The programme has 11 tracks, including four new ones, that participants can customise to build their learning journey
Brought to you by IMEX Frankfurt
IMEX Frankfurt has released the first details of its education programme, held from May 19 to 21, 2026. This year’s focus is a learning line-up designed to meet the industry exactly where it is today – and where it is poised to thrive in the future.
The programme is rooted in real-world examples and shaped by the here and now as Tahira Endean, IMEX’s head of programming, explains: “The world keeps shifting – AI tools and mindsets are reshaping workflows, sustainability requirements are hardening into policy and attendees are arriving with expectations that didn’t exist five, or even three years ago!
“This year’s programme is a direct response to those realities. Not around where the industry has been, but where it is right now, and where it’s heading.”
The full schedule of 11 tracks will be live online in April and planners can mix and match across the tracks to build the learning journey that’s right for them.
Four new tracks will be introduced this year – here is a sneak peek.
Four new tracks to explore at IMEX Frankfurt 2026
1.Designing for Human Needs: This track looks at how to unlock human potential by creating environments where everyone can thrive. With 15 to 20 per cent of the global population estimated to be neurodivergent, inclusive design is one of the topics planned.
A stage director also offers their own take on experience design, using theatrical principles to map the emotional arc of an event; while a session introducing a ‘Joy Meter’ invites planners to measure not just data but emotional uplift – demonstrating how delight can drive both engagement and bottom-line results.
2.Design Matters: This track is rooted in the new IMEX Talking Point, celebrating design as the ultimate differentiator. At the sessions, including show-and-tell tours around the exhibition floor, participants will discover tangible examples of how thoughtful design helps organisations, brands and events stand out and stay memorable. And with the Frankfurt RheinMain region – home to IMEX Frankfurt – named World Design Capital 2026, the focus could not be more timely.
3.Regenerative Design: With ESG reporting now compulsory for many European organisations, practitioners will share the highs and the lows of their sustainability strategies.
They will unpack real-world examples of circular design in action – from material reuse and waste reduction to supplier collaboration and legacy planning – showing how regenerative thinking and practicalities can strengthen an event rather than simply minimise its impact.
4.Tech-enabled Futures: Building on the strong demand for tech and AI learning at last year’s show, this track goes beyond the hype to focus on practical tools, skills and applications that genuinely deliver results.
Industry experts will show planners how to make smart use of their existing ecosystem, consolidating their tech stack and identifying overlapping tools. There is also a deep dive into scams and deepfakes, with advice on how to protect individuals and organisations in a world of fake RFPs, cloned identities and increasingly sophisticated digital threats.
Practical and purposeful education programme
IMEX Frankfurt’s 11 track learning programme balances practical professional development with the personal skills now needed to stay resilient and inspired.
Endean explains: “The industry is balancing the pressure to stay current with tools, trends and compliance alongside the equally urgent need to protect well-being and stay connected to purpose.
“Our tracks reflect this reality: some such as Advanced Event Logistics elevate core skills, while others create space for more human aspects, such as Health and Wellbeing, Leadership and Culture. Each track delivers something tangible – a toolkit, framework, or practice that can be implemented, or a network of people doing similar work who understand the specific challenges.”
Many education sessions offer points toward Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) accreditation, are also CSEP (Certified Special Event Professional) Approved, and ICCASkills accredited.
Find out more about the IMEX Frankfurt education tracks. The full programme goes live online in April. IMEX Frankfurt takes place from May 19 to 21, 2026. Registration is free.
