The global exhibition industry is undergoing a significant geographic shift, with the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region solidifying its lead in total venue capacity, according to the 2025 edition of the World Map of Exhibition Venues released by UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.
Conducted in collaboration with jwc, the annual census, which covers all venues with a minimum of 5,000m2 of gross indoor space as of the end of 2024, reveals that APAC now commands 38.1 per cent of the world’s total exhibition space, outpacing Europe (36.3 per cent) for the second year running. North America maintains the third spot with 17.2 per cent.
UFI CEO and managing director Chris Skeith noted: “Exhibition venues are a key component of our industry’s growth, and this year’s World Map once again highlights just how dynamic this landscape has become… The ongoing investment in venue development worldwide reflects the industry’s confidence in the future of face-to-face business.”
The report highlights the continued dominance of the world’s largest economies in venue capacity: China remains the undisputed largest market, accounting for nearly a third (30.9 per cent) of global venue space, followed by the US (14.3 per cent) and Germany (7.1 per cent). Together, the top five markets – China, US, Germany, Italy, and France – collectively represent nearly two-thirds (63.4 per cent) of all indoor exhibition space globally.
Jochen Witt, president and CEO of jwc, added that the steady expansion demonstrates “the resilience and long-term confidence driving the exhibition industry globally”, and highlights new opportunities shaped by modern infrastructure investments.
The data also revealed a rise in large-scale facilities: there are now 81 “Mega Venues” globally, described facilities exceeding 100,000m2 of indoor exhibition space. Europe and APAC share the lead, hosting 38 such mega venues each.
The 2025 edition also expanded its global scope, including newly-tracked venues in emerging markets like Barbados, Jamaica, and Uganda. The report also provides detailed profiles for 22 key markets that boast over 300,000m2 of indoor exhibition space.
