IAEE to Acquire Exhibitor Group in Industry-Spanning Deal

Strategic acquisition unites exhibition organizers and exhibitors, with completion expected by April 2026

By Sarah Mitchell · Published Fri, 24 Apr 2026 23:41:50 GMT · Updated Fri, 24 Apr 2026 23:41:50 GMT

IAEE will acquire Exhibitor Group, uniting exhibition organizers with exhibitors in an industry-spanning deal. The acquisition is expected to finalize by April 30, 2026.

Strategic Industry Consolidation

The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Exhibitor Group, publisher of EXHIBITOR magazine and producer of EXHIBITOR LIVE. The acquisition represents a strategic move to unite exhibition organizers and exhibitors within a single ecosystem.

The deal brings together IAEE, the largest association of exhibitions and events industry worldwide, with Exhibitor Group, North America's leader in trade show and corporate event marketing education. The combined entity will span the entire event lifecycle and value chain.

Leadership Perspectives

"This acquisition reflects our commitment to building a more comprehensive and inclusive exhibitions and events industry," said Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM, President and CEO of IAEE. "By expanding our universe to include the vital perspectives of exhibit and brand managers, we're creating a unified space where all voices are heard and represented."

Mark Johnson, CEO of STAR Exhibits & Environments, acquired Exhibitor Group in 2022 during post-COVID industry uncertainty. "As we grew our overall experiential marketing business, we recognized that EXHIBITOR needed a dedicated owner to fully realize its potential," Johnson said. "IAEE acquiring EXHIBITOR is a rare opportunity for two market leaders to come together to serve the entire exhibit ecosystem."

Strategic Value

Brian Pagel, Chairperson of the IAEE Board, emphasized the acquisition's strategic importance: "This acquisition reinforces IAEE's commitment to innovation and connection across the exhibitions and events community. By integrating Exhibitor Group's trusted education, insights, and community into IAEE's global association framework, we are creating a powerful platform for growth."

IAEE members will gain access to expanded resources and networking opportunities with exhibit and brand managers. The Exhibitor Group community will maintain continuity of EXHIBITOR magazine and EXHIBITOR LIVE while gaining access to IAEE's extensive resources and professional development tools.

Timeline and Integration

The acquisition is expected to be finalized by April 30, 2026. Following completion, IAEE will work with the Exhibitor team to ensure seamless integration of operations.

IAEE, trusted since 1928, represents organizers of more than 20,000 exhibitions and buyer-seller events worldwide. Exhibitor Group produces the monthly EXHIBITOR magazine and operates EXHIBITOR LIVE, the industry's premier exhibition for trade show and corporate event professionals.

Based on reporting by IAEE. Read the original article.