The European tourism and leisure industry is buzzing, and its key players will gather throughout 2025 and 2026 at trade shows and conferences from London to Rimini. To make sure you don’t miss out, we’ve put together a compact overview of the must-attend events for operators of attractions, tours, and activities across Europe.

For experience providers as well as destinations (DMOs), industry events are the ideal place to discover trends, build your network, and gather actionable ideas for your market. Whether it’s large international trade fairs or exclusive industry forums, these events offer not only inspiration but also the opportunity to establish strategic partnerships and grow your business.

Why Travel and Tourism Trade Fairs Are More Relevant Than Ever

In an increasingly digital world, face-to-face meetings are more valuable than ever. While online events offer efficiency and global knowledge, physical events excel in direct networking, spontaneous conversations, and unexpected inspiration.

Experience Trends First-Hand

Trends in the activity industry evolve rapidly—what’s popular today might be outdated tomorrow. By attending industry events, you gain direct exposure to emerging trends, tools, and techniques.

For example, you might see demonstrations of new VR tools for interactive experiences, learn about sustainability practices becoming standard in adventure tourism, or witness creative marketing strategies that resonate with your audience. Experiencing these trends firsthand allows you to adapt and refine your offerings, ensuring you stay relevant in a competitive market.

Learn More About Your Visitors: Understand What Truly Matters to Them

Understanding your audience is critical for any activity provider. Industry events provide a unique opportunity to engage with current and potential customers in person. These conversations go beyond the surface-level insights you might gather from online surveys or analytics tools.

For instance, speaking directly with customers at an event can reveal their preferences, pain points, and expectations. You might discover that families are looking for more inclusive experiences, or that solo travelers are seeking flexible scheduling options. These insights help you tailor your offerings to better meet customer demands and stand out in your industry.

The Right Mix of Physical and Digital Formats

In a world that blends digital convenience with the irreplaceable value of physical interactions, finding the right balance is essential. Physical events let you build relationships, experience trends, and gain customer insights, while digital formats keep you connected year-round with global audiences and on-demand content.

As an activity provider, consider how each format complements the other. Attend flagship industry events in person to build relationships and discover new opportunities, then leverage digital platforms to maintain those connections, share updates, or participate in webinars that keep you informed between physical events.

Key Industry Events 2025 – By Region

DACH

Deutscher Tourismustag

When? November 18-19, 2025
Where? Saarbrücken, Germany
What’s in for you? The leading event for tourism in Germany, with presentations, discussions, and networking opportunities.
Size: About 500 participants.
bookingkit presence: Yes
Website

VDFU ConnEX

When? February 24–26, 2026
Where? Berlin, Germany
What’s in for you? Central forum for the leisure industry with expert talks, exhibition space, and networking.
Size: ~500 participants
bookingkit presence: Yes
Website

ITB Berlin

When? March 3–5, 2026
Where? Berlin, Germany
What’s in for you? The world’s leading travel trade show focusing on the entire tourism industry. Perfect for networking, discovering new technologies, and gaining market insights.
Size: Over 5,500 exhibitors from 170 countries, 100,000 visitors.
bookingkit presence: Yes
Website

Italy

TTG Travel Experience

When? October 8-10, 2025
Where? Rimini, Italy
What’s in for you? Italy’s most important tourism trade fair, focusing on B2B networking and product innovation.
Size: 2,700 exhibitors, approximately 60,000 visitors.
bookingkit presence: Yes
Website

BIT Milan

When? February 10–12, 2026
Where? Milan, Italy
What’s in for you? International tourism fair attracting exhibitors and visitors from around the world. Ideal for networking and market research.
Size: Approximately 1,000 exhibitors, 40,000 visitors.
bookingkit presence: Yes
Website

BMT – Borsa Mediterranea del Turismo

When? March 12-13, 2026
Where? Naples, Italy
What’s in for you? Leading fair for the Mediterranean region, with a focus on leisure tourism and regional offerings.
Size: Approximately 400 exhibitors, 15,000 visitors.
bookingkit presence: Yes
Website

France

Le Salon Mondial du Tourisme

When? March 12–15, 2026
Where? Paris, France
What’s in for you? A leading fair for the French tourism sector, focusing on travel trends, sustainable tourism, and leisure activities.
Size: About 237 exhibitors, 70,000 visitors.
bookingkit presence: Yes
Website

IFTM Top Resa

When? September 23–25, 2025
Where? Paris, France
What’s in for you? One of France’s most important trade fairs for the travel industry. Ideal for networking and international connections.
Size: Approximately 1,500 exhibitors, 32,000 visitors.
bookingkit presence: Yes
Website

Other International Highlights

Arival 360

When? April 27–29, 2026
Where? Valencia, Spain
What’s in for you? A global event for tours, activities, and attractions. Perfect for sharing current trends and learning best practices.
Size: About 1,000 participants.
Website

IAAPA Expo Europe

When? September 23-25, 2025
Where? Barcelona, Spain
What’s in for you? IAAPA Expo Europe is the one-stop leisure industry’s premier event in Europe. Every year the trade show attracts thousands of visitors and industry professionals within the attractions community. Amusement and theme parks, water parks, museums, zoos and aquariums are only a few of the sectors represented at the fair. Fun, expertise and endless opportunities are awaiting for you at the IAAPA. Discover the future of the attractions world in terms of latest tech, booking platforms and other cutting-edge solutions. Meet the experts, ask questions and get powerful insights. 
Size: About 700 exhibitors, 13,000 visitors.
Website

WTM – World Travel Market

When? November 4-6, 2025
Where? London, UK
What’s in for you? For 44 years, WTM has been the world’s most influential travel and tourism event, which gathers together professionals and teams from around the globe. Their motto says, “Travel has the power to change the world. And you have the power to change travel”, so if you are looking for successful strategies to fully utilize your potential, then this is the place for you. Digital tools, leading events and inspiring content will lead the way during the conference.
Website

Essential Online Events

Digital Tourism Think Tank (DTTT)

When? Ongoing program in 2025/2026
What’s in for you? Roundtables, Campus, and Festival formats focused on digital strategies in tourism.
Size: Hundreds to 1,000+ participants depending on format
Website

Overview of Key Events (Sep 2025 – Dec 2026)

Looking Ahead

Whether it’s new technologies, best practices, or valuable connections, travel and tourism trade fairs are the perfect opportunity to discover it all. Be inspired, make valuable connections, and shape the future of the leisure industry.

We at bookingkit look forward to meeting you at ITB, TTG, VDFU Connex, or Deutscher Tourismustag. See you there!
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