IMEX America returns to Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas Oct. 13-15, bringing together thousands of meeting and event professionals for three days of business, education and networking.
As the industry’s largest trade show, IMEX America has long been a place where buyers and suppliers conduct a year’s worth of business in just a few days. The 15th edition arrives at a time when face-to-face connections have taken on even greater significance.
According to the Edelman Trust Barometer 2026, trust is increasingly built through personal networks, with people relying more heavily on those they know and have met directly. For the meetings industry, that reinforces the value of bringing people together in person.
“Being in the room matters, and it’s having a moment,” says Carina Bauer, IMEX CEO. “IMEX America is where our global community comes together to do business and to learn, but also to feel seen, heard and understood. It’s these ‘IRL’ experiences that help our industry not only to remain resilient, but also to thrive and prosper. Yes, online has its place in business but, increasingly, live events deliver a richness of experience, a sense of solidarity and access to trusted information and relationships that digital simply can’t match.”
IMEX 2026: The Big Picture
Independent post-show research from Explori found that 91% of more than 4,700 pre-vetted hosted buyers who attended IMEX America 2025 said the event was important to their business, up from 88% the previous year.
This year’s complimentary education program is built around IMEX’s 2026/2027 Talking Point, Design Matters, exploring how thoughtful design can shape attendee engagement and business outcomes. New tracks will examine human needs, design as a strategic business tool, spectacle, regenerative design and technology, alongside returning topics including event logistics, health and wellbeing, and marketing and engagement.
Wellness also gets a boost through the IMEX Wellbeing Challenge, sponsored by Caesars Entertainment and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and powered by Heka Health. Attendees can track their steps using a smartphone or wearable device, earning points throughout the show. The annual IMEXrun 5K also returns, while quiet spaces, healthy dining options and wellbeing-focused education offer additional ways to recharge.
But IMEX America remains first and foremost a place to conduct business. Thousands of one-to-one appointments connect destinations, hotels, venues and service providers with planners actively sourcing future meeting and incentive programs. For attendees, the combination of scheduled appointments, networking and education remains at the heart of the show.
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