IMEX Frankfurt 2026 edition once again confirmed Poland’s strong position on the international meetings and business events market. The Polish Tourism Organisation, through the Poland Convention Bureau, together with partners from across the country, promoted Poland as a modern, safe and sustainable MICE destination, offering high-quality services and authentic experiences for congress, conference and incentive travel participants.
Poland’s presence stood out thanks to a coherent concept based on quality, creativity and emotions. The organisers consistently focused on elements building an authentic image of the country – high standards, unique experiences, culture, and an increasingly visible offer of sustainable cities and regions. The slogan “Poland. More than you expected” was reflected both in the programme of events and in the atmosphere of the Polish stand A455 at Messe Frankfurt.
Musical Mornings
A special feature of this year’s presence were the daily Musical Mornings with Basia Giewont and her band. A new addition was choreographer and dancer Adam Soroczyński, who interpreted through movement the stories sung in Polish. The combination of music and dance became one of the most recognisable elements of the Polish presence at the trade show, attracting participants’ attention and creating an emotional message beyond language barriers.
An important role was also played by the café zone, which served as a space for meetings, networking and the promotion of key industry initiatives.
Better Together – More Than You Expected
The stand hosted two “Better Together – More Than You Expected” events organised jointly by PCB and Szczecin Convention Bureau together with Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) and MEET4IMPACT (Tuesday and Wednesday).
Initiatives such as Spotlight on Poland in Poznań and GDS-Forum & Impact Day in Szczecin were also promoted. Szczecin Convention Bureau presented the city’s magnolia in the form of a tea-based beverage and the artisanal Heritage Magnolia Gin.
Eventprofs Meetup
Equally important was the gathering of the community led by Irina Graf and Sina Bünte at the Polish stand. The Eventprofs Meetup demonstrated the importance of interpersonal relationships and micro-events organised outside the official IMEX programme.
Poland is recognised as one of the leaders in digital marketing among convention bureaux. We are very pleased with our collaboration with Sina Bünte and Irina Graf and truly appreciate the value of the vibrant community they have created. Having them with us at the Polish National Stand during IMEX Frankfurt was a great opportunity to connect, exchange ideas and talk about Poland as a meetings destination. We are also delighted that some lucky participants will soon have the opportunity to visit Poland in person – said Jaroslaw Marciuk from Poland Convention Bureau.
Poland at IMEX Frankfurt stand
IMEX Frankfurt 2026 was above all an intensive period of business meetings and relationship-building at the Polish national stand. The team of the Polish Tourism Organisation (Aneta Książek, Jarosław Marciuk, Magda Mazgaj, and for the first time Przemysław Marczewski) together with Polish exhibitors held dozens of meetings with Hosted Buyers and industry representatives from around the world.
The discussions no longer focused on general presentations of Poland, but on specific projects, requests for proposals, recommendations of trusted partners, opportunities for site inspections, participation in press tours and study trips, support programmes and the Polish Congress Ambassadors Programme.
Looking at it from this perspective – intensive days, authentic meetings and the very positive energy surrounding the Polish stand – I am convinced that this year’s presentation fully reflected the idea that guided us: Poland. More than you expected – summarised Aneta Książek, Head of the Meetings and Events Bureau – Poland Convention Bureau at the Polish Tourism Organisation.
Strong interest in the Polish offer, partner engagement and Poland’s 18th place in the ICCA Country and City Rankings 2025 (announced during the ICCA press conference) confirm the growing recognition of Poland as an attractive destination for international business events.
Partners at the Polish National Stand IMEX Frankfurt 2026
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Convention Bureau – Wrocław
- Gdansk Convention Bureau
- Kraków Convention Bureau
- Poznań Convention Bureau
- Mazovia Convention Bureau
- Silesia Convention Bureau
- Warsaw Convention Bureau
- Travel Projekt DMC Poland
- Poznań Event Hub
- ICE Kraków Congress Centre
- Vengo DMC Poland
- Creative Poland
- JAN-POL DMC Poland
- Sheraton Hotels & Resorts Poland (Sopot, Warsaw, Poznań, Kraków)
- Mazurkas DMC Poland
- Szczecin Convention Bureau as Special Partner
Poland Convention Bureau POT would like to thank all partners, exhibitors and guests visiting the Polish stand.
IMEX Run Frankfurt
The IMEXrun once again proved to be one of the most recognisable networking activities accompanying IMEX Frankfurt, combining wellbeing, informal relationship-building and community engagement within the global meetings industry. Organised by WEC GmbH, the early morning 5 km run along the banks of the River Main gave IMEX participants an opportunity to connect in a relaxed atmosphere before the start of another busy exhibition day. Open to runners, joggers and walkers alike, the initiative reflected the growing importance of wellness and human-centred experiences within the business events sector.
This year, more than 500 participants registered for the IMEXrun. Among them was a Polish team representing exhibitors from the Polish National Stand, who gathered for the 7:00 am morning run. Participants included Jarosław Marciuk, Magda Mazgaj and Przemysław Marczewski from the Polish Tourism Organisation – Poland Convention Bureau, Leopold Korytkowski from Szczecin Convention Bureau, Jakub Chmielnicki from Kraków Convention Bureau, as well as Piotr Cieślak representing Travelmediate.
Although I was initially hesitant about taking part in the IMEXrun, a colleague from our team successfully encouraged me to join. Looking back, I am extremely pleased with that decision, as the early morning event turned out to be a fantastic opportunity for networking and building relationships with international planners in a more relaxed, sporting atmosphere. Informal initiatives of this kind perfectly complement our official promotion of Poland at the trade show in Frankfurt, showcasing the natural energy and openness of our delegation towards the global meetings industry – said Magda Mazgaj from Poland Convention Bureau.
Participation in networking activities such as the IMEXrun continues to play an increasingly important role during major international industry events. Beyond scheduled appointments and formal meetings, these informal gatherings create space for authentic conversations, stronger professional relationships and cross-sector collaboration. Shared experiences outside the exhibition halls often help build trust more naturally and encourage meaningful dialogue between destinations, organisers, suppliers and hosted buyers. Events such as the IMEXrun also support the wider trend of integrating wellbeing, sustainability and work-life balance into the culture of international business events.
Sustainability
During the trade fair at Messe Frankfurt, Poland Convention Bureau and Think MICE presented their joint report “Poland’s Green Transformation of the MICE Industry”. The publication presents the green transformation of the Polish meetings and events industry (MICE), showcasing activities of cities, organisations and initiatives supporting sustainability, ESG and inclusivity within the business tourism sector.
The document highlights the growing importance of responsible practices in event organisation and Poland’s role as an emerging destination for sustainable business events. Special attention was devoted to cities referred to as the “Polish Green Champions” – Kraków, Gdańsk, Wrocław and Szczecin – which are implementing strategies aligned with the Global Destination Sustainability Index.
The publication also presents educational projects implemented by Poland Convention Bureau POT, including the Destination Poland Green Academy programme and the SITE Poland Sustainable Incentive Travel Manifesto, promoting responsible event and incentive travel design. The final section of the document focuses on the Low Sensory Show Room initiative – a space supporting neuroinclusivity and attendee comfort – and on a new approach to organising meetings in Poland, centred on participant experiences and creating valuable, engaging events.
The new approach to meetings in Poland also assumes a shift in event design – from a model focused solely on logistics to one in which the participant experience becomes key. Poland aims to build the image of a destination offering personalised and engaging events that provide unique intellectual and emotional value. A participant-oriented approach forms the foundation of competitive advantage. Events created “for people and with people” strengthen positive experiences, encouraging participants to return and recommend Poland as an attractive meeting destination.
Polish Stand Awarded by Better Stands
The Polish National Stand at IMEX Frankfurt 2026 received the Better Stand Silver by NZCE award. According to the evaluation criteria, the Polish stand fulfilled 8 out of 10 sustainability criteria.
Better Stands by NZCE is an initiative supporting sustainability in the events industry by replacing disposable exhibition stands with reusable structures. The programme, developed by Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) and implemented by the International Federation of Exhibition & Event Services (IFES), aims to reduce waste and CO₂ emissions.
Disposable stands account for over 80% of waste generated during events. The Better Stands programme introduced an evaluation system based on 10 sustainability criteria, as well as Bronze, Silver and Gold certification levels promoting good practices.
General Summary of the Frankfurt Trade Fair
The IMEX Frankfurt 2026 trade fair, held on 19–21 May at Messe Frankfurt, welcomed more than 13,000 participants, including over 4,500 buyers – most of whom took part in the hosted buyers programme. Nearly 3,000 exhibitors attended the event, ranging from tourism and event industry companies to technology providers and event agencies.
During the three days of the trade fair, a record 73,000 pre-scheduled meetings took place, including 63,500 one-to-one meetings, indicating strong business momentum.
At the closing press conference, IMEX CEO Carina Bauer summarised:
“Beyond the numbers, the human element and the energy of this community remain at the heart of IMEX. Although artificial intelligence was a hot topic, the counterargument is the fact that face-to-face meetings are experiencing a renaissance. More than ever, their value lies in conversations with people who inspire one another, leading to many positive outcomes – above all in business, friendship, employment and innovation across the industry.”
Next year, IMEX Frankfurt will take place during the second week of May, from 11–13 May 2027. Website imex-frankfurt.com.
Created by: AK, JM
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