The Meetings Show has officially opened applications for Tomorrow’s Talent 2026, its flagship programme celebrating the UK’s most promising emerging professionals in the meetings, incentives and events industry.
Now in its eighth year and delivered in partnership with M&IT, Tomorrow’s Talent is designed to recognise, support and elevate the next generation of industry leaders. The initiative provides a powerful platform for early-career professionals to gain visibility, expand their networks and accelerate their career development.
A total of 10 winners will be selected, each receiving a year-long package of exclusive opportunities. These include VIP access to The Meetings Show 2026, invitations to major industry events such as the M&IT Awards, and mentorship and networking opportunities with senior industry figures. Winners will also be profiled across The Meetings Show and M&IT channels, boosting their professional profile across the sector.
As part of the programme, winners will collaborate to design and deliver a future talent-focused education session at The Meetings Show 2026, contributing to a panel that celebrates emerging leaders shaping the industry’s future.
All winners will also receive a complimentary four-hour “Confidence in Communicating” training programme delivered by The Attendee Experience Company (atex). The session covers presentation skills, handling challenging situations, effective introductions and conclusions, and body language techniques. Completion of the training offers winners the opportunity to host an education stage as an emcee at The Meetings Show 2026.
Samme Allen, Knowledge Director at The Meetings Show, said the programme was a standout highlight of the 2025 show, noting the confidence, capability and contribution of last year’s cohort and expressing excitement about the impact the 2026 winners will make.
Tomorrow’s Talent is open to UK-based event planners and buyers aged 30 or under, or those with up to three years’ experience in the meetings and events industry. Applicants may nominate themselves or be nominated by a colleague, submitting either a short video (up to two minutes) or a written nomination (up to 500 words) outlining achievements, challenges overcome and future potential.
The winners will be selected by a panel of respected industry leaders, including representatives from M&IT, Black Box Partnerships, SoolNua, Event First Steps, Ofwat and Event Leaders Exchange.
Applications for Tomorrow’s Talent 2026 are open now and close on 23 January 2026.
The Meetings Show will take place 24–25 June 2026 at ExCeL London, co-located with Business Travel Show Europe and Travel Tech Show.
