Hong Kong’s conventions and exhibitions (C&E) industry entered 2026 on a steady recovery trajectory, a position solidified by the strong foundations laid throughout 2025.
Last year, over 360 MICE events were held at Hong Kong’s two major dedicated MICE venues, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE). The city welcomed 2.51 million MICE visitors, up 7% from the previous year. Among them, 1.43 million were overnight visitors, who spent a total of about $10.7 billion. The Government is actively working to enhance the travel experience of business visitors, with a view to attracting more high-value-added overnight visitors.
This sectoral growth is supported by a robust and recovering ecosystem. In 2025, Hong Kong welcomed 49.9 million visitors, a 12% year-on-year increase, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), while hotel occupancy rates reached the mid-80% range. Air connectivity continues to steadily recover, with flight capacity rebuilt to approximately 80% of pre-2019 levels by the end of 2025, as airlines focus on sustainable network growth. This is further complemented by Hong Kong’s efficient and liberal visa regime, which facilitates easy entry for business travellers from key source markets.
To support the sector, the Government launched the Incentive Scheme for Recurrent Exhibitions (ISRE) in July 2023 with an allocation of $1.4 billion. The scheme subsidized venue rentals for eligible local and international exhibitions organized by private entities. It concluded on June 30, 2025, having successfully supported 224 exhibitions with over $1.2 billion in approved funding. An additional $500 million was allocated for ISRE 2.0, a new phase launched on in July last year that focuses on attracting both new and recurrent large-scale international shows.
Hong Kong’s infrastructure remains a core strength. The city now offers over 150,000 square metres of total exhibition space. The authorities are actively pursuing further expansion, including redeveloping the sites of the three government towers in Wan Chai North and the Kong Wan Fire Station into integrated C&E facilities, hotels and Grade A offices, alongside the planned expansion of the AWE.
The performance of Hong Kong’s exhibition sector has always been a direct reflection of its role in global commerce, especially as the city is the world’s seventh-largest trading entity in merchandise trade.
As Stuart Bailey, Chairman of the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association (HKECIA), explained: “Hong Kong’s exhibition industry is intrinsically linked to its performance as a conduit for international trade. When international trade experiences growth, we see an increase in Hong Kong trade shows; conversely, when markets contract, so do exhibitions. Although there can be a lag in effects due to the forward booking process, the trend is clear: expos will directly follow market movements.”
This perspective provides essential context for the recent past and the present trajectory. “2025 was another challenging year for Hong Kong’s exhibition industry,” noted Bailey. “Despite an increase in the number of visitors attending trade shows, we observed a contraction in the total sold square metres. This signals a reflection of the Chinese Mainland economy, where consumer confidence remains low, and growth is less vigorous than in the past decade.”
Pointing out that the Asia-Pacific region remains stable, Bailey said there have been promising developments, including new exhibitions, particularly in high-tech sectors, that attract large audiences eager to purchase and invest in the products and services.
“Additionally, we have positive news as work on the second phase of AWE continues apace, alongside many other developments that will position SKYTOPIA as a must-see destination in Hong Kong,” he said. The $70 billion “Airport City” development project by the Airport Authority Hong Kong is located at Hong Kong International Airport and is designed as a premier landmark for tourism, leisure, art and commerce.
A Constructive Start to 2026
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) organizes over 30 large-scale exhibitions in Hong Kong each year, creating vital connections between approximately 39,000 exhibitors and more than 750,000 international buyers. Among them, 11 rank as the leading marketplaces of their kind in Asia, with five – covering electronics, jewellery, gifts, watches and clocks, and lighting – standing as the largest such exhibitions in the world.
Hong Kong also hosts several other premier international gatherings that reinforce its status as a global hub for commerce and culture, including the Belt and Road Summit, the Asian Financial Forum, the Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference, the Business of IP Asia Forum and Art Basel.
This year kicked off with HKTDC’s concurrent Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair and the Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair at HKCEC in January, which served as a critical barometer of the sector’s year-ahead momentum. The results were decidedly positive: the combined fairs attracted over 49,000 buyers, representing a stable and broad-based international contingent from 125 countries and regions. Notably, attendance figures showed a marked increase in buyers from emerging and strategic markets, including the ASEAN region and the Middle East, signalling a healthy diversification of Hong Kong’s trade connections.
Sophia Chong, Executive Director of HKTDC, connected the sector’s performance to Hong Kong’s overarching trade mission.
“In 2025, our fairs and conferences were well received. As a trade promotion body facilitating Hong Kong’s external trade in goods and services, it has been fantastic to see our participants, from government and business leaders to academics, innovators and investors, from more than 190 countries and regions making deals and securing many growth and collaboration opportunities. As HKTDC celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, we look forward to an exciting year furthering Hong Kong’s growth.”
A Varied Calendar
The most visible sign of the sector’s vitality is its packed 2026 schedule. The cultural calendar receives its annual highlight with the return of Art Basel Hong Kong in March, an event that consistently draws global galleries and collectors, reinforcing the city’s status as a cultural capital.
A significant coup is the inaugural edition of LEAP East, scheduled for April at HKCEC. As the Asian iteration of the monumental tech event from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, its selection of Hong Kong is an endorsement of the city’s infrastructure and its strategic position as a gateway for technology exchange between East and West.
Monica Lee-Müller, Managing Director of HKCEC (Management) Limited, said the 2026 forecast was cautiously optimistic. “We are confident in the resilience of Hong Kong’s exhibition industry and the effectiveness of organizers’ proactive and aggressive exhibitor and visitor recruitment in the face of a difficult economic outlook,” she stated.
The 2026 autumn season will see major industry gatherings return. For example, in September, Informa Markets will stage its flagship Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong (JGW) show, a pinnacle event for the global jewellery trade.
Michael Duck, EVP – Commercial Development at Informa Markets, said: “The exhibition industry in 2026 is poised for significant growth, driven by increasing international participation and evolving exhibitor expectations. At Informa’s major shows, we anticipate robust attendance figures, with exhibitor and visitor numbers continuing to rise. The focus on real-time engagement, sustainability and strategic business development will shape the sector’s trajectory. Hong Kong remains a vital hub for global trade, offering unparalleled opportunities for market expansion and innovation.”
October brings HKTDC’s twin fairs, the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and the International Lighting Fair, pivotal gatherings for global sourcing in these sectors.
AWE CEO Irene Chan noted that AWE is set for another impactful year, building on a record 2024/25 with 105 full-house days and 12 brand-new shows, including debut aviation, logistics and technology events.
“We are grateful for the Government’s support through the Incentive Scheme for Recurrent Exhibitions (ISRE), which has strengthened the exhibition sector and enabled organizers to launch new shows or expand existing ones, helping to stimulate interest and accelerate decision-making,” said Chan.
“As the incentive scheme expires and amid broader uncertainties, we will maintain momentum through a diversified event mix – major exhibitions, international conventions and entertainment-led events – supported by a strong pipeline, including the return of the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show and the Lions International Convention 2026,” she explained.
This year, the Longines horse show embraced a sports-meets-entertainment-meets-lifestyle concept, with a 180,000-square-foot lifestyle shopping village featuring over 50 local and international brands, as well as diverse dining options.
Chan added that the concept of a “con-festival,” which integrates business with curated entertainment, is indicative of the industry’s innovation in enhancing the experience and value.
Strategic Investment
Looking ahead, the industry is navigating a complex global landscape with a sense of strategic, realistic preparedness.
“As we enter early 2026, geopolitics is at the forefront, and it is likely that trade will also be weaponized in a similar manner going forward. Many of the most significant issues have not been resolved but merely postponed,” Bailey observed. “We are fortunate that the Asia-Pacific region remains stable, with some promising developments emerging in the form of new exhibitions, particularly in high-tech sectors, attracting large audiences eager to purchase and invest.”
In Hong Kong, long-term confidence is physically embodied in the continuous enhancement of world-class venue infrastructure. “The expansion of AWE, adding more than 20,000 square metres of column-free space, is a direct response to the growing demand for large-scale, flexible exhibition and arena-style events, ensuring Hong Kong remains competitive for the world’s biggest gatherings,” said Bailey.
While challenges persist, the sector’s progress is widely viewed as a collaborative achievement, with a constructive government-industry partnership playing a crucial role.
“The scale of some of the traditional sourcing fairs has shrunk, showing a sign that companies are scaling back spending due to global economic uncertainty,” explained Lee-Müller. “Industry players will continue the dialogue with the Government and hope the subsidiary scheme and support for the sector can be extended during this challenging time.”
Bailey agreed, noting that while events were not yet back to pre-pandemic levels, with some Government support, the C&E sector would make steady progress and contribute significantly to Hong Kong’s economic recovery.