On 21 April 2026, the first edition of the EFFECT MICE FESTIVAL will take place at EXPO Łódź – an event designed to create a nationwide platform for networking, collaboration and showcasing services for the event industry. The Polish Tourism Organisation has granted its honorary patronage to EFFECT MICE FESTIVAL 2026.
The festival is being launched in central Poland to facilitate participation for professionals from across the country and to establish a new, recurring meeting point for the industry. The organisers are planning to host approximately 200 exhibitors, who will present offerings from venues, agencies, service providers and technology suppliers. The event will also welcome selected international guests participating as partners or within the Hosted Buyers programme.
Study Tour of Łódź and Dinner & Show by Agustin Egurrola
On the day preceding the main festival, Hosted Buyers will take part in a unique Study Tour of Łódź, designed by four local event agencies. Each has prepared its own concept, showcasing different facets of the city – from creativity and contemporary art, through neurodiversity and new participant engagement formats, to industrial heritage and event spaces with significant production potential.
In the evening, Hosted Buyers will attend a Dinner & Show directed and hosted by Agustin Egurrola, created specifically for the occasion.
– Łódź has been developing its MICE segment for years, and EFFECT MICE FESTIVAL is an excellent opportunity to showcase the city’s potential on a new, nationwide scale – says Tomasz Koralewski, President of the Łódź Tourism Organisation. – This event opens space for cooperation between local partners and the industry from across Poland. The Study Tour, Dinner & Show, and trade fair format together create a project that may become a permanent fixture in the professional industry calendar.
EXPO format combined with scheduled 1:1 meetings
EFFECT MICE FESTIVAL introduces to Poland a model combining a trade fair with mandatory, pre-scheduled meetings between exhibitors and Hosted Buyers.
The organisers aim to attract 200 Hosted Buyers representing event agencies, procurement and marketing departments, corporate companies and public institutions. Each Hosted Buyer will participate in a series of meetings based on a schedule prepared by the organiser.
Exhibitors will independently determine the number of meetings by selecting an appropriate participation package – the number of meetings will depend on the chosen option.
The exhibition area will be divided into several thematic zones, making navigation easier for visitors and allowing exhibitors to present their offer in the most relevant context. These zones will include:
- Event attractions – artists, performers, shows and interactive experiences for events
- Event technology – lighting, sound, multimedia, AV and special effects
- Locations and venues – hotels, congress centres, arenas and outdoor spaces
- Wedding & Celebration – suppliers for weddings, galas and premium events, including wedding agencies
- Event infrastructure – event furniture, scenography, structures and installations
- Event agencies & DMCs – companies specialising in comprehensive event, incentive and MICE project delivery
Polish Tourism Organisation and Poland Convention Bureau in Łódź
The Polish Tourism Organisation has granted its honorary patronage to EFFECT MICE FESTIVAL 2026. The Poland Convention Bureau team will be present at the festival in Łódź. At EXPO Łódź, participants will also have access to a Low Sensory Show Room.
Polecani w Eventach 2026 competition
Below are details of the “Polecani w Eventach 2026” competition, which will take place as part of EFFECT MICE FESTIVAL 2026. The organiser invites Polish city and regional Convention Bureaux, as well as the Polish Tourism Organisation (Poland Convention Bureau), to participate as jurors and nominators. The final will take place on 21 April at the DoubleTree by Hilton Łódź.
- MICE Effect of the Year 2025 – an award for the most spectacular and creative event delivery that made a strong impact on participants and delivered measurable value. This may result, for example, from an innovative programme concept or unconventional use of event tools.
- MICE Historical Value – a category dedicated to heritage venues that successfully combine commercial functions with the protection of national and architectural heritage. The award promotes locations where history becomes an inspiring backdrop for modern business events.
- MICE Premiere of the Year 2025 – recognition for the most interesting market debut, whether a new venue, innovative service or event format introduced in the past year. This category rewards boldness in business and fresh perspectives on MICE sector needs.
- MICE Personality of the Year – an individual award for a person whose passion, professionalism and commitment have significantly contributed to the development of the event industry in their region. It recognises visionaries who effectively build relationships and promote best practices in the meetings sector.
Key dates:
- By 2 April: deadline for submitting nominations and nominators
- By 9 April: verification of submissions, announcement of the official shortlist, start of voting by Convention Bureaux
- 16 April: vote counting and final results determination
- 21 April: official announcement of results and awards ceremony during the EFFECT MICE FESTIVAL finale
Stage at the heart of EXPO Lodz – case studies of outstanding events
A central congress stage in a silent-conference format will be set up within the EXPO hall, allowing presentations to run simultaneously with exhibition activities. The organisers expect around 2,000 participants.
The programme will feature short, dynamic presentations based on case studies from some of the largest and most interesting events delivered in Poland – both large-scale productions and smaller, unconventional formats.
Speakers will discuss creative processes, organisational and technical back-end operations, and project challenges. Well-known industry figures will also appear on stage, although their names will be revealed gradually. The organisers emphasise that the content programme will be one of the festival’s strongest pillars.
Evening Gala Polecani w Eventach – the festival finale
Following the exhibition, participants will move to the DoubleTree by Hilton Łódź for the evening Polecani w Eventach Gala. The event will host approximately 800 attendees, including Hosted Buyers and representatives of the event industry.
During the Gala, awards in the Polecani w Eventach plebiscite will be presented, followed by an all-night celebration featuring live music, a headline performance and an open bar. This will be the culminating moment of the EFFECT MICE FESTIVAL – both a celebration of the event industry and an expression of appreciation for its professionals.
– We wanted to create an event that responds to real industry needs – providing space for exposure, facilitating direct business meetings and building relationships in a friendly, modern and effective format – says Rafał Krzycki, the festival organiser. – Łódź, as a centrally located and well-connected city, naturally becomes a meeting hub for the MICE sector. EFFECT MICE FESTIVAL is intended to be an event the industry looks forward to every year.
Registration for EFFECT MICE FESTIVAL
Registration for all participants, including exhibitors and Hosted Buyers, is available at www.effectmice.pl. Participation is free of charge for representatives of event agencies as well as marketing, PR and HR departments of companies commissioning or independently organising events.
Organisers
- Horeca Media Group – publisher of the Polecani w Eventach portal (www.polecaniweventach.pl), organiser of the competition of the same name and owner of an industry event-focused Facebook group
- Łódź Tourism Organisation (ŁOT) – www.lodz.travel – a local association established to promote tourism in the city, bringing together over 140 companies and institutions from the tourism sector to jointly develop an attractive offer for residents and visitors
Source: press release, Łódź Convention Bureau, own
