In 2025, the Turkish exhibition sector, which reached a size of 350 million Euros in 2024, is expected to gain momentum. Due to geopolitical risks and difficulties in the visa process for the EU, there is an anticipated increase in interest toward Turkey, with an expected 7 million visitors attending 400 fairs.

Turkey’s exhibition sector has grown significantly, with approximately 350 million Euros in size as of 2024. The country now holds 1.7% of the world’s fairgrounds, with a total indoor exhibition space of 767,000 square meters, placing Turkey 10th globally. In Europe, Turkey hosts 4.54% of the continent’s fairgrounds, ranking 6th in terms of indoor area capacity.

By August 2024, the International Exhibition Union (UFI)-certified fairs in Turkey reached 59, with 27 UFI-member exhibition companies. This number is expected to rise further in the coming years. It is projected that the sector will grow by approximately 20% in terms of both revenue and employment in 2025, with 400 fairs and over 7 million visitors.

The growth of the exhibition sector is also supported by related industries such as tourism, accommodation, catering, logistics, security, and cleaning, with services exceeding Western standards. Additionally, Turkey’s image as a “safe harbor” in the face of geopolitical risks and visa issues is expected to further boost the sector’s growth.

Istanbul as a Hub for Fairs

Istanbul aims to become a major center for international exhibitions. The Istanbul Expo Center (İFM), one of Turkey’s largest exhibition areas, is managed by the Istanbul World Trade Center (İDTM). The complex spans 500,000 square meters, with 11 exhibition halls covering approximately 95,000 square meters.

Şekib Avdagiç, the President of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO) and Vice Chairman of İDTM, emphasizes that international trade and exhibitions reflect the real pulse of commerce. Through the fairs held at İFM, thousands of companies are able to meet new markets and opportunities. Avdagiç notes that Istanbul has become one of Europe’s leading centers for exhibitions and continues to improve its infrastructure with innovative solutions.

In 2024, İFM hosted 70 fairs across 44 sectors, attracting around 2.5 million business people, with a total exhibition area of 2,438,250 square meters. With its easily accessible location, İFM is positioned as a prominent global exhibition hub. In 2025, additional meeting rooms covering 2,000 square meters are planned to be built, further enhancing the center’s appeal.