Miguel Neves

What looked to be a slow year for event tech deals ramped up to a climactic finale with three major deals announced in December. Consolidation, AI upgrades and streamlined versions of all-in-one solutions were some of the trends that emerged and promise to continue into 2026.

Cvent continues to drive event tech consolidation. Its second December acquisition sees it take over a webinar platform with a notable list of enterprise clients.

Generic trips are out. Custom choices, conscious travel, and a clear "return on experience" are the new minimum requirements for incentive travel programs.

The rise of AI is making 'average' easy and creating a flood of 'same-same' events. For Meetings Innovator Nick Borelli, using design thinking to break away from the norm is a necessity, not a luxury.

Coordinating nine venues, three catering firms, and two audiovisual providers is not for the fainthearted, but ICCA went for it anyway. The association showcased a multi-venue event format at its annual meeting in Porto, Portugal, hoping to entice smaller destination member to bid for events that push their capacity limits.

While Encore is no stranger to acquisitions, this one is a little different. It represents a new growth opportunity, through an agency deeply embedded in its corporate clients’ events and offices.

Eventbrite’s sale to Bending Spoons removes a long-struggling ticketing platform from Wall Street pressure. Could the Italian tech company, known for overhauling tech companies, revive this event tech pioneer?

Encore’s second acquisition in less than two weeks expands its international reach, but this time focuses on event planning services. It sees FIRST’s embedded corporate campus model as complementary to its own strong hotel partnerships.

Global exhibition organizers have announced more new shows along with office openings in Saudi Arabia, but Riyadh’s limited convention capacity remains a barrier to growth.

Encore is using its new line of credit to expand internationally. With the acquisition of production company Eclipse, it expands its London footprint and gains a home advantage at some of the city’s top venues.