The availability of exhibition space is a key factor in the success of the global exhibition industry. UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has published the latest edition of its World Map of Exhibition Venues to offer stakeholders updated insights into venue capacities worldwide. This report was created in partnership with jwc GmbH.
Along with global and regional venue capacity data, the report covers 22 global markets that each feature over 300,000 square meters of gross indoor exhibition space.
Kai Hattendorf, UFI CEO, says: “Exhibition venues are key drivers of the development of our industry globally. The 2024 World Map of Exhibition Venues offers unparalleled insight into the scale and distribution of this vital resource. This is helping industry professionals make informed decisions in an ever-changing global landscape. As a forward-looking indicator, venue developments are investments into future exhibition business. With this in mind, one key development is that Asia-Pacific now offers more total venue space than Europe – for the first time since UFI began tracking venue sizes.”
Jochen Witt, President and CEO of jwc GmbH notes: “The growth in venue capacity worldwide underscores the resilience and adaptability of the exhibition industry. This report tracks this growth and highlights emerging markets and infrastructure investments shaping the future of exhibitions on every continent.”
This global census includes all exhibition venues with at least 5,000 sqm of gross indoor exhibition space as of the end of 2023. Key highlights from the report are as follows:
- Regionally, the Asia-Pacific region now accounts for 38.5% of global venue capacity, surpassing Europe (36.7%) for the first time. North America ranks third with 17.1%.
- On a national level, China remains the global leader with 31.3% of total venue capacity, followed by the USA (14.2%) and Germany (7.3%). Together, the top five markets (China, USA, Germany, Italy, and France) account for 63.5% of global space, an increase of 1.1 percentage points.
- The number of mega venues—facilities with over 100,000 sqm of indoor exhibition space—continues to grow, with 83 such venues tracked globally. Europe leads with 39 mega venues, followed closely by Asia-Pacific with 38. North America has 5, and the Middle East and Africa have 1.
- For the first time, venues in Ethiopia and the Ivory Coast have been included in the report.
The 2024 UFI World Map of Exhibition Venues covers markets including Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Turkey, UAE, the United Kingdom, and the USA. These country profiles offer detailed insights into venue capacity and trends, providing valuable benchmarks for industry stakeholders.
