INSIGHTS
Regional dynamics to consolidation: Top meetings and events trends to watch out across Asia in 2026
Ready for what's coming in 2026? The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) landscape is changing and every new year brings new trends and opportunities.
A report by Mordor Intelligence stated that the Asia-Pacific MICE market was valued at US$ 212.83 billion in 2025. It estimates the industry to touch US$ 328.97 billion by 2030 at a 9.10% CAGR. This highlights the growing interest of companies in leveraging corporate meetings and events to motivate, retain, and celebrate talent, and also attract new business.
To energise, recognise and reward, organisations are seeking out-of-the-box ideas to make people feel special. With an eye on budgets and analysing where every dollar is being spent, companies are expecting personalised service, immersive tech and much more. In this blog, we explore top trends that will shape meetings and events across Asia in 2026.
Technology: From nice-to-have to must-have
Remember when a conference app was considered cutting-edge? Cut to 2026, immersive tech and hyper-personalisation will become baseline expectations. As per the FCM Meetings & Events Trends Report, event planners in APAC will look at AR/VR, artificial intelligence (AI), and pre-and-post-event media.
Our FCM Meetings & Events specialists, for an incentive trip for a large group with over 1200 attendees created tech-enabled experiences. From LED tunnel to AI Photo with interactive filters, the attendees engaged, and these tech-enabled personalised experiences were a hit.
"The difference between good and exceptional corporate events now lies in tech integration that feels intuitive. We're seeing clients demanding tech that enhances human connections rather than replacing them, right from pre-event activation to attendee experience,” said Manpreet Bindra, Leader-Asia, FCM Meetings & Events.
The experience-first approach that delivers results
Let's be honest. No one remembers another PowerPoint presentation. What they remember are meaningful experiences.
Corporate meetings and events buyers are seeking more breakout spaces, culture and unexpected moments. It will no longer be about what’s happening in the ballroom but also around it. This expectation indicates that the planners will have to get a pulse of what attendees want and how every aspect of the meeting or an event can drive value.
For memorable and immersive experiences, planners can include activities that tie local culture and community development- from batik painting to cooking with traditional methods. They can also explore team building outdoor exercises in the morning to energise people or tie-up with NGOs for CSR initiatives, giving meaning and a sense of fulfilment to the attendees. For conferences and seminars, they can opt for a museum like FCM Meetings & Events team did to convey how science and art go hand-in-hand.
Moving to Tier II, III cities: The new MICE frontrunners
While major cities including Singapore and Tokyo won’t lose their appeal anytime soon, the real growth story is expected to happen elsewhere.
As per market leaders, secondary cities across APAC will get their slice of corporate meetings and events. For instance, in India, Rajasthan will see more footfall from corporate meetings and events. Meanwhile, Japan is also inviting MICE tourism in cities such as Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Hiroshima. The trend also extends to Australia and regions like Adelaide and Tasmania.
Secondary cities will offer a compelling value proposition. Robust infrastructure, competitive pricing, accessibility, and authentic cultural experiences will fuel this trend in 2026. They are smart cities with historical charm and suit the requirement as buyers are constantly looking for new destinations that delegates haven’t experienced before.
Manpreet Bindra, Regional Leader, Meetings & Events Asia
Consolidation of MICE and business travel
Still at an early stage, 2026 will see more efforts towards unifying meetings and events and business travel for greater flexibility.
With both segments relying on flights, hotels, and ground transport just like business trips, it won’t be surprising to see a focussed and combined travel policy. Moreover, companies will look at bringing business travel and meetings and events under one travel management company for better contract negotiations and vendor management.
“While we've watched consolidation roll through North America and Europe for years, companies are now taking the same approach across Asian markets. This is happening in a more measured, regional way rather than a sweeping global approach. This trend is coupled with considerable growth in powerhouse markets like India, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia,” said Simone Seiler, Global General Manager, FCM Meetings & Events.
Leverage analytics to benchmark return on investment
Just like business travel, companies will look at reporting and analytics tools to track engagement, booking behaviour, sustainability metrics, and supplier performance. They will reach out to travel management companies and event planners who have tools to view spending for sourcing and management, compare budgeted costs against actual spending, assess spend by product type, and Identify supplier spend across airlines, hotels and transfers.
Sustainability: No longer optional
You can expect the RFPs to include employee wellness and sustainability questions, and it won’t be about just about ticking boxes. As sustainability as a metric is showing up in balance sheets now, companies will reach out to planners with experience in handling events with eco-friendly tactics, such as location and tech-integrated experiences.
Companies will focus on green logistics and transportation and with new frameworks, the pressure will be on both the sides of the coin- to deliver a sustainable event that meets procurement and creative needs.
The bottom line
As we head toward 2026, the MICE industry across Asia will offer fresh opportunities for those willing to embrace change.