The meetings industry is entering the second half of 2026 on firmer footing, with stronger business expectations, a rebound in live attendance and a continued focus on creating meaningful experiences without letting costs get out of hand.
That’s the picture emerging from MPI’s Q3 2026 Meetings Outlook, based on responses collected July 6–20.
The biggest shift is in the overall business outlook. Sixty percent of respondents have favorable expectations for the next 12 months, the highest level in the past four quarters and a notable improvement from Q2, when 47% were favorable and 34% had negative expectations. Negative sentiment fell to 19% in Q3.
Budgets are holding relatively steady, too. Favorable budget projections reached 56%, continuing a pattern in the mid-50% range over the past year.
And planners are expecting people to keep showing up. Sixty-one percent anticipate growth in live attendance, the highest positive projection in the past year, while only 20% expect declines. Virtual attendance is a different story: 48% expect it to remain flat, suggesting that virtual participation has settled into a more selective, purpose-driven role.
Staffing remains cautious. Most respondents report no change in full-time, part-time or contract employment, although part-time hiring shows some upward movement. For organizations managing renewed demand, flexible staffing and outside support remain important ways to add capacity without overextending teams.
Event design is also taking on a bigger role in proving the value of meetings. Seventy-three percent say intentional event design will be essential or very important to achieving business outcomes over the next two years. Greater personalization and more immersive attendee experiences are the two leading influences on future event design.
But there’s a catch: 71% identify creating a premium experience while controlling expenses as their biggest event-design challenge. That pressure is showing up in how planners approach partnerships, technology, production, food and beverage, sponsorships and attendee engagement.
As one planner says, “With rising costs of everything, we are exploring new partnerships to add more value while cutting costs.”
AI is helping with that balancing act, but mostly behind the scenes. Respondents see its greatest impact as improving planning efficiency, rather than transforming the attendee experience. One planner says AI helps a lean team handle repetitive work so they can “spend time on the relationships.”
For planners, the Q3 outlook is encouraging: Demand is strengthening, live events remain important and there is room for growth. But success still comes down to delivering experiences people value while being smart about resources, staffing and spend.
Click here for the full report.
