Breaking its own records in exhibitor numbers and geographical diversity, IMWF will welcome hotels, destinations and professionals managing international demand at Anda Barut Collection from 28–31 October.
The 9th edition of the International MICE & Wedding Forum (IMWF), one of the world’s leading meeting platforms for the international MICE and destination wedding industry, will take place from 28–31 October 2026 in Didim, hosted by Anda Barut Collection. Owners and decision-makers of event agencies generating high-volume international projects will come together with hotels, hotel groups, tourism promotion organisations and destination representatives under one roof for three days and three nights.
According to projections by market research company Fortune Business Insights, the global MICE and events market is expected to reach approximately USD 1.34 trillion in 2026 and USD 3.06 trillion by 2034. As one of the most influential international industry platforms within this enormous economy, IMWF once again brings together professionals managing demand in the MICE and destination wedding sectors with organisations serving that demand, through a specialised business development programme.
Record Numbers and Geographical Diversity in Exhibitor Participation
IMWF 2026 has broken its own records in both the number of exhibitors and geographical diversity. Hotels, hotel groups, tourism promotion organisations and representatives of selected destinations from a geographical range extending from Europe to Asia, South America to the Far East, and the Middle East to Africa will meet with decision-makers from agencies generating high business volumes at the forum.
Participants include Virgin Limited Edition, Palácio Estoril Hotel, Golf & Wellness from Portugal, Something For Inc. from Japan, the Azerbaijan Tourism Board and Rixos Hotels Egypt. Banyan Tree Lăng Cô and Tuan Chau Resort Ha Long from Vietnam, as well as Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla Resort from Jordan, will also take part in the forum. Participating brands from Türkiye include hotels such as Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, The Peninsula Istanbul and Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, Istanbul.
This diversity enables international buyers to evaluate destinations, properties and event facilities from different countries under one roof within the same programme.
A Hosted Buyer Structure Focused on Decision-Makers
IMWF’s hosted buyer profile consists of company owners and senior executives directly involved in purchasing decisions at firms organising multi-day destination weddings, full-buyout hotel operations, incentive programmes and international corporate meetings.
The invitation evaluation process considers the company’s international business history, project profile, the representative’s decision-making authority and commercial compatibility with the products offered by exhibitors. The extensive industry experience and relationships accumulated over previous editions form the foundation of this selection approach.
Three Days, Three Nights: Business Development Under One Roof
At IMWF, accommodation, conferences, one-to-one business meetings and evening events all take place at the same hotel. Hosted buyers, exhibitors and sponsors share the same environment throughout the programme.
An introduction made during the opening cocktail reception can continue over breakfast; a connection established during a conference break can develop further during the evening programme. Pre-scheduled B2B meetings provide both parties with dedicated time to evaluate projects and cooperation terms in detail.
While presenting their products, participating hotels learn about buyers’ needs, answer their questions during different encounters and have the opportunity to develop relationships. Buyers, in turn, can spend more time engaging with the professionals responsible for the properties and destinations they are evaluating.
The evening programmes transform the expertise of the MICE, wedding and events industry into an experience. Stage design, sound, lighting, décor, gastronomy, and guest flow architecture and design are conceived together. Professionals who design some of the most complex and prestigious international events will, this time, experience the event created for them as guests.
Bünyat Özpak, Founding Partner and CEO of Inventum Global, explained the value of the format as follows:
“Meeting someone takes a moment; getting to know each other takes time. At IMWF, we build that time into the programme. Professionals who share the same environment for three days and three nights can gain a closer understanding of each other’s products, needs and approach to doing business. Pre-scheduled meetings establish the commercial framework for these relationships.
This time, we are welcoming event professionals at the very top of their profession as our guests. That is why we prepare every detail, from the conferences to the evening programmes, from stage design to the guest experience, with an entirely different level of care.
Over the years, we have successfully fulfilled the responsibility that comes with organising events for the leading companies in the events industry, and we have always received positive feedback.
We bring together the finest tailors and show them how we make dresses. This is an entirely different level.”
Anda Barut Collection on the World Stage
Opened in 2024, Anda Barut Collection is located on the Delice Peninsula in Didim. As the host venue and main accommodation sponsor of the forum, this exceptional property will offer international decision-makers the opportunity to experience its accommodation facilities, gastronomy, event venues and service approach firsthand over three days.
The forum will enable professionals arriving from around the world to directly evaluate the MICE and destination wedding potential of both Didim and the property.
Commenting on the host destination, Özpak said:
“I believe that, with the right investments and the right promotion, Didim can compete with Bodrum on the same scale in luxury tourism and has the potential to go even further in certain areas. I consider Anda Barut Collection to be the strongest property in the region for the international MICE and luxury wedding market. Bringing an investment of this calibre together with decision-makers from around the world is one of the main reasons behind our choice of host venue.”
Turkish Airlines, which has supported IMWF since its first edition, continues its support for the forum this year as the Main Airline Partner. Flying to more countries than any other airline, Turkish Airlines plays an important role in enabling IMWF to reach decision-makers across different source markets through its global flight network and long-standing partnership.
From Classic Destinations to New Discoveries
Held this year under the theme “From Classics to New Discoveries”, the forum will explore why established destinations continue to be preferred, how emerging destinations can attract buyers’ attention, and what it takes for them to make it onto buyers’ shortlists.
The programme will feature an opening cocktail reception and press conference on 28 October; the opening conference, panel discussions and a special evening event on 29 October; a full day of one-to-one B2B business meetings and the closing gala on 30 October. Participants will depart on 31 October following breakfast.
Announcements regarding Inventum Global’s new products and new destinations will also be shared during the forum.
The International MICE & Wedding Forum will be held with Turkish Airlines as Airline Partner, Anda Barut Collection as Accommodation Sponsor, powered by Inventum Global, and with the support of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
About IMWF
Founded in 2016 by Inventum Global, the International MICE & Wedding Forum is one of the world’s leading business development platforms in the international MICE and destination wedding industry. This annual, invitation-only B2B platform brings together industry decision-makers at the same hotel for three days and three nights, combining conferences, shared experiences and pre-scheduled one-to-one business meetings within a single programme.
Turkish Airlines has supported IMWF since its first edition and serves as the Airline Partner of the 2026 edition.
