Event: ICCA Global Venue Experts Forum 2026
Demand. Investment. Growth.
Leadership Decisions for the Next Generation of Venues
Date: 10 – 11 September, 2026
Location: Shougang Convention and Exhibition Center, Shougang Park, Beijing, China
The venue industry is entering one of the most important periods in its history
Around the world, governments, investors, and venue owners continue to invest billions of dollars in convention centres, exhibition facilities, arenas, and event infrastructure. Yet the challenges facing venue leaders today extend far beyond buildings, operations, and occupancy.
- Demand is changing.
- Customer expectations are evolving.
- Investment decisions are becoming more scrutinised.
- Competition is increasing.
And venues are being asked to create value in ways that were rarely considered a decade ago.
The questions are no longer simply about how to run a venue.
They are about how to ensure venues remain relevant, competitive, and valuable in a rapidly changing world.
- Where will future demand come from?
- What do organisers, audiences, and communities value most?
- What makes a venue worthy of continued investment?
- How can venues unlock new opportunities for growth?
- And what decisions must be made today to prepare for tomorrow?
Taking place in Beijing, the third edition of the ICCA Global Venue Experts Forum (GVEF) brings together venue owners, investors, operators, event organisers, entrepreneurs, association leaders, destination representatives, government stakeholders, and industry experts from around the world.
The future of venues will not be shaped by venue leaders alone. It will be influenced by the organisations creating demand, the investors allocating capital, the governments supporting development, the associations bringing communities together, and the entrepreneurs redefining customer expectations.
GVEF brings these perspectives together in one forum, creating a unique opportunity to understand the forces shaping the future of venues and the wider business events ecosystem.
Beyond the programme itself, GVEF provides an opportunity to engage with venue owners, investors, organisers, association leaders, government representatives, entrepreneurs, and industry experts from around the world. The Forum is designed to encourage meaningful dialogue, exchange perspectives across sectors and markets, and build relationships that continue beyond the event itself.
Each session has been designed around a strategic question shaping the future of venues. Together, they explore not only the trends influencing the industry, but also the decisions that will determine where future demand comes from, how value is created, and what will distinguish the most successful venues in the decade ahead.
Why this conversation matters?
- Because demand is changing.
- Because investment is being questioned.
- Because customer expectations are evolving.
- Because the next generation of venues will look different.
- And because the decisions made today will shape the future of venues for years to come.
For Speakers & Topics, click HERE
For Programme Overview, click HERE
For Venue, click HERE
About CIFTIS, click HERE
Registration is complimentary. Stay tuned for more updates.
Hotel suggestions (Shijingshan District): (list to be updated)
- Shangri-La Shougang Park, Beijing (Group rate is applicable on 8 – 13 September 2026, click HERE). First come first served basis.
- Holiday Inn Express Beijing Shijingshan Lakeview by IHG
- Holiday Inn Express Beijing Shijingshan Parkview by IHG
For more information and assistance, please contact ICCA team at gvef2026@theealchemist.com
