Dubai , January 7 , 2026 : Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has announced its comprehensive conference programme for ATM 2026, revealing a multi-stage agenda designed to shape the future of the global travel and tourism industry. The event will take place from May 4 to 7, 2026, at Dubai World Trade Centre under the theme “Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology.”
The conference will feature three key stages – the Global Stage, the Future Stage, and the newly rebranded Experience Stage, formerly the Business Events Stage under IBTM @ ATM. Across four days, global thought leaders, policymakers, innovators and industry practitioners will share data-driven insights and practical strategies to support sustainable growth, resilience and innovation across the travel and tourism sector.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME at Arabian Travel Market, said the 2026 programme has been carefully curated to provide strategic, industry-led insights that empower decision-makers to act with confidence and make smarter, more sustainable choices.
The Global Stage will serve as ATM’s main strategic forum, addressing the major forces transforming international travel. Sessions will cover topics including sustainability, accessibility and inclusion, transport and mobility, accommodation, luxury travel, destination development, investment and emerging global trends. Research-led discussions will feature new insights from organisations such as Tourism Economics, Euromonitor and GSIQ. The final day will host the Women in Travel Forum, focusing on equity, leadership, accessibility and inclusive tourism design.
Reflecting the growing importance of technology, the Future Stage will sit at the heart of the Tech and Innovation Hub, coinciding with the full debut of ATM Travel Tech as a co-located show. Sessions will explore AI, automation, data and digital transformation, fintech, robotics, immersive technologies and next-generation travel platforms, highlighting how innovation is reshaping the travel ecosystem.
New for 2026, the Experience Stage will focus on business events, corporate travel and experiential design, highlighting the Middle East’s rising profile as a global meetings and events hub. Supported by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the programme will examine leadership, event technology, innovative formats and sustainable, inclusive event strategies.
Across all stages, ATM 2026 will introduce more interactive formats, including roundtables, Lunch ‘n Learn sessions, Meet the Speaker opportunities and real-time session translation via Vox Technologies, encouraging deeper engagement and knowledge exchange.
The expanded programme reinforces ATM’s position as a leading regional and global knowledge platform for the travel and tourism industry.
