The trade fair institution joins the global celebration of the industry
Fira joins the Global Exhibitions Day and highlights the potential of trade shows
Fira de Barcelona joins Global Exhibitions Day today, an initiative of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), the association of trade fair operators around the world, to highlight the role of events and congresses. Under the slogan “Exhibitions unleash potential”, the day highlights how events have a positive impact both economically and socially.
In its 10th edition, the Global Exhibitions Day in which organisers and operators of trade fairs, venues, convention centres and associations from 115 countries take part, focuses on the importance of fairs as a platform for economic, but also cultural and social revitalisation. For this reason, it underlines how exhibitions drive collaboration and innovation to transform businesses and industries, enable new, emerging and established talent to grow and succeed, power economic development and societal progress for countries and communities, and amplify reach, build brands, foster connections, and drive revenue through face-to-face engagement.
According to UFI’s figures, 32,000 professional fairs were held in the world in 2024, bringing together 4.7 million exhibiting companies and 318 million visitors. It is estimated that the global trade fair industry generates 368 billion euros of economic impact and 4.3 million direct and indirect jobs. Europe leads the trade fair ranking in terms of number of visitors with 101.7 million, followed by North America with 88.9 million attendees and Asia-Pacific with 84 million.
Great activity and impact
In this context, Fira de Barcelona had record results in 2024, with revenues of more than 300 million euros, and an Ebitda of 53 million euros. Forecasts for 2025 are also very positive and it is expected to exceed 300 million euros in revenue again thanks to the busy activity scheduled at its three venues – Montjuïc, Gran Via and CCIB – to which it recently added the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The institution has an annual economic impact of nearly 5,000 million euros and 35,000 jobs.
Barcelona, June 4, 2025
Communications Department
sbilurbina@firabarcelona.com
+932 332 659