The latest Events Industry Council’s (EIC) report has made one thing clear – the business events industry isn’t just back, it’s thriving.

The 2026 Global Economic Significance of Business Events report says the industry brought together 1.65 billion people across 180+countries, generating $1.3 trillion in direct spending and supporting 24.2million jobs worldwide.

At Brighter, we’ve always known the power of events but these numbers prove it on a global scale.

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It's not just about economics

Yes, the financial impact is huge (bigger than many global industries), but what really stands out is what isn’t easily measured.

Business events drive innovation, partnerships, knowledge sharing and real human connection - the kind that 70% of organisers say simply can’t be replaced online.

In other words, events don’t just support business - they create it.

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A sector that's evolving, fast

After the disruption of recent years, the industry has rebounded strongly, with activity nearing pre-2019 levels.

And it’s not standing still.

Organisations are placing even more importance on events for building culture and engagement, sharing knowledge and creating meaningful, in-person experiences.

That shift? We’re seeing it play out in every brief that lands on the Brighter table.

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The Brighter perspective

For us, this report reinforces something simple - events aren’t a “nice to have”. They’re a strategic driver of growth, connection and impact.

Whether it’s sparking new ideas, building relationships or creating moments that move people, the value of face-to-face has never been clearer.

And as the industry continues to grow, the opportunity is just as exciting as the numbers suggest.

Because when events work, like ours, they don’t just bring people together, they move business forward.

You can read the full EIC report here.

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