Exhibition Industry Registers 11.1% Decline from Pre-Pandemic Levels

CEIR Q3 2025 report shows economic concerns replace policy issues as primary challenge

By Sarah Mitchell · Published Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:56:21 GMT · Updated Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:56:21 GMT

CEIR's Q3 2025 report shows exhibition industry performance 11.1% below pre-pandemic levels. Economic concerns have replaced policy issues as the primary challenge facing event organizers.

Industry Performance Shows Modest Decline

The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) Q3 2025 Index Report reveals the exhibition industry performed 11.1% below Q3 2019 levels, representing a negligible change from the 10.7% shortfall recorded in Q3 2024. The third quarter has consistently been the weakest performing quarter since 2023, though the industry remains in a healthier position than two years ago.

Despite the overall decline, 39.3% of events in the Index sample exceeded their pre-pandemic performance, up from 37.3% in Q3 2024. This increase suggests continued progress for individual events even as overall industry momentum eased during the quarter.

Exhibitors Lead Recovery Metrics

Among the four components of the Total Index, exhibitors demonstrated the strongest recovery with only a 5.0% shortfall compared to Q3 2019. Net Square Feet followed at -8.3%, while attendees lagged at -12.3%, reflecting tighter corporate travel budgets. Real Revenues faced the largest challenge at -18.2% below 2019 levels, marking a continued weakening trend since Q1 2025.

Event cancellations remained low at 0.5% in Q3, down from 1.5% in Q2 2025, indicating that events stayed on the calendar even as underlying market conditions softened.

Economic Concerns Overtake Policy Issues

Survey results revealed a significant shift from Q2, with the state of the economy emerging as the most negatively perceived factor affecting event performance in Q3. Inflation and the geopolitical landscape also rose in prominence, reflecting heightened uncertainty in global and domestic markets.

"The Q3 2025 results reflect an exhibition industry navigating a complex transition from policy-focused concerns to broader macroeconomic challenges," said CEIR Vice President of Research Nancy Drapeau, IPC. "While we've seen a modest pullback in overall performance, the increase in events surpassing pre-pandemic levels demonstrates that many organizers are successfully adapting to current conditions."

Economic Outlook and Projections

The U.S. economy is projected to deliver moderate growth in 2026, with real GDP growth revised upward to 2.4%. The recent federal government shutdown is estimated to have reduced Q4 2025 annualized GDP growth by approximately 0.8 percentage points, though a partial rebound is expected in Q1 2026.

Unemployment rose to 4.5% in October 2025 as nonfarm payrolls contracted by 85,000, reflecting elevated business uncertainty and federal-sector layoffs. However, private-sector hiring showed resilience with modest gains of 40,000. Inflation is projected to average 2.7% in 2026, slightly below consensus forecasts.

"Despite the headwinds reflected in Q3, our industry's foundation remains resilient," said IAEE President and CEO Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM. "The relatively strong exhibitor participation, with only a 5.0% shortfall from 2019, shows that companies continue to see value in face-to-face engagement."

Based on reporting by IAEE. Read the original article.