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A S S O C I AT I O N N E W S A N D B E N E F I T S | E V E N T S P R E V I E W
by Angi Puigferrat, marketing director for
IAAPA Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa
London Calls: IAAPA Expo Europe Returns to UK
IAAPA NEWS
Visit IAAPA.org/
IAAPAExpoEurope
2026 for updated
information and to
register (information
presented was
current at press time
in mid-June)
EXCEL LONDON WILL HOST THE
MOST AMBITIOUS EDITION of
IAAPA Expo Europe yet, bringing the global attractions industry
together in a dynamic world city.
For the first time since 2022,
IAAPA Expo Europe will return to
London. From September 21-25,
education programs will take
place, with the trade show floor
open September 22-24.
As host city, London places
Expo at the heart of one of the
world’s most innovative and
commercially vibrant attractions
markets. Whether attendees are
seasoned veterans of the Expo circuit or registering for the first time,
IAAPA Expo Europe 2026 promises a can’t-miss week of business,
learning, inspiration, networking,
and wonder.
“Returning to London after four
years is both exciting and humbling,” says Peter van der Schans,
vice president and executive director of IAAPA ESA “The United
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Funworld | JULY/AUGUST 2026 | IAAPA.org/Funworld
Kingdom is home to IAAPA’s
largest European membership base
and continues to be a market with
influence on indoor entertainment trends within neighboring
regions. This return reflects both
the strength of the U.K. market and
the continued growth of our event.
We’re proud to come back with
our largest IAAPA Expo Europe to
date, creating even more opportunities for connection, collaboration, and inspiration.”
Record-Breaking Show
Floor
Last year, IAAPA Expo Europe in
Barcelona set a new benchmark,
and IAAPA Expo Europe 2026
expects to raise the bar again. For
the fourth consecutive year, the
show is set to break its own record,
with more than 800 exhibiting
companies displaying the latest
innovations across 22,000 squaremeters of exhibition space at Excel
London. The result will be the
largest IAAPA Expo Europe trade
show floor in the event’s history—
a vast, energizing environment
where the full breadth of the global
attractions supply chain is on display—from ride manufacturers and
technology providers, to theming
specialists and digital experience
designers.
New for 2026, a dedicated food
and beverage zone will bring an
exciting addition to the floor plan.
Twenty companies will present
their latest products and culinary
concepts, covering everything from
indulgent snack innovations to
ice cream and revenue-generating
catering solutions. For operators looking to diversify income
streams and enhance the guest
experience, this is a fresh destination within the show.
Inspiring Education
For the first time in 2026, education content will be spread across
five dedicated spaces: the IAAPA
Theatre sponsored by Angry Birds,
three conference rooms, and the
Innovation Stage. With more than
175 speakers and over 60 sessions,
never before has so many educational opportunities existed at a
single European attractions event.
The Leadership Breakfast
will be a highlight of the education calendar. This year’s theme
highlights rapid growth and scalability, illustrated through two
powerful business cases. Robert
Dahl, CEO of Karls, the Germanbased theme park brand that
recently announced its expansion into California, and Wouter
Dekkers, CEO of Momentum
Leisure, whose group has shown
strong growth in Poland and is
now expanding across Central
Europe. Together, they will present a compelling vision of what
