The Geography of the Trade Fair Industry in Europe: Infrastructure, Events, and Economic Impact

This chapter investigates the spatial and economic geography of the trade fair industry in Europe through a multidimensional analytical framework. Trade fairs are conceptualized as hybrid infrastructures: simultaneously knowledge platforms, economic engines, and symbolic urban arenas. Drawing on empirical data from the UFI Exhibition Centre Database, the Euro Fair Statistics (2001–2022), and the UFI Global Economic Impact Report, the study maps the distribution of venues, examines event dynamics over time, and assesses the economic contributions of the sector. Results show a pronounced spatial concentration of exhibition infrastructure in Western and Central Europe, with cities such as Frankfurt, Milan, and Barcelona acting as global hubs. However, emerging regional venues and postindustrial cities are also leveraging fairs for economic repositioning. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted event activity but also accelerated digital innovation and hybridization. The chapter argues for recognizing trade fairs as territorial assets integral to regional innovation systems, and concludes with policy recommendations for more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient exhibition landscapes. The findings contribute to economic geography, urban studies, and cultural economy literature by offering an integrated model for analyzing trade fair geographies.