Informa Cuts 2026 Growth Forecast Following Event Delays
The rescheduling of Riyadh exhibitions forces event-dependent firms to recalibrate their regional marketing and sales plans.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Remote Work
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Informa has cut its 2026 revenue growth forecast from 6 percent to 3 percent due to regional unrest in Saudi Arabia. The shift, which forces several major Riyadh-based exhibitions into virtual formats or future years, underscores the volatile operational risks of relying on large-scale international gatherings.
Why it matters
Operators face significant exposure when international event schedules are disrupted, as regional geopolitical stability directly dictates revenue visibility for global event firms. For businesses, this highlights the necessity of diversifying revenue sources beyond specific geographies that may be subject to sudden force majeure declarations.
Informa reduced its 2026 underlying revenue growth forecast to 3 percent from 6 percent, citing potential zero revenue contribution from Saudi Arabia next year. This follows nine-month revenue growth of 6.5 percent, with B2B Live Events performing well at 8.0 percent growth.
The players
Informa
A global information services and B2B events company that manages hundreds of brands across academic and professional markets.
Clarion Events
An international events organizer currently being acquired to expand Informa's portfolio by over 100 brands.
The details
Informa is invoking force majeure clauses to manage event obligations in the Middle East, specifically rescheduling physical events like the Global Health Exhibition to October 2027. The company is pivoting Riyadh-based gatherings to virtual formats to mitigate losses. Simultaneously, Informa is reallocating focus toward technology-led growth, even as its TechTarget division faces a 1.6 percent revenue decline amid shifting enterprise AI priorities.
Timeline
September 30, 2026: Nine-month revenue growth reached 6.5 percent.
December 2026: Expected completion of the Clarion Events acquisition.
January 2027: Rescheduled date for Cityscape Global in Riyadh.
October 2027: New physical date for the Global Health Exhibition.
Market Landscape
This move marks a departure from the post-pandemic recovery of physical global events, as regional unrest forces a retreat from the in-person model toward virtual or deferred formats. It serves as a reminder of the volatility inherent in the 2020-era shift to virtual exhibition reliance.
Businesses that rely on major trade shows for lead generation should audit their 2027 marketing calendars to account for potential rescheduling of international events. Prioritize contingency planning for virtual product launches in markets currently experiencing geopolitical volatility.
The takeaway
Geopolitical instability remains a critical risk factor for companies heavily invested in regional, high-density professional events. Monitor your marketing pipeline for event-cancellation clauses to protect against sudden losses in lead generation budgets.
Further reading
For more on managing distributed operations, visit the Remote Work section.
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