Confex 2026: What We Built, Who We Met, and What We Learned

International Confex has a special place on my calendar. It’s one of those events where the industry truly shows up, not just to exhibit, but to think, connect, and push things forward together. This year was our second time at Confex, and I’ll be honest: I had high expectations going in.

Here’s how it all went down.

It Started the Night Before: Event Tech Meetup 2026

I flew into London two days before the event with colleagues Yatin Johar and Ramona Savio. And inspite the jet lag, the first order of business was definitely not sleep.

The Event Tech Meetup 2026, organised by Event Engine, kicked things off beautifully. If you don’t know this event, it’s an unofficial, high-energy networking evening held in London as a pre-cursor to Confex. The crowd is exactly who you want in the room: smart, passionate event professionals who actually care about where the industry is heading.

We were proud to be sponsoring the evening alongside some brilliant companies: Gleanin, Electric Cat Marketing, Event Engine, Speaker Stacks, Ref Technology, One World Rental, Choose2Rent, Jonas Event Tech, and Crowdcomms Event Tech. Great group of people doing great things.

I had missed the Christmas meetup in December, and I wasn’t going to let that happen again. There was something extra special about this one though. We didn’t just show up as sponsors. We used the Event Tech Meetup as a soft launch for something we’d been building specifically for Confex: our new Personalised Event Posters. More on that below.

The energy that evening set the tone for everything that followed.

Related Read: Why UK Trade Shows Don’t Trend As It Should

At the Booth: Stand ET26

Walking into ExCeL London the next morning, I was genuinely excited. We were prepped, the team was sharp, and we had a story to tell that felt more complete than ever.

Our booth was at Stand ET26, and it was buzzing right from the start.

What we were showcasing wasn’t just a photo distribution or a posters. It was Premagic’s full evolution as the ultimate platform for pre, during, and post-event marketing. Everything we’ve built over the last year came together in a live, tangible experience on that stand.

Three things we showcased specifically:

• Personalised Event Posters: our newest launch and the ultimate tool for attendee-led marketing
• Full Lifecycle Impact: how Premagic powers your event brand before doors open, during the event, and long after it ends.
• Live Demos: real-time AI-driven content and the instant ROI it creates.

The Launch: Personalised Memories-Based Event Posters

Premagic has always helped events capture and distribute attendee memories. But what we launched at Confex takes that a step further, and honestly, it’s the most exciting thing we’ve shipped in a while.

Here’s the concept. If you attended Confex 2025 and received your event photos through Premagic, our system automatically pulls those specific photo memories from last year’s albums and generates a brand new, personalised “I’m attending” poster for this year’s event.

It’s a mashup of two things we already do really well: Event Advocacy Posters and our Sparks memories engine. Together, they create something that feels personal, nostalgic, and completely automated for the organiser.

We also covered attendees who missed Confex 2025 but were registered for this year. A different poster angle: this is the year they finally show up.

Honestly, it was more of a test run. But it worked beautifully. The posters generated real traction and attention at both the Event Tech Meetup and on the show floor. People stopped, asked questions, and shared.

Watch this space. You’ll be seeing a lot more of this across future events.

Want to know more about how Personalised Event Posters could work for your event? Reach out and let’s talk.

One of the highlights was connecting with Sophie Ahmed, a long-time Premagic user. Those conversations with people who’ve genuinely been on the journey with you are always special. It’s a reminder of why we build what we build.

We also ran into Luke Buckley from VenuIQ, who got a first look at our new Event Posters. His reaction was exactly what we hoped for.

"Events are annual pilgrimages, and it’s powerful to look back and see how far we’ve come. These memories are a beautiful testament to the long-term relationships we build year after year."

And a big shoutout to Adam Parry, whose conversations actually inspired the thinking behind this feature. The best ideas really do come from the right rooms.

My 3 Key Takeaways from Confex 2026

1. Relationships are the real ROI.

Every meaningful conversation at Confex started with a relationship that already existed, or one that was clearly the beginning of something long-term. The event tech world is smaller than people think, and reputation travels fast. Show up consistently, and people notice.

2. The shift from “photo tool” to “marketing platform” is landing.

This was the first Confex where conversations consistently moved beyond “so you do photos?” to “how does this integrate with our pre-event campaign?” The full lifecycle story is resonating. The market is catching up.

3. Attendee-generated content is the next big battleground.

Nearly every organiser I spoke to is dealing with the same problem: attendees aren’t actively sharing their event experiences online. That’s a massive, underutilised channel. The conversations we had at Confex confirmed we’re solving a real, urgent pain point.

Related Read: A Practical Guide to International Confex 2026

Two Days Well Spent

Confex 2026 wrapped up exactly the way you’d expect: exhausting, fulfilling, and impossible to fully summarise.

Always one of our favourite events to be part of. There’s always so much going on and so many opportunities to connect. Two days on the floor, back-to-back conversations, new ideas at every turn. You come away with a full notebook and tired feet, and it’s absolutely worth it.

Attending events like Confex is a reminder of how fast things are evolving, and how important it is to keep learning, keep showing up, and keep building.

Heading into March with plenty of insights and ideas to put into action.

If you couldn’t make it to Confex this year and want to catch up, reach out anytime. We’re always happy to chat.