UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has released the 36th edition of its flagship Global Exhibition Barometer report, which takes the pulse of the industry. Zooming out: For the global exhibition industry, rented space in 2026 is forecasted to increase more than 5% year-over-year by 44% of respondents, compared with 47% in 2025. If macro headwinds intensify, the U.S. exhibition industry will likely lean even harder into yield management, services revenue and digital-enhanced offerings to keep the P&L strong. The issues facing the U.S. exhibition industry in the short term: Geopolitical challenges and global economic developments, with 28% of respondents citing these two business issues as the most important facing the U.S. exhibition industry in the next 12-18 months. 1 business issue facing the exhibition industry in the next 3-5 years, compared with 20% of global respondents.