· The event is supported by Qatar Calendar
· Second edition records 100% growth as three-day event expands its conference program
· Event to launch the first QES Awards
Doha, Qatar – 1 September 2026: The second edition of Qatar Event Show (QES) 2026 opened at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), bringing together senior industry leaders, international associations, event organisers, venues, agencies, suppliers, technology providers and decision-makers for three days of business, knowledge exchange and industry engagement. Taking place from September 1st- 3rd, the event is supported by Qatar Calendar.
QES 2026 has expanded significantly from its inaugural edition, with the exhibition growing by approximately 100% and the conference program more than doubling in scale. The second edition features more than 50 exhibitors and over 30 keynotes, panel discussions and workshops, with more than 5,000 delegates expected to attend the three-day event.
Organised by Mangusteen, QES combines a specialised B2B exhibition with a high-level conference program, workshops, live demonstrations, networking and business-matching opportunities, bringing together different parts of the events and MICE value chain under one roof.
The expansion comes as Qatar continues to strengthen its position as a destination for exhibitions, conferences, business events and major international experiences, while the wider regional events industry continues to evolve through new technologies, changing audience expectations and increasing demand for professionally delivered experiences.
Commenting on the opening of QES 2026, Malik Shishtawi, Chief Executive Officer of Mangusteen, said, “Qatar Event Show was established to bring together the key stakeholders of the events ecosystem and support the sector’s long-term growth. The strong growth of our second edition reflects the confidence of our exhibitors, partners and the wider market, as well as the growing demand for a dedicated platform for industry connection, knowledge exchange, partnerships and business opportunities.
He added, “The events industry extends well beyond individual events, contributing to tourism, investment, employment, innovation and the international positioning of destinations. With Qatar’s strong track record in hosting major international events, QES provides a platform to further strengthen the professional ecosystem supporting the sector throughout the year. Our ambition is for QES to become an annual meeting point for the regional events industry, where businesses can build partnerships, professionals can exchange expertise, and the sector can collectively explore new opportunities.”
Events Industry Taking on a Wider Economic Role
The economic and strategic contribution of the events industry is a central theme of this year’s program. The QES 2026 conference opens with the theme “The New Event Economy: Scale, Complexity & Opportunity”, examining the growing role of events in supporting economic activity, tourism, investment, knowledge exchange and destination development.
Opening-day discussions covered a wide range of topics affecting the sector, including the development of local event ecosystems, the role of events as a global economic engine, production management, experience design in an increasingly digital environment, knowledge diplomacy through association events, venue development, large-scale event delivery and the changing expectations of audiences and organisers.
The program continues across the second and third days with discussions focused on technology, creativity, sustainability, strategic partnerships, mega-event logistics, artificial intelligence, women in events leadership, workforce development, profitability, regulation, and the skills and business models expected to shape the industry in the years ahead.
Regional and International Industry Leaders at QES 2026
The expanded conference program features senior figures from across the regional and international events and MICE industry.
Chris Skeith, Chief Executive Officer of UFI has delivered the key note address focusing on the resilience of Events Industry and the ambition to continue raising standards , invest in talents and strengthen collaborations between the public and private sectors.
The wider speaker program brings together representatives from international associations, venues and organisations across the global events and MICE sector, alongside leading voices from Qatar and the GCC.
Their participation reflects QES’s focus on connecting Qatar’s events industry with established international networks, encouraging knowledge exchange and creating opportunities for new commercial relationships and partnerships.
Expanded Exhibition Brings the Events Supply Chain Together
Alongside the conference, QES 2026 features companies working across event production, creative services, audiovisual technology, temporary structures, entertainment, staging, equipment, event technology, design and specialised event solutions.
The exhibition gives suppliers and service providers an opportunity to engage directly with buyers and decision-makers, while visitors can explore technologies, services and operational solutions supporting the delivery of events across Qatar and the wider region.
Inaugural QES Awards to Recognise Excellence Across the Industry
A major new addition to this year’s event is the launch of the QES Awards, a dedicated awards program recognising achievement across Qatar’s events industry.
The inaugural awards recognise excellence, innovation, creativity and leadership among organisations, professionals, suppliers, venues and events contributing to the development of the sector.
The awards cover three principal areas: Best Events, Best Companies & Suppliers, and Talent & Individual Awards. Categories include corporate and consumer events, conferences, exhibitions, public and sporting events, cultural programs, entertainment, sustainability, venues, suppliers, innovation and individual leadership.
The launch of the awards adds a new dimension to QES by providing a dedicated opportunity to recognise the organisations, professionals and projects contributing to the continued development of Qatar’s events industry.
Three Days of Business, Knowledge and Industry Engagement
With its combination of exhibition activity, conference sessions, professional networking, business-matching opportunities and industry recognition, QES 2026 is designed to strengthen connections across the events value chain while supporting the continued development of Qatar as a regional destination for exhibitions, conferences, business events and major international experiences.
The program continues on Wednesday, 2 September, and Thursday, 3 September, with further conference sessions, workshops, exhibition activity, networking and industry engagements taking place at DECC.
Event professionals, organisers, venues, agencies, suppliers, brands, companies and other industry stakeholders are invited to attend the second and third days of Qatar Event Show 2026 and engage with participating companies and regional and international leaders shaping the future of the sector. Visitor registration is available free of charge through the official Qatar Event Show website-