe.
• Contribution to GDP: 215 billion euros, including 54 billion euros in Europe, in direct, indirect and induced GDP.
• Direct and indirect jobs generated by exhibition activity: 4.3 million, including 1 million in Europe.

The Spanish Trade Fairs Association is a non-profit organisation founded in 1964. It currently has 55 member organisations and represents the exhibition industry in Spain and internationally. In terms of exhibition activity, Spain is among the leading countries in Europe, alongside Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom.

More information about GED: https://www.ufi.org/events/global-exhibitions-day