IAEE Insights For 2026: Navigating Trends, Unlocking Opportunities

Includes a Live Web Event on 02/04/2026 at 10:30 AM (CST)

As we enter 2026, the exhibitions industry continues to advance, navigating a dynamic and evolving landscape. To not just sustain but accelerate this progress, it’s vital to rethink how we engage our members and innovate our approaches. Staying ahead means embracing emerging trends, unlocking new business opportunities, and delivering exceptional value that drives strong ROI, deeper engagement, and wider audience reach.

As we look into 2026, we must explore the path before us. What challenges must we overcome, and which opportunities can we seize to elevate success for every stakeholder involved?

Join us for a forward-looking session featuring IAEE President and CEO, Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM, and Brian Pagel, IAEE Chairperson and Executive Vice President at Emerald X as they unveil IAEE’s strategic roadmap for the year ahead. We’ll unpack key trends shaping the world of exhibitions, conduct a fresh analysis of current market dynamics, and explore actionable strategies designed to inspire meaningful transformation and sustained growth for this new year.

Learning Objectives:

Discover IAEE's roadmap for the upcoming year

Explore key trends to anticipate in 2026

Gain strategies to help you unlock and navigate new opportunities.

IAEE webinars are free to members and available to non-members for $49. Eligible to earn 1 Clock Hour towards CEM recertification.

迈入2026年，会展行业在瞬息万变的环境中不断发展。为了不仅保持并加速这一发展，我们必须重新思考如何与会员互动，并创新我们的方法。保持领先地位意味着拥抱新兴趋势，挖掘新的商机，并提供卓越的价值，从而实现强劲的投资回报率、更深入的互动和更广泛的受众覆盖。展望2026年，我们必须探索未来的道路。我们需要克服哪些挑战？又有哪些机遇可以把握，从而提升所有利益相关者的成功？欢迎参加我们的前瞻性研讨会，届时IAEE总裁兼首席执行官Marsha Flanagan（教育硕士、注册展览经理）和IAEE主席兼Emerald X执行副总裁Brian Pagel将共同揭晓IAEE未来一年的战略路线图。我们将深入剖析塑造会展行业的关键趋势，对当前市场动态进行全新分析，并探讨旨在激发意义深远的变革和持续增长的切实可行的战略，助力IAEE在新的一年中实现可持续发展。学习目标：了解 IAEE 未来一年的发展路线图探索 2026 年的关键发展趋势掌握助您把握和驾驭新机遇的策略 IAEE 网络研讨会面向会员免费开放，非会员需支付 49 美元。参加研讨会可获得 1 个学时，用于 CEM 再认证。

Al comenzar el 2026, la industria de las exposiciones continúa avanzando, adaptándose a un entorno dinámico y en constante evolución. Para no solo mantener, sino también acelerar este progreso, es fundamental replantearnos cómo interactuamos con nuestros miembros e innovar nuestros enfoques. Mantenernos a la vanguardia implica adoptar las tendencias emergentes, descubrir nuevas oportunidades de negocio y ofrecer un valor excepcional que genere un sólido retorno de la inversión, una mayor participación y un alcance de audiencia más amplio. De cara al 2026, debemos explorar el camino que tenemos por delante. ¿Qué desafíos debemos superar y qué oportunidades podemos aprovechar para impulsar el éxito de todos los participantes? Únase a nosotros en una sesión estratégica con la participación de Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM, presidenta y directora ejecutiva de la IAEE, y Brian Pagel, presidente de la IAEE y vicepresidente ejecutivo de Emerald X, quienes presentarán la hoja de ruta estratégica de la IAEE para el próximo año. Analizaremos las tendencias clave que dan forma al mundo de las exposiciones, realizaremos un análisis actualizado de la dinámica actual del mercado y exploraremos estrategias prácticas diseñadas para inspirar una transformación significativa y un crecimiento sostenido en este nuevo año. Objetivos de aprendizaje: Descubra la hoja de ruta de la IAEE para el próximo año. Explore las principales tendencias que se anticipan para 2026. Adquiera estrategias que le ayudarán a descubrir y aprovechar nuevas oportunidades. Los seminarios web de la IAEE son gratuitos para los miembros y tienen un costo de $49 para quienes no lo son. Otorguen 1 hora de crédito para la recertificación CEM.

Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM

President & CEO

IAEE

Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM is the President and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE). As IAEE’s president, Flanagan is responsible for the management of IAEE’s full-time professional staff, producing the annual business operating plan and budget, overseeing the support of all meetings of governance units, leading business development, directing fund raising efforts, advocating for the industry and the organization’s members, providing organizational leadership and strategic counsel to the board. Also, she serves as the association’s representative with industry coalitions, partner organizations and strategic alliances.

Prior to joining PPAI, Flanagan was the Director of Content Strategy and Development at the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), where she was responsible for steering strategy and the development and delivery of all PPAI professional development and editorial offerings. Flanagan spent 6 years in the medical industry serving in various roles overseeing operations, purchasing, revenue cycle management, marketing and business development.

Flanagan began her career with Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and spent 12 years in various roles including Executive Vice President of Professional Development where she oversaw operations, including all strategic partnerships, the design and delivery of all professional development offerings and meetings management. She was named one of the 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry by Successful Meetings in 2017 and named to BizBash’s Inaugural Top 500 in the Events Industry in 2018 and 2019. In 2021, she was listed in Meetings Today as a 2021 Trendsetter. In 2021, she obtained her GBAC Trained Technician Certificate of Completion from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA. Flanagan received her bachelor's degree from Texas Christian University and her master’s in education from the University of Arkansas specializing in Meeting, Tourism and Recreation Management. She obtained her Certified in Exhibition Management designation in 2021. Flanagan is a 5th generation Texan, loves sports and the outdoors and spending time with family.

Brad Pagel

Executive Vice President

Emerald X

Brian Pagel is the Executive Vice President of Business Development and oversees the Residential and Commercial Connections portfolio at Emerald. In 2026 Brian serves as the IAEE Board of Directors Chairperson. Brian began his career at Shore Varrone in 1998 and has worked in a variety of leadership positions with Bill Communications, VNU, Nielsen Expositions and Emerald.

Brian has produced nearly 100 events in his career, successfully repositioned several struggling properties and was a part of the deal team that acquired CEDIA Expo in 2017.  In 2013 he helped to champion an effort to co-locate KBIS with the International Builders Show (IBS), creating Design and Construction Week. Brian holds a degree in Organizational Communications from the University of Kansas and is an active volunteer with both the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE).  He is also a frequent industry speaker, blogger and guest columnist. Brian is originally from Littleton, Colorado, but currently lives and works in Alpharetta, Georgia. 

Upon completion, earn 1 Clock Hour towards CEM recertification.