Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has announced an extensive conference programme for ATM 2026, setting out a multi-stage agenda designed to shape the future of the global travel and tourism industry.
ATM 2026 will take place from May 4 to 7 at the Dubai World Trade Centre and will feature a series of high-level discussions, data-driven insights and industry debates across key travel sectors. Held under the theme “Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology,” the conference sessions will be delivered across the Global Stage, the Future Stage and the newly rebranded Experience Stage, formerly the Business Events Stage, as part of IBTM @ ATM.
The programme will bring together global thought leaders, policymakers, innovators and industry practitioners to share insights aimed at supporting sustainable growth, raising industry standards and strengthening the long-term resilience of travel and tourism worldwide.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said the 2026 programme has been carefully curated to provide strategic, actionable guidance for decision-makers.
“At ATM, we want to raise the bar in how we guide the global travel and tourism industry,” Curtis said. “Our 2026 conference programme is designed to deliver informed, industry-led insight, ensuring that decision-makers leave with the confidence and knowledge they need to act.”
She added that ATM aims to remain a platform where expertise supports global growth, improves standards and strengthens the future of the industry through research, innovation and real-world perspectives.
As ATM’s primary strategic forum, the Global Stage will focus on the key forces transforming international travel and tourism. Through panel discussions, interviews and presentations, the sessions will examine policies, investments and decisions shaping the industry’s future. Topics will include accessibility and inclusion, sustainability, transport and mobility, accommodation, luxury travel, destination marketing, development and investment, and emerging global travel trends.
A strong emphasis will be placed on research-led insights, with data presentations from organisations such as Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, Euromonitor and GSIQ, helping industry leaders navigate an increasingly complex and fast-evolving environment.
The final day on the Global Stage will host the Women in Travel Forum, delivered in partnership with Women in Travel CIC. The forum will address accessibility, inclusion, equity and leadership, focusing on how destinations and businesses can design more inclusive travel experiences and remove barriers for underrepresented groups. It will also highlight the role of diverse leadership in driving innovation and sustainable growth.
Reflecting the full debut of ATM Travel Tech as a co-located show, the Future Stage will sit at the heart of the Tech and Innovation Hub. Over four days, it will explore the technologies reshaping how travel is planned, delivered and experienced. Sessions led by companies including Dragon Trail and Videc will examine artificial intelligence, automation, digital transformation, fintech, immersive technologies, robotics, disruptive business models and next-generation travel platforms.
Meanwhile, the newly introduced Experience Stage represents a major evolution of the former Business Events Stage. With support from the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), returning as the Official Business Events Partner, the stage will focus on driving growth in business events, corporate travel and experiential design. Discussions will highlight the Middle East’s rising profile as a global meetings and events hub, alongside strategies for delivering impactful, inclusive and sustainable events.
Across all stages, ATM 2026 will place greater emphasis on interactive engagement. New features will include exclusive roundtable discussions, Lunch ‘n Learn sessions, Meet the Speaker opportunities, and a partnership with Vox Technologies, enabling real-time translation through headset devices to encourage deeper dialogue and knowledge exchange.
“With our expanded scope, redefined stages and renewed focus on inclusion, innovation and evidence-based insight, the ATM 2026 conference programme reinforces the event’s position as the region’s leading knowledge platform for travel and tourism,” Curtis said.
