UK-based consulting firm Stax has released its annual top 20 ranking of exhibition organisers. The list scores leading organisers based solely on revenue in 2023.
The combined 2023 revenue from the top 20 increased by a huge 47% compared to the previous year, a clear indication of the industry’s recovery. Most organisers achieved double-digit growth, barring a few Messen due to their biennial cycle.
The top three positions remain unchanged from last year, with Informa and RX holding onto first and second, and Clarion maintaining third. However, the rest of the top 20 has seen significant reshuffling, with no organiser retaining their previous year's rank.
Organisers with a significant exposure to the Chinese market climbed back to earlier positions, propelled by the delayed but strong recovery of the Chinese exhibition market. CloserStill also made significant gains, climbing six spots from 20th to 14th, while dmg events re-entered the list after a two-year hiatus due to Covid-related disruptions.
Conversely, Easyfairs and Ascential, which had previously shown strong upward momentum, slipped to 18th and 20th places, respectively, despite showing strong revenue growth in 2023.
