Meeting and events buyers will need to “do more with less” and remain agile to cope with continued economic uncertainty and constrained budgets in 2026, according to a new report from travel management company BCD.
The report by BCD Meetings & Events, entitled What’s Trending 2026, highlights the challenges facing event organisers around the world next year.
“Economic uncertainty and budget constraints continue to shape the industry, prompting organisations to consolidate suppliers, optimise spend and focus on high-impact experiences that deliver measurable ROI (return on investment),” said BCD.
“Immersive and inclusive event design - rooted in behavioural science, accessibility and storytelling - is fast becoming the gold standard for engagement.”
BCD added that costs will “continue to impact” decision-making for meeting planners in 2026, with a particular focus on managing the increasing prices of airfares, and food and beverage (F&B).
“M&E planners and suppliers will have to react to these drivers of change by being more agile and responsive,” said the report.
In the EMEA region, BCD says Europe could be a “hotspot” for meetings and events in 2026 “due to security and access concerns in the US and Middle East”.
“Expect greater consolidation of event companies in France, Germany and the Nordics as they are acquired or absorbed into larger businesses,” predicted BCD.
“This is due to weak performance post-Covid or strategic investments in the sector. This may reduce competition, but market consolidation will make planning and request for proposals (RFPs) easier for buyers.”
The report forecasts that the European defence industry will be a “highlight” in 2026 as the EU looks to ramp up investment in the next five years, which will “stimulate M&E spend” and boost other sectors such as infrastructure. The continent’s automotive industry also “looks promising”, as European companies try to compete with cheap electric vehicles from China.
Meeting planners in Europe will continue to prioritise sustainability as EU directives “focus minds” and influence decisions on venues, F&B spend and city selection. BCD added that Amsterdam and Barcelona have been "leading the way on this issue".
“The M&E sector remains strong and for larger events, we see lead times increasing for the first time in many years,” sums up Mikael EK, SVP and managing director, EMEA, for BCD Meetings & Events.
UK faces budget squeeze
The picture looks less rosy in the UK with M&E spend “likely to be even more budget conscious” next year, as supplier costs rise due to higher UK national insurance payments, taxes, energy costs and F&B prices.
“High inflation and weak economic growth will also weigh heavily on the sector [in the UK],” added the report. “This means that budgets and perceptions on cost among planners for 2026 are unlikely to match increases. Therefore, managing expectations will be an increasing challenge.
“Something will have to give. There could be greater consolidation in 2026, resulting in fewer meetings with higher average spend per event. High-impact events with a short lead-in time will also become more prominent due to agile and flexible formats.”
These pressures may drive more demand away from pricey London to “secondary” UK cities such as Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Liverpool, as planners look to take advantage of lower venue costs and increased investment in infrastructure and facilities in these locations.
BCD also names Manchester as one of its five “trending” M&E destinations for 2026, alongside the German capital Berlin, Scottsdale in Arizona, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Mexico City.