Inaugural CIMX 2026 launches in Beijing with 150 exhibitors
Malaysia secured the largest international destination representation at the inaugural China International MICE Exchange (CIMX) 2026, which opened on 3 November at the China National Convention Centre Phase II in Beijing. Organised by Messe Berlin China, the three-day marketplace launched with 150 exhibitors, 350 hosted buyers, and 4,000 scheduled business meetings connecting international suppliers with Chinese corporate planners, professional conference organisers, and associations.
Alongside Malaysia, the exhibition welcomed Tianjin, Hainan, and the Shanghai Lin-gang Special Area as Official Destination Showcase Partners, while EGYPTAIR participated as Official Airline Partner.
Messe Berlin Expands China Portfolio
The launch marks an expansion of Messe Berlin’s activities in China’s meetings and incentive travel market. David Axiotis, Vice President and Managing Director China, Messe Berlin GmbH, said that the platform aims to bridge international expertise with local opportunities as China strengthens its role in the global events industry.
Conference Tracks and Industry Networking
Running alongside the exhibition floor, the CIMX Conference featured 120 speakers across 40 topics, six conference tracks, and three specialised workshops and forums. Discussions tackled corporate travel developments, association meetings, incentive programmes, event technology, and artificial intelligence integration.
Networking events on the opening day included the CIMX 2026 Corporates in MICE Luncheon, the CIMX–ICCA 2026 International Association Meetings and Destination Development Forum Luncheon, and the CIMX 2026 MICE² Macao × Hengqin Networking Luncheon focused on Greater Bay Area cooperation. The day concluded with an opening dinner for more than 400 guests featuring Chinese cultural performances.
Exhibition Programme Through 5 November
The event continued through 5 November with panels dedicated to cross-border event planning, corporate meeting requirements, and emerging destination opportunities. Organisers noted that while 4,000 meetings were scheduled during the event, commercial outcomes remain tied to subsequent partnerships and bookings.