boe international 2026:

About the Event

boe international 2026 featured an international line-up of exhibitors and major brands. The Messe Dortmund show continues to strengthen its position as the leading trade fair for innovative event solutions.

This edition saw NetWorks – ExpoPlatform’s AI-powered speed networking solution – mark its German premiere and its most concept-driven deployment to date.

The debut prioritised active engagement over passive attendance. Attendees gained structured efficiency instead of random encounters. This meant every minute of every session could deliver measurable business value.

The Challenge

The 2026 edition needed a better way to drive meaningful interaction across a diverse audience. Traditional networking formats were limiting discovery and engagement, particularly across different participant groups.

The organiser needed a solution that could:

• Connect mixed profiles in minutes

• Support different session concepts

• Eliminate unproductive conversations

• Work without complex onboarding

The experience had to be fast, relevant and accessible.

ExpoPlatform’s Solution

The principle was AI meets gut feeling. ExpoPlatform introduced NetWorks as a walk-in format to remove friction while maintaining structure.

Participants could join easily onsite, while AI-powered matchmaking ensured each meeting was relevant and purposeful. The platform allowed participants to:

• Pre-register and walk-in onsite

• Join using their own device

• Meet AI-matched contacts immediately

Participants were imported onto the platform ahead of the event through the registration system, with onsite additions handled through the ExpoPlatform check-in app.

No advance preparation was required. No lengthy profiles were needed. Intelligent matchmaking paired the right participants based on shared interests and objectives.

The highlight: AI networking across personas

The organiser deployed multiple themed sessions designed to connect different professional personas. This was a first for NetWorks.

The goal was to replace irrelevant conversations with high-energy, high-value interactions. The result was fast networking with purpose.

Service providers, agencies, venues, suppliers and buyers met across focused concepts – including an exclusive Women in Events and Exhibitions session.

A strong presence of the live communication and event industry – combined with technology, hospitality and media professionals – also created a highly relevant matchmaking environment.

Results across two days

NetWorks ran across five one-hour sessions over two days, each targeting a specific networking goal.

Total performance:

• 1,123 pre-registrations

• 136 check-ins

• 407 meetings completed

• 814 individual meeting slots

This delivered an average of six meeting slots per participant across each hour-long session, ensuring everyone left with multiple relevant new connections.

The Women in Events and Exhibitions sessions showed particularly strong participation and engagement. This highlighted the value of themed networking formats inside a broader programme.

Overall outcome and key takeaways

The use of multiple session concepts allowed boe international to bring different personas together without forcing a generic format.

Precision matchmaking and format flexibility also proved how intelligent speed networking is measurable and scalable. Here’s how:

• Structured networking increased attendee engagement

• Walk-in format encouraged spontaneous participation

• AI matchmaking reduced irrelevant conversations

• Multiple concepts connected diverse personas

• Onsite and data challenges were managed without disruption

• NetWorks established a strong foundation in the DACH market

The NetWorks implementation at boe international 2026 demonstrated the value of structured networking as a core engagement driver.

Its launch delivered measurable interaction, clear learning points and strong momentum for future editions.