Why IAAPA Expo Europe 2026 Is the Attractions Industry's Must-Attend Event in London
If you work anywhere near theme parks, water parks, family entertainment centres, or the wider attractions industry, one date should already be circled on your calendar: September 21–25, 2026, when IAAPA Expo Europe returns to ExCeL London after four years away.
It’s coming back with its largest floor yet! We’ll be there ourselves at Stand: S3327, exhibiting alongside the partners whose technology now sits inside the play areas we design and install.
A Return to London, Bigger Than Ever
The show floor has grown roughly 50% since 2022, now spanning 21,000 square metres, the biggest European edition in the event’s history.
For operators, suppliers, and investors across EMEA, that scale means a wider cross-section of the global supply chain under one roof, cutting weeks of vendor outreach down to a few days of face-to-face conversation.
What's on the Show Floor
More than 830 exhibitors will be on-site from September 22–24, covering everything from ride manufacturers and safety technology to ticketing systems and immersive design studios, plus a new, expanded Food & Beverage zone reflecting how central dining has become to attractions revenue (it can account for 30–35% of a park’s income). That breadth is exactly what makes a physical expo worth the travel budget: you can compare competing solutions side by side in an afternoon, rather than piecing together vendor calls over months.
Where to Find The Play Company on the Show Floor
We’re a returning exhibitor, and 2026 is our biggest presence at the show yet. Rather than a stand of catalogue photos, we’re bringing the actual brains and ideas that now go into the soft play, trampoline parks, and adventure play schemes we build for operators across the UK and internationally, which means we’re not exhibiting alone.
21st - 25th September
Stand: S3327
Excel, London
The Partners Joining Us
CSE, the Finland-based physical-play specialist behind interactive attractions like iWall, RunBeat, and CycloBeat, will show how those products layer into a soft play or adventure design rather than sitting apart from it.
Valo Motion brings full-body, mixed-reality games that turn a spare corner of a venue into its own destination attraction.
Rugged Interactive will be showing its gamified play panels, built to turn standard play structures and trampoline parks into something guests come back to try again.
Pixel Games’ interactive gaming floors add competitive, screen-lit fun that keeps kids, and the parents timing them on their feet. Well, we’re actually right next to them so you can see the intergration yourself.
Education, Networking, and Beyond the Show Floor
Education runs the full week, with over 60 sessions, 175+ speakers, and EDUTours to working parks including Chessington World of Adventures Resort, LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, and Thorpe Park. A dedicated Sustainability Day and a Leadership Breakfast round out the professional development side of the programme.
Socially, the Opening Reception, along with the VIP Experience and Hosted Buyer programmes, put decision-makers directly in front of the suppliers most relevant to their business, and these informal moments often produce the deals formal meetings never quite get to.
Practical Reasons to Book Your Trip Now
With record attendance expected and ExCeL’s easy access via the Elizabeth line and London City Airport, logistics are one less thing to plan around. Registration is already open, and earlier planning means better access to EDUTours, hotel rates, and the sessions that fill up first. For a European attractions professional, IAAPA Expo Europe 2026 isn’t just another trade show, it’s where the year’s biggest decisions get made.
We’ll see you there.
Book Time With Us
IAAPA is one of the busiest times of the year for our industry; the shows are bustling and we all quickly run out of time and resources. Book in a slot to chat with us below.
