Exhibitions Industry Gears Up for UFI Global Congress in Bahrain as Association Names New Board of Directors

Welcome to the latest edition of Snöcap.

SPOTLIGHT: For four days starting Nov. 2, eventprofs will gather in Bahrain to meet and talk about exhibitions. The 93rd UFI Global Congress, held at Exhibition World Bahrain in Sakhir, is the first to take place in the kingdom. Its theme, “Stronger Connections, Smarter Futures,” lands at a time when organizers have spent much of the year rescheduling events and recalculating forecasts.

The gathering also brings a change at the top. A newly elected 59-member board takes office after the association’s General Assembly on opening day, and Wolfram Diener of Messe Düsseldorf Group will succeed Panittha Buri as UFI president before the week is out. Lord Stephen Carter of Informa gives the keynote, and Hugh Jones of RX closes the first day.

If you’re making the trip, Snöball is the congress’s official digital marketing partner, and our team will be at Stand 4. Come say hello.

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Exhibitions Industry Gears Up for UFI Global Congress in Bahrain as Association Names New Board of Directors

Exhibition industry leaders are arriving in Bahrain for the 93rd UFI Global Congress, where the newly elected Board of Directors of UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, will also take office.

Running November 2–5 at Exhibition World Bahrain in Sakhir, the congress is being held in the kingdom for the first time. This year’s theme, “Stronger Connections, Smarter Futures,” will set the stage for discussions on the future of the global exhibition industry.

Lord Stephen Carter, Group Chief Executive of Informa, will deliver the keynote address, titled “Power of Live,” while Hugh Jones, CEO of RX, will close the first day’s programme.

The newly elected Board comprises 59 members, against a maximum of 61, and will serve a three-year term from 2026 to 2029. Its members include senior executives from Messe Frankfurt, RX, Informa Markets, Fiera Milano, dmg events and the Javits Center. Their terms officially begin following the UFI General Assembly, scheduled for November 2 during the congress.

Panittha Buri, UFI President and Vice Chairperson of Bhiraj Buri Group, congratulated the incoming Board members and thanked those completing their terms for their contributions to the association.

“Our Board of Directors reflects what makes UFI truly special: a global community united by a shared commitment to advancing the exhibition industry. I warmly congratulate all newly elected members and extend my sincere thanks to those stepping down for their dedication, commitment and service to UFI.

“Ultimately, an association is only as strong as the commitment and contribution of its members. Its true value lies not only in its leadership, but in the willingness of its entire community to participate, share expertise, exchange ideas and work together towards common goals.

“UFI’s strength comes from the people who give their time, energy and passion to shaping its future. While the Board provides leadership and direction, it is the combined commitment of the Board and the wider membership that brings our association to life and enables it to thrive.

“As we look ahead, I am confident that by continuing to work together, support one another and actively contribute to our shared vision, we can make UFI even stronger and create greater value for our global exhibition community. After all, the future of UFI is something we shape together.”

Wolfram Diener, President and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf Group, will succeed Panittha Buri as UFI President on the final day of the congress.

Snöball at Stand 4

Snöball is the official digital marketing partner of the 93rd UFI Global Congress and we are exhibiting at Stand 4 during the event. As a provider of peer-to-peer marketing solutions for events, our team will be discussing the latest challenges and innovations in event marketing, including how peer-to-peer marketing can help organizers expand their reach, attract audiences and drive engagement. 

Note: We are also one of the finalists for the UFI Digital Innovation award!

Nineteen Group Adds FIT Show and Blueprint Event Company to Growing Portfolio

Nineteen Group has acquired FIT Show from Montgomery Group and, in a separate deal, bought Blueprint Event Company. FIT Show is a windows, doors and glazing event; Blueprint runs industrial technology and lubricants events.

FIT Show is a U.K. trade event for the windows, doors and glazing industry. It draws about 10,000 visitors and more than 200 brands, and its next edition runs May 18-20, 2027, at the NEC Birmingham. The deal follows Nineteen Group’s purchase of Professional Woodworking Expo from Montgomery Group earlier this year.

Michael Costain, managing director of Nineteen Group, said: “FIT Show has earned a loyal following across the windows, doors and glazing industry, and we’re proud to welcome it into Nineteen Group. It complements our existing events naturally, connecting the people who make, supply and install windows and doors with the wider construction and interiors community we already serve. Our focus is on working with the team, exhibitors and partners to make sure FIT Show keeps delivering for the fabricators, installers, manufacturers and specifiers who rely on it.”

Blueprint was founded in 2020 and is led by co-CEOs Anthony Roberts and Paul Hooker. It organizes events including Lubricant Expo Europe, Lubricant Expo Middle East and Lubricant Expo North America. The company will keep its headquarters in Hove, England, and will join Nineteen Group’s manufacturing and asset management portfolio.

Alison Jackson, CEO of Nineteen Group, said: “Blueprint Event Company is a fantastic addition to Nineteen Group and has definitely been one to watch within the events space. Anthony, Paul, and the team have built an impressive portfolio, one which is a natural fit with Nineteen’s growing line-up of global events, which brings together some of the most important communities in the industrial technology and engineering sector.”

Informa, RX Lead 2026 TSNN Awards Finalist List

Informa and RX hold the most finalist spots among event organizers in the 2026 Trade Show News Network (TSNN) Awards. Now in its 16th year, the program recognizes trade show organizers and individual event professionals.

Finalist spots by organizer, across 14 categories:

• Informa: 11, including one for Informa Connect
• RX: 6
• Association of Equipment Manufacturers: 4, all for CONEXPO-CON/AGG
• Forge: 3

Natural Products Expo West brought Informa finalist spots for B2B Show of the Year and Best Use of Technology (B2B). The National Restaurant Association Show is a finalist for Best Marketing and Best Design, and Cosmoprof is listed under Best Engagement and DEI.

RX’s finalists include the PGA Show for B2B Show of the Year, BookCon for B2C Show of the Year, Vision Expo for Best Sustainability and JCK for Best Giving Back (Independent).

TSNN will name the winners at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at a joint ceremony with the International Association of Exhibitions & Events (IAEE) at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee. The ceremony takes place during the IAEE Annual Meeting & Expo! Expo!.

Individual honorees

TSNN has already named two individual winners. Jackie James, vice president of World of Concrete, is the 2026 Industry Icon. Kayle Buchanan, event director of ADM Toronto, is Outstanding Show Pro of the Year.

Jackie has worked on World of Concrete for more than 20 years, a period in which the show grew from a U.S. event into an international construction brand. She increased international attendance through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Buyer Program, trade missions and partnerships with media outlets, associations and industry figures.

At ADM Toronto, Kayle introduced the ADM Technology Days webinar series, a private LinkedIn group for former speakers and a mentorship program that matched more than 80 mentor-mentee pairs in manufacturing. The number of exhibiting companies at the show grew 22.1%, and attendance rose 45.5%.

Informa Reports 8% Growth in B2B Live Events in First Nine Months of 2026 Despite Middle East Disruptions

Informa’s B2B live events business grew underlying revenue 8% in the first nine months of 2026. Over the same period, the company rescheduled events hit by conflict in the Middle East.

The division includes Informa Markets, Informa Connect and Informa Festivals. Its growth came from the Americas, Europe, ASEAN and the India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA) region outside Saudi Arabia.

Results for the nine months to Sept. 30:

• Group underlying revenue: up 6.5% excluding non-recurring data contracts, or 5.4% including them
• B2B Live Events: up 8%
• Academic Markets: up 4%
• Informa TechTarget: down 1.6%

More than 50 brands have run in IMEA this year, bringing in more than $530 million in revenue. About 30 of those brands, and more than $230m, came after the company’s half-year results.

Informa lowered its full-year underlying revenue growth forecast to about 3% from about 6%, assuming no further revenue from Saudi Arabia in 2026. The Global Health Exhibition in Riyadh will run online this year, and its in-person edition moves to October 2027. Cityscape Global’s Riyadh edition moves to January 2027. The company kept its forecast for double-digit underlying growth in adjusted diluted earnings per share.

“Informa continues to deliver strong performance and underlying growth,” said Stephen A. Carter, group chief executive.

Stephen also said: “Strong underlying demand for B2B Live Events, combined with the strength of our Brands and operating flexibility, is enabling us to deliver consistent growth and performance, and our international breadth is limiting the impact of specific in-market disruptions.”

Informa expects to complete its £2.24 billion acquisition of Clarion Events in the first two weeks of December.

Forge Adds 14 Specialist Events, Including AI Infra Summit, Through Kisaco Acquisition

Forge has acquired Kisaco Research, a London-based events and media company, adding 14 events to its portfolio, including AI Infra Summit. The companies did not disclose terms.

Kisaco Research runs conferences in the technology, healthcare, wellness and legal markets. AI Infra Summit, its largest event, brings together companies that build hardware, software and systems for artificial intelligence. The 2026 edition drew more than 6,500 attendees and 260 sponsors.

Kisaco Research’s AI Drug Discovery conference and Medical Cost Containment meetings will join Forge’s Healthcare & Life Sciences group. Its wellness events, including Beauty Connect and the Medspa series, will move into Forge’s Hospitality, Design and Wellness portfolio.

“Kisaco Research has an exceptional ability to identify emerging, high-growth markets early and build deeply engaged communities around them, bringing together the senior leaders, innovators and investors shaping those industries. That research-led, entrepreneurial approach fits squarely with Forge’s strategy and gives us both a strong portfolio of specialist events and a proven model for developing new markets. By pairing Kisaco’s expertise with Forge’s scale in live events, digital platforms, content, data and one-on-one meetings, we see significant opportunities to grow these communities, expand internationally and create new ways for buyers and sellers to connect year-round,” said Paul Miller, CEO of Forge.

“We built Kisaco around a simple idea: identify markets where innovation is moving quickly, bring together the people shaping their future, and create the connections that help those industries grow. Joining Forge lets us take that model further, combining our entrepreneurial approach and deep market knowledge with Forge’s global reach and strength across events, media, data and digital. It’s an exciting next chapter for our team and the communities we serve,” said Sarah Clayton, founder of Kisaco Research.

The purchase is Forge’s second since Apollo Funds formed the company in July 2026 by combining Emerald and Questex. Forge completed its acquisition of Becker’s, a healthcare events and digital media business, on Oct. 20.

Who is hiring?

PCMA | Community & Engagement Manager, PCMA EMEA (UK/Europe Based) 

Google | Marketing Manager, Global Partner Experiences

Federato | Senior Event Marketing Manager

Norm Ai | Director of Brand Events

Meta | Global Brand Experiences Manager, EMEA

GlobalFoundries | Global Corporate Events Lead, Experience & Operations