Posted 7th May 2026 by Rob Whalley

Are Trade Exhibitions Making a Comeback? Reflections from The Workplace Event 2026

For many businesses, especially in the CAFM and FM technology sector, exhibitions since COVID have felt… difficult.

• Lower footfall.
• Poor-quality leads.
• Lots of people browsing, but fewer genuine conversations.

Like many suppliers, we’ve questioned whether exhibitions still delivered real value in a world dominated by Teams calls, LinkedIn outreach, webinars, and digital marketing.

But last week at ‘The Workplace Event 2026’, something felt different. For us, it was one of the strongest exhibitions we’ve attended in years.

So… Are Exhibitions Back on the Rise?

It certainly feels that way.

The atmosphere throughout the event was noticeably more positive and energetic than previous post-pandemic exhibitions. There was a steady flow of visitors, plenty of genuine engagement, and — most importantly — meaningful conversations with organisations actively reviewing their CAFM and workplace systems.

Not just casual enquiries.

• Real projects.
• Real frustrations.
• Real budgets.
• Real timescales.

That’s something we haven’t consistently seen since before COVID.

The Market Is Changing

One thing that stood out was how many organisations are now reassessing their current CAFM platforms. A recurring theme throughout the event was:

• Existing systems becoming increasingly expensive
• Lack of customer care from larger providers
• Slow development and poor responsiveness
• Overly complicated platforms that no longer fit operational needs
• Organisations wanting flexibility without enterprise-level complexity

These conversations weren’t isolated either — they came from multiple sectors including healthcare, education, commercial property, and service providers.

There’s a growing sense that buyers are becoming more pragmatic again. Instead of chasing the biggest name or the most over-engineered platform, many teams now seem focused on:

• usability
• support quality
• flexibility
• implementation speed
• value for money
• long-term partnership

Was It Also About Competition?

Possibly.

Another noticeable factor was the relatively limited number of CAFM providers exhibiting compared with previous events. Historically, these events could feel saturated with similar suppliers all competing for attention. This year felt more balanced.

That may have helped exhibitors stand out more clearly and allowed attendees to spend longer having proper conversations rather than rushing between dozens of near-identical stands in what can sometimes feel like a “speed information-gathering” exercise. In some ways, it created a better environment for both suppliers and visitors.

People Still Want Face-to-Face Conversations

Despite the growth of digital communication, exhibitions still offer something that virtual meetings simply can’t fully replicate. You get:

• spontaneous discussions
• honest feedback
• off-script conversations
• live demonstrations
• networking opportunities
• the ability to build trust quickly

Some of the best conversations we had last week weren’t planned at all. They started with a quick question, evolved into operational discussions, and ended with genuine opportunities. That human interaction still matters — perhaps now more than ever.

Quality Over Quantity

Interestingly, success at exhibitions today may not simply be about visitor numbers alone. It’s about relevance, engagement, and bringing the right audience together in the right environment.

The Workplace Event 2026 certainly didn’t feel like a smaller event — quite the opposite. It felt like the main event for the industry. In many ways, it raised the question of whether the market now benefits more from one strong, well-supported industry event rather than multiple smaller exhibitions spread throughout the year.

What stood out most was the quality of the interactions. The conversations felt more focused, more meaningful, and far more commercially relevant than many exhibitions we’ve attended over the past few years.

• fewer “freebie hunters”
• more focused attendees
• more targeted conversations
• more serious projects

A Positive Sign for the Industry

For the FM and CAFM sector, the event felt like a positive indicator.

Organisations are still investing. Digital transformation is still underway, and many estates and facilities teams are actively seeking better ways to manage compliance, maintenance, assets, and workplace operations.

For us, it was encouraging not just because of the opportunities generated, but because it felt like the industry had regained momentum again.
After several challenging years for exhibitions, that’s genuinely good to see.

Final Thoughts

Will every exhibition suddenly become a huge success again? Probably not. But based on last week, it certainly feels like the tide may be turning.

Perhaps organisations are rediscovering the value of in-person engagement. Perhaps buyers are becoming more active again. Or perhaps the market is simply ready for change.

Whatever the reason, The Workplace Event 2026 felt like a reminder that exhibitions — when done well — still have an important place in our industry.