The AFE approves its accounts and annual report at its Annual General Meeting, predicting a fantastic 2026 for the Spanish trade fair sector.
The AFE has approved the annual accounts and report, the budget and planned activities for 2026, and has ratified the admission of nine new members.
The association has published the figures on the economic impact generated by trade fair activity in Spain, based on data recorded in 2024.
Madrid, 23 January 2026.- The Spanish Trade Fair Association (AFE) held its General Assembly on Thursday, 22 January, at the IFEMA MADRID facilities, taking advantage of the celebration of FITUR, the International Tourism Fair, as has been customary in recent years.
The members of the association reviewed the activities carried out in 2025, approved the annual report and accounts, and the budget for income and expenditure and activities planned for 2026.
The Assembly also ratified the incorporation of nine new members into the association, of which three are organising partners and six are collaborating partners.
- IFEJA, Ferias Jaén
- Fundación Feindef
- FERMASA, Feria de Muestras de Armilla
- Aluvision NV
- Europfast Logística España, S.L.
- Bematrix HQ
- Moss Place Makers Spain
- Barter Partnership, S.L.
- B Network Management S.L.U.
During the General Assembly, the turnover figures for Spain in 2024 for all members of the association were presented, which amounted to €880 million, as well as the number of people involved in trade fair activities, also for all members of the association, which amounted to 2,580, with 51% men and 49% women.
The conclusions of the economic impact study of the Spanish trade fair sector, carried out by Oxford Economics, were also presented, with data from 2024 showing a direct, indirect and induced impact of €13.6 billion and a contribution to GDP of €6.9 billion, as well as the creation of 124,400 direct and indirect jobs.
Once the Assembly had concluded, the president of AFE, Xabier Basañez, stated: “The preliminary information we have allows us to confirm that 2025 has once again been an extraordinary year for the trade fair industry in Spain, and everything points to 2026 continuing this upward trend. The addition of nine new members means greater strength and representativeness for the association within the trade fair landscape of our country.”
Finally, thanks to the holding of FITUR and the presence of numerous representatives from Mexico at this edition, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Mexican Association of Trade Fair, Exhibition and Congress Professionals (AMPROFEC) and the Spanish Trade Fair Association
(AFE), through which they agree to establish a strategic alliance with the aim of promoting the joint development of their organisations, as well as strengthening the trade fair industry in both countries. The document was signed by Julio César Bojórquez, President of AMPROFEC 2024-2026, Jorge Arizmendi, President-elect of AMPROFEC 2026-2028, and Xabier Basañez.
The Spanish Trade Fair Association, a non-profit organisation founded in 1964, has 53 members and represents 90% of trade fair activity in our country. Spain is one of Europe’s leading countries in terms of trade fairs, alongside Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom.
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