The global meetings and events sector has entered 2026 with renewed confidence, as organisations increase investment while taking a more measured approach to planning and safety. According to the FCM Meetings & Events 2026 Trends Report, 92% expect budgets to hold steady or grow, with safety and security ranked as the top priority, while EMEA data points to larger budgets and rising delegate numbers.
Lance Nkwe, business leader South Africa, FCM M&E says there is significant demand from local corporates expanding across Africa, as well as international companies that recognise South Africa’s potential and capabilities.
"Planners in our market are not deterred by uncertainty at the moment, they're planning around it. Medium-sized events with 50 to 150 delegates remain the sweet spot, offering meaningful engagement without overexposure on cost or logistics,” says Nkwe. “The 2026 Trends Report confirms what we're seeing in RFPs across the region: the belief in face-to-face is firm, but the planning conversation starts earlier now and covers more ground: Can you deliver in Africa? Can you manage disruption, including alternate destinations and routings? How flexible are your contracts? What are your exit clauses? Understandably, clients want to know their partner has the presence and the track record to respond in a crisis.”
Trends report key findings:
- 74% said meetings drive employee engagement
- 79% responded with safety and security as the top priority
- 35% revealed that their 2026 budget will be more than 10% higher than last year
- 63% of EMEA respondents anticipated increasing MICE spend in 2026, while 29% said it would remain flat, with just under 8% intending to decrease their spend.
Simone Seiler, global general manager at FCM M&E, says safety and security remains key:
"Events are being crafted with greater care and creativity, ensuring people feel valued and safe. With 79% of respondents citing safety and security as the number one priority, choosing the right destination for your people, ensuring your supply chain is trusted throughout, and having contingency plans in place are some of the many ways customers can travel to events with confidence,” explains Seiler.
Nkwe agrees. “In Africa, you’re often juggling many moving parts. Handling logistical complexity is now a baseline expectation. Visa facilitation, still a barrier across many African markets, is increasingly part of the brief, as is the ability to manage VIP and delegate security, including coordinating with law enforcement and meeting Joint Operations Compliance (JOC) requirements in South Africa, which ensures the safety, security and legality of public events.”
In addition to safety and security, sustainability and innovation remain key.
“Planners are making visible strides with environmentally conscious choices in venue, catering, and waste management, and there is growing interest in responsible, scalable solutions,” says Nkwe. “Increasingly, it’s also about what an event ‘leaves behind’. ESG and community impact are growing in importance as clients look to demonstrate that their presence in an area contributes positively to local community development.”
The report looks at new tech, the impact of AI, and tells a compelling story of optimism, resilience, and proactive evolution – as industry leaders remain committed to fostering rich connections, sustainable practices, and the adoption of smart technology to improve meetings and events worldwide. You can access the full report here:
