Despite geopolitical headwinds and regional competition, Singapore is holding strong in business events while shoring up its slate.
While losses like Aviation Festival Asia (AFA) moving to Bangkok in 2027 and Vinexpo Asia remaining in Hong Kong dent its image, resilience remains evident.
“Singapore’s MICE industry continues to grow from strength to strength. MICE tourism receipts reached S$2.3 billion (US$1.8 billion) in 2025, up 35 per cent from 2024,” said Poh Chi Chuan, executive director of exhibitions and conferences at the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
“With a robust pipeline of secured events… Singapore continues to attract the world’s leading business events.”
Trade exhibitions are thriving through refreshed formats. The year started strong: April saw Food & Hospitality Asia (70,000+ attendees), a rebranded Milipol TechX (21,000+), and Singapore Maritime Week (34,000+). In May, Asia Tech x Singapore drew over 22,000 exhibition visitors, followed by June’s Singapore International Water Week with 23,000 delegates and its largest-ever Water Expo. July brought the biggest Singapore International Jewellery Expo in 21 years, alongside the World Diamond Congress’s return after 38 years.
“These events create an unparalleled platform for international business… strengthening Singapore’s position as the region’s premier jewellery hub,” said Ilaria Cicero, CEO of organiser IEG Asia.
Momentum continues into 2H2026. September features International Built Environment Week, Global Connect Singapore, Tech Week Singapore, and the inaugural Passenger Terminal Expo (PTE) Asia. October brings Singapore International Energy Week, before November wraps up with the Singapore FinTech Festival and Nineteen APAC’s combined security expos.
While AFA cited Bangkok’s proximity to aviation growth for its move, UKi Media & Events launched PTE in Singapore “to support the rapid expansion of the airport industry throughout Asia”.
Major congresses and incentives are also bolstering the calendar. January opened with the 40th Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence Conference – its first outside North America – attracting nearly 10,000 attendees.
October will see the return of the World Congress of Chinese Medicine after 19 years, alongside All That Matters and the Milken Institute Asia Summit. In incentive travel, June marked the return of the 20,000-delegate Herbalife Asia Pacific Extravaganza, which sources say will now alternate between Singapore and Bangkok.
STB’s Poh concluded: “We remain committed to our ambition of tripling MICE tourism receipts by 2040, cementing Singapore as the World’s Best MICE City.”
