Industry News
Curated headlines from the trade show and exhibition industry's top publications, associations, and expert blogs.
March Madness 2026: Brands Activate Beyond the Final Four to Engage College Hoops Fans
Our March Madness bracket was busted on week one of the NCAA tournament, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying all of the activations and events that capitalized on the energy around the men’s and women’s college basketball championships. From April 3-6, the Men’s Final Four and its accompanying…
Engagement: How to Make a ‘Soft’ Event Marketing Performance Metric ‘Serious’
Event marketers are often accused of dealing in “soft” marketing metrics. Indeed, sometimes the magic of the moments created at live events are tough to quantify. “We’ve all been there,” says Jon Wolff, senior global events manager, solutions and services group at Lenovo. “You pull off an…
Five Conversations That Will Elevate Your Measurement Practice
Tune in and level up the way you track and measure your events Event Marketer is all about championing event marketers. And that means championing how event marketers measure their events. Because if you want serious budgets and a serious seat at the table—you have to show your events make a…
Building a Better Measurement Practice: The ROI-driven RFP
A new monthly series designed to help your event organization measure smarter It’s the little acronym with the big impact on your events. We’re talking about RFPs—the requests for proposals that set the stage for what the event’s about and what it hopes to achieve. But ask any seasoned event…
Guest Column: Four Tips to Get the Right Event Data from Your Suppliers
Our quarterly column from the Experiential Marketing Measurement Coalition tackles strategic planning... The post Guest Column: Four Tips to Get the Right Event Data from Your Suppliers appeared first on Event Marketer.
Field Report: Five Steal-worthy Ideas from the New York International Auto Show 2026
The New York International Auto Show touched down at the Javits Center in New York City, April 3-12, reminding attendees arriving at the entrance to the 126-year-old show’s exhibit halls that it’s “Not just a show. A tradition.” Show organizers reported that attendance opening weekend was up more…
The Brief: Bubblegum Trolls and Pet ASMR
This week’s hot takes on hot topics in experiential marketing cover Bubblegum Trolls, Man-icures and pet ASMR. The post The Brief: Bubblegum Trolls and Pet ASMR appeared first on Event Marketer.
As Mergers and Acquisitions Soar, Agencies Point to a ‘Fragmented’ Market
Mergers and acquisitions are cropping up at an unprecedented rate as the demand for live events, global reach and expanded capabilities surges; AI looms; and private equity firms tighten their grip on the thriving business of events. And all of this wheeling and dealing is altering the industry…
Experiential Marketing Trend of the Week: Charm Bars
At a time when many consumers are suffering from digital fatigue and seeking more meaningful interactions, brands are leveraging tactile, personalized experiences that send attendees home with a physical keepsake that extends the life of the event. We’re talking about charm bars, intimate…
How Superhuman Used SXSW as Launchpad for its Rebrand and AI Ethos
Three days of panels, performances, comedy sketches—and an interactive journey through the evolution of communication When Grammarly merged three AI-forward productivity platforms and rebranded as Superhuman just before the holidays, the timing wasn’t quite right for a large-scale debut. But by the…
Extending Event ROI: The Complete Guide to Content Activation
We all know the feeling… Another event comes to a close, along with a whole year’s worth of planning, and plenty of blood, sweat, and tears. But as you breathe a sigh of relief, the opportunity to share the countless ideas, experiences, and insights from the event is far from over. This is where…
The Event Strategist’s Guide to Experience Planning
This go-to guide covers a range of relevant, and critical, topics for experience builders, including the new role of event content, aligning audiences and expectations, experience design as an engagement tool, and getting to the heart of why events are important. Complete this form to download the…
The Experience Builder’s Event and Content Roadmap
Much of marketing—events in particular—is fueled by technology. And it’s easy to see it as the driver. But technology is a tool. In any interaction, the human experience comes first, and tech is the enabler. This guide explores the modern tactics that influence experiences, independent of…
How Thayers’ Influencer-Focused Experiential Strategy is Driving Brand Engagement
Skincare enthusiasts, like us, are seeing a lot more of Thayers on their social media feeds, and that’s no coincidence. The brand has recently been boosting its social presence through influencer partnerships and a growing ambassador program for aspiring creators. In addition to product reviews and…
HIMSS26: Corporate Exhibitors Talk Booth Design and Engagement Strategies
With the theme of reimagining health through information and technology, the 2026 HIMSS Global Health Conference and Exhibition brought together more than 28,000 clinicians, executives, policy makers and industry leaders from across the world to the Venetian Expo Center in Las Vegas on March 9-12.…
Seven Trade Show Exhibit Engagement Tactics from Shoptalk 2026
Plus: Exclusive insights from three of the brand-side event marketers we chatted with on-site in their exhibits Shoptalk Spring 2026 took place March 24-26 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, bringing together more than 10,000 attendees from across the retail, consumer brand and tech landscape, and…
The Brief: Mulch Mobiles and T-Rex Leather
This week’s hot takes on hot topics in experiential marketing cover Lowe's Mulch Mobile, ship resurrections and lab-grown T-Rex Leather. The post The Brief: Mulch Mobiles and T-Rex Leather appeared first on Event Marketer.
Experiential Marketing Trend of the Week: Tunnel Vision
In the distraction age, experiential elements like immersive tunnels are blocking outside noise, adding elements of suspense or curiosity, and creating an effective transition from one environment to another. From trade shows to upfronts to fan fests to VIP afterparties, let’s explore how brands…
10 Minutes With… Gabe Weiss, Head of Marketing at Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas
In a sea of bulldozers and excavators digging for attention, it’s not often that a heavy equipment brand would bank on helping construction pros find their Zen. But that was exactly the approach that Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas took for its 30,000-square-foot booth at the recent…
Watch: March 2026 Experiential News Commentary
Watch as the editors of Event Marketer recap a few of their top experiential stories from March. And it all starts with an exclusive look inside Barbie Dream Fest, plus—Regency era vibes, Y2K done right, and skateboarding. Subscribe to The Brief LinkedIn Newsletter Related Links: Our Firsthand…