The 92nd UFI Global Congress, hosted by AsiaWorld-Expo, is set to take place in Hong Kong from November 19 to 22, 2025.
Under the theme Shaping the Future, the event will convene global industry leaders to discuss the exhibition sector’s evolution during UFI’s centennial year.
The Congress will introduce two new features. First, Insight Series – Ideas in Action will be six one-hour workshops spotlighting UFI Award-winning projects across categories like Digital Innovation and Sustainability, which focus on translating innovative ideas into actionable strategies.
Second, the Bate-Papo Corner. This new, informal side stage, inspired by the Portuguese word for “chat,” will host lively discussions, with sessions being recorded and released as the UFI Bate-Papo Unplugged podcast.
Dex Hunter-Torricke, a prominent Silicon Valley strategist and former leader at Google, Facebook, and SpaceX, will deliver the keynote address. He will focus on how AI and technological change are reshaping industries and the exhibition sector’s role in reconnecting people and ideas.
Meanwhile, the main stage will feature sessions examining the forces shaping future events, including Future-first: How leading organisers are redesigning the exhibition experience; What our industry can learn from Hyrox; Rethinking the role of service providers; How venues are evolving; and the Global Economic Outlook.
The UFI Medal of Honour will also return to celebrate individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the global exhibition industry.
And as UFI marks its 100th anniversary, the Congress will feature special celebrations, including the UFI-100 Expo Corner highlighting the association’s history, and a 1920s-themed Welcome Reception – a nod to the year of UFI’s founding.
The Congress will also host the annual handover of the UFI Presidency, with Hugh Jones, CEO of RX, passing the presidency to Panittha Buri, vice chairperson of Bhiraj Buri Group.
