Welcome to the latest edition of Snöcap.
Informa has reported a 6.8% rise in first-half underlying revenue, driven largely by its B2B Live Events division, which grew 8.0% in the period. The group has reaffirmed its full-year guidance and raised its share buyback programme to £350m.
Meanwhile, Singapore has set out plans to triple its MICE tourism receipts by 2040, even as rivals in the region draw away major events. The city-state’s tourism board said receipts reached S$2.3bn in 2025, up 35% on the previous year. Read the full stories below.
Here are the headlines from this week’s roundup:
Get the full stories below:
Informa H1 Revenue Jumps 6.8% On Strong Demand For B2B Live Events
Informa PLC reported underlying revenue growth of 6.8% for the first half of 2026, excluding non-recurring data contracts, as its B2B Live Events division led the gains.
The group also reiterated its full-year guidance and raised its 2026 share buyback program to £350 million.
Stephen A. Carter, group chief executive of Informa, said: “Informa delivered another period of strong performance and underlying growth.”
Carter added: “Our market-leading Brands, investment in first party data and depth and breadth in both geographic and customer markets are underpinning consistently strong performances in B2B Live Events and Academic Markets. We continue to have forward momentum and are reaffirming full year guidance and increasing our share buyback commitment.”
Financial highlights for the first half of 2026 include:
- Reported revenue of £2,063.8 million, compared with £2,035.9 million in the first half of 2025
- Adjusted operating profit of £548.3 million, down from £578.9 million a year earlier
- Adjusted diluted earnings per share of 26.6 pence, compared with 29.8 pence in the prior-year period
- Statutory operating profit of £323.3 million, reversing a loss of £137.0 million in the first half of 2025
- Underlying operating profit growth of 6.9%, excluding non-recurring data contracts
Informa said Group revenue of $4.5 billion is committed or visible through subscriptions, forward bookings and contracts, representing around 80% of its 2026 targeted revenues.
The company completed a €500 million six-year Eurobond, extending its pro-forma average debt maturity to 4.4 years.
B2B Live Events leads growth
B2B Live Events posted underlying revenue growth of 8.0% in the first half, with Informa Markets up more than 10%, Informa Connect up more than 5% and Informa Festivals up around 2%.
The company cited strength across The Americas, Greater China, ASEAN, Europe and IMEA markets not affected by conflict, which together represent about 90% of 2026 B2B Live Events revenue. To manage volatility in conflict-affected parts of IMEA, Informa said it is applying operating practices including pursuing growth in unaffected markets and maintaining customer relationships through added contract flexibility.
The division’s full-year guidance remains at more than 7% underlying revenue growth.
Academic Markets, digital services
Academic Markets recorded underlying revenue growth of 5.4% in the first half, excluding non-recurring data contracts, with the company citing performances in Open Research, Subscriptions and Advanced Learning. Full-year guidance for the division remains at 4% underlying revenue growth.
B2B Digital Services, which includes Informa TechTarget, reported underlying revenue 1.3% lower in the first half, which the company attributed to a subdued market as U.S. enterprise technology companies prioritize AI investment over product marketing. Informa maintained its full-year guidance for revenue growth in the division.
Informa also said its Lead Insights platform has been adopted by around 15,000 exhibitors across 160 events, and its brand identity has been adopted by around 600 specialist B2B brands.
Singapore Defies Regional Competition, Targets Tripling MICE Tourism by 2040
Singapore is targeting a tripling of its MICE tourism receipts by 2040 even as regional competitors draw away major events, the Singapore Tourism Board said.
Poh Chi Chuan, executive director of exhibitions and conferences at the Singapore Tourism Board, said: “MICE tourism receipts reached S$2.3 billion (US$1.8 billion) in 2025, up 35 per cent from 2024. With a robust pipeline of secured events… Singapore continues to attract the world’s leading business events.”
The country has lost some events to regional rivals, including Aviation Festival Asia, which is moving to Bangkok in 2027, and Vinexpo Asia, which is remaining in Hong Kong.
Key 2025-2026 figures include:
- MICE tourism receipts of S$2.3bn (US$1.8bn) in 2025, up 35%
- Food & Hospitality Asia drew more than 70,000 attendees in April
- Milipol TechX drew more than 21,000 attendees
- Singapore Maritime Week drew more than 34,000 attendees
- Asia Tech x Singapore drew more than 22,000 exhibition visitors in May
- Singapore International Water Week drew 23,000 delegates in June
- The Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence Conference drew nearly 10,000 attendees in January
- The Herbalife Asia Pacific Extravaganza drew 20,000 delegates in June
Trade exhibitions have expanded through new and rebranded formats. July brought the largest edition of the Singapore International Jewellery Expo in 21 years, along with the return of the World Diamond Congress after 38 years.
Ilaria Cicero, CEO of organiser IEG Asia, said: “These events create an unparalleled platform for international business… strengthening Singapore’s position as the region’s premier jewellery hub.”
The second half of 2026 includes International Built Environment Week, Global Connect Singapore, Tech Week Singapore and the inaugural Passenger Terminal Expo Asia in September, followed by Singapore International Energy Week in October and the Singapore FinTech Festival in November.
UKi Media & Events, organiser of Passenger Terminal Expo Asia, said it launched the event in Singapore “to support the rapid expansion of the airport industry throughout Asia.”
October will also see the return of the World Congress of Chinese Medicine after 19 years, along with All That Matters and the Milken Institute Asia Summit.
Poh said: “We remain committed to our ambition of tripling MICE tourism receipts by 2040, cementing Singapore as the World’s Best MICE City.”
Easyfairs Launches New Trade Fair Series Focused on Electronic Solutions
Easyfairs is launching a new trade fair series dedicated to electronic solutions, with the first event scheduled for September 2027 in Germany, the company said this week.
The series, called “all about electronic solutions,” will bring together component manufacturers, distributors, embedded specialists, EMS providers, system suppliers, engineering partners and development managers, according to Easyfairs.
In a LinkedIn post, Easyfairs said: “This new series reflects our ambition to grow in attractive specialist markets by building focused event concepts with clear value for the community and strong long-term potential.”
The company added: “As the electronics development landscape continues to evolve, we see real opportunity to create a platform that brings the right people, expertise and partnerships together – and a huge scope for developing the portfolio across geographies.”
The first edition will be organized by Easyfairs Germany and held September 29-30, 2027, at the Ulm Exhibition Centre.
Easyfairs said the launch responds to growing complexity in electronics development: “Components, hardware, embedded software, engineering and industrialisation have to work together ever more closely. Successful development projects therefore require not just the right technologies, but also the right partners and expertise.”
The company said the event will center on one question: what does it take to turn an idea into a successful electronic product or system.
TSNN Launches New Podcast for Trade Show Marketers, Episode 1 Out!
Trade Show News Network has launched a new weekly podcast for trade show marketers, with the first episode now available, the company said.
The podcast, called Show & Grow Marketing Playbook, is co-hosted by Caitlin Rodgers, senior director of marketing for foodservice exhibitions at Informa Connect, and Emily Golding, vice president of strategic account management at mdg. Rodgers markets the National Restaurant Association Show, the largest independently operated trade show in North America, while Golding’s agency works on the same event’s marketing campaigns.
TSNN VP of Content Danica Tormohlen joined Rodgers and Golding in the inaugural episode to discuss real-time, actionable trade show marketing strategies. The hosts plan to cover new marketing tools and campaign timelines each week as they roll out strategies for the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show, set for May at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Topics covered in the first episode include:
- Real-time, actionable trade show marketing content
- Using data and quick decision-making to improve trade show performance
- Generational and international considerations in event marketing
- Partnership strategies and geographic targeting from recent campaigns
- Combining data-driven insights with human connection
Rodgers has more than 25 years of experience in the foodservice industry and has led marketing for the National Restaurant Association Show since joining Winsight Exhibitions in May 2021. Golding works with events including the National Restaurant Association Show and NAB Show, and said the best event marketing is “equal parts strategic and human.”
The full first episode is available on TSNN’s website and podcast platforms.
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