DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Informa is among a growing number of trade show organizers pushing their gatherings to later in the year due to geopolitical instability tied to the Iran War.
Informa has postponed two of its largest regional events, LEAP and Middle East Energy, into late summer and early fall 2026, a period typically avoided due to extreme heat and lower business travel demand.
“The military activity is creating conflict and disruption, and in some instances some distress, but the fundamentals of what we are doing in that part of the world are strong, and our market position is unique and our strength and ability to scale is unrivalled,” Stephen A. Carter, CBE, CEO of Informa, said. “We at the moment are focusing on and looking after our customers, our brands and our people, but when this passes, we are confident we can return to that market with punch and with purpose.”
High-Stakes Calendar Shuffle
LEAP, one of the fastest-growing tech events globally, draws roughly 200,000 attendees, thousands of tech brands and a deep pool of investors. It is now scheduled for Aug. 31-Sept. 3 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre.
The move came just one day after RX’s Arabian Travel Market announced it would shift its dates to Aug. 17-20 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Informa also rescheduled Middle East Energy, an exhibition connecting energy buyers and sellers from all over the world, to Sept. 1-3, reinforcing a growing industry trend: postponement over cancellation.
“This event has always been about bringing the global energy and power community together,” Mark Ring, Group Director, Energy Portfolio, at Informa Markets, said. “By hosting the 2026 edition in September, we are ensuring that exhibitors and attendees have the opportunity to make the most of this important event.”
Related. Middle East Conflict Disrupts Trade Shows Across the Gulf
Uncertainty Ripples Across the Industry
The World Economic Forum postponed its Global Collaboration and Growth Meeting in Saudi Arabia, which was originally slated for April 22-23.
“We remain committed to facilitating a forward-looking agenda for the region and beyond and will provide updates about the rescheduled meeting in due course,” WEC posted on its website.
Other postponements include Token2049 Dubai, one of the world’s biggest crypto conferences, which is now scheduled for April 21-22, 2027.
TON, another major crypto gathering that canceled its May dates in Dubai, is offering refunds and promising to explore alternative formats later in the year.
At the core of these decisions is not just immediate disruption, but ongoing uncertainty, particularly around airspace, travel restrictions and attendee confidence.
Moving Into the Off-Season
The timing of these rescheduled events introduces a new challenge.
Summer in the Middle East, from June through early September, is traditionally considered off-season, with temperatures frequently exceeding 100°F. For trade show organizers, that means rethinking everything from attendee acquisition strategies to on-the-ground experience design.
Yet the alternative, indefinite postponement or cancellation, carries even greater risk in addition to lost revenue.
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, the Iran conflict is already costing the region’s travel sector at least $600 million per day in lost international visitor spending. For exhibitions, where revenue is tied directly to attendance, sponsorship and global participation, the stakes are especially high.
For many trade show professionals, it’s the lack of clarity, not just the conflict itself, that is most destabilizing. Until there is a clearer resolution, calendar volatility is likely to continue.
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