UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has announced that its UFI Central & South American Conference and Event Directors Summit 2026 will take place in São Paulo, Brazil, in December 2026, co-located with Experience Expo. The event marks a significant milestone for the region’s exhibition industry and will bring together leading exhibition professionals, organisers, venue operators, and industry stakeholders from across Central and South America.
Hosted by UBRAFE (União Brasileira de Feiras e Eventos de Negócios), the UFI Central & South American Conference will be held from 1–2 December 2026 at Centro de Convenções Frei Caneca and Expo Center Norte. The conference will feature multilingual sessions in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, enabling broader participation and stronger regional collaboration. Now in its 6th edition, the conference will be hosted in Brazil for the very first time, highlighting the country’s growing importance in the global exhibitions and business events industry. Brazil is currently home to six of the region’s top ten exhibition centres, making it a strategic destination for the event.
Following the conference, the Event Directors Summit will take place on 3 December 2026. Co-organised by UBRAFE, the summit is designed specifically for exhibition, portfolio, and event organisers. The programme will include interactive workshops, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and experiential networking sessions, creating a practical and collaborative environment for industry professionals. Conducted entirely in Portuguese, the summit will make its debut in Central & South America after being first introduced during the UFI European Conference.
Paulo Ventura, President of UBRAFE, described hosting the conference in Brazil as a great honour and emphasised the opportunities it would create for new business relationships and stronger industry connections across the region.
Chris Skeith OBE, CEO and Managing Director of UFI, highlighted the rapid growth of Brazil and the wider Central & South American exhibition market, stating that co-locating with Experience Expo would create a unique platform to connect directly with the heart of the regional exhibition industry.
Registration for both the UFI Central & South American Conference and Event Directors Summit is now open for exhibition industry professionals worldwide, with Early Bird pricing available until 31 August 2026.
