As the global travel and tourism industry stands at a critical juncture, defined by rapid technological advancement and a renewed focus on sustainability, the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has unveiled a comprehensive and multi-faceted conference programme for its 2026 edition. This meticulously designed agenda is poised to navigate and shape the future trajectory of the sector. Taking place from May 4 to 7 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the event will convene a distinguished assembly of global thought leaders, influential policymakers, and industry innovators under the central theme, “Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology.” Discussions will unfold across three dedicated platforms—the Global Stage, the Future Stage, and the newly rebranded Experience Stage—each engineered to deliver strategic direction through industry-led insights. The primary objective is to equip decision-makers with the essential knowledge required to act with confidence, championing sustainable global growth, elevating industry standards, and fortifying the long-term resilience of travel and tourism worldwide.
A Deep Dive into the Thematic Stages
The Global Stage A Strategic Macro View
Serving as the event’s principal strategic forum, the Global Stage is set to provide a crucial high-level overview of the key macroeconomic and industry-specific factors that are fundamentally transforming international travel and tourism. The agenda is built around a dynamic series of panel discussions, in-depth interviews, and expert presentations designed to meticulously examine the critical decisions, policies, and investment trends shaping the industry’s future. These sessions will delve into themes central to long-term growth and global competitiveness, offering attendees a comprehensive understanding of the forces at play. By exploring the complex interplay between global economic shifts, evolving consumer behaviors, and governmental regulations, the stage will deliver profound, big-picture thinking. This strategic lens is intended to equip leaders with the foresight needed to navigate an increasingly complex and fast-paced environment, outlining the necessary insights for making informed choices that will define the sector for years to come.
Further cementing its role as a hub for evidence-based strategy, the Global Stage will place a significant emphasis on research-led sessions, with new data and exclusive insights presented by leading analytics and research firms. Esteemed organizations such as Tourism Economics, a company of Oxford Economics, along with Euromonitor and GSIQ, will unveil their latest findings throughout the programme. This data-centric approach will ground high-level discussions in tangible, real-world scenarios and verifiable trends. Topics will span a wide spectrum of the travel ecosystem, including advancements in transport and mobility, the evolution of the accommodation sector, the nuances of the luxury travel market, and innovative destination marketing strategies. By integrating solid research with expert opinion, the stage aims to deliver both practical, immediate takeaways and a forward-looking vision, empowering the industry to make smarter, more strategic, and increasingly sustainable decisions based on robust intelligence rather than speculation.
The Women in Travel Forum Championing Inclusivity
On its final day, the Global Stage will pivot to host the highly anticipated Women in Travel Forum, delivered in partnership with Women in Travel CIC. This dedicated forum will provide a focused platform to address pressing issues of accessibility, inclusion, equity, and leadership that are paramount to the modern travel and tourism industry. The agenda is designed to move beyond theoretical discussion and explore actionable strategies for meaningful change. It will investigate how destinations, businesses, and policymakers can effectively collaborate to design more inclusive travel experiences from the ground up. A central theme will be the systematic removal of barriers for underrepresented groups, ensuring that travel becomes a more welcoming and accessible activity for all. By examining how to successfully embed accessibility into the core of tourism planning and product development, the forum will champion a vision of the industry that is not only more equitable but also more responsive to the diverse needs of a global clientele.
Beyond the traveler experience, the forum will cast a critical eye inward, highlighting the vital importance of fostering diverse leadership and representation within the industry itself. The sessions will explore the direct link between a diverse leadership pipeline and enhanced business outcomes, including greater innovation, improved service standards, and more resilient, sustainable growth across the entire sector. By showcasing the successes of female leaders and outlining pathways for greater equity in the workplace, the forum will underscore that inclusivity is not merely a social responsibility but a powerful strategic advantage. The discussions are intended to inspire a new generation of leaders and provide organizations with a clear blueprint for building teams that reflect the diversity of the world they serve, ultimately driving the industry toward a more progressive and prosperous future where varied perspectives are valued and cultivated as a core asset.
Innovation and Experience at the Forefront
The Future Stage Embracing Technological Disruption
Reflecting the full debut of ATM Travel Tech as a co-located show, the Future Stage will be centrally positioned within the Tech and Innovation Hub, an immersive area dedicated to showcasing the technologies that are redefining travel globally. Over four days, this stage will spotlight the trends and breakthroughs transforming how journeys are planned, delivered, and experienced. Sessions led by innovative companies, including Dragon Trail and Videc, will explore a wide array of technological advancements that are moving from the periphery to the core of industry operations. Key topics will include the practical applications of artificial intelligence and automation in personalizing customer journeys and optimizing logistics, the power of data analytics and digital transformation in gaining a competitive edge, and the integration of fintech solutions to create seamless and secure transaction experiences for travelers worldwide. The stage is designed to demystify these complex technologies and demonstrate their real-world value.
Set within a purpose-built, 250-seat theatre, the Future Stage will present a forward-looking agenda focused on identifying opportunities, fostering adaptation, and promoting responsible innovation. The discussions will extend to more emergent technologies, including immersive solutions like augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) for destination marketing and pre-trip experiences, the role of robotics in hospitality and transport, and the architecture of next-generation travel platforms that promise greater connectivity and efficiency. The sessions will also tackle disruptive business models that are challenging traditional industry structures, providing attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the competitive landscape. By helping industry stakeholders prepare for what lies ahead, the Future Stage aims to be more than just a showcase of novel gadgets; it is a strategic forum designed to equip the travel sector with the knowledge and tools needed to harness technological change for sustainable and profitable growth.
The Experience Stage and Enhanced Engagement
A significant new development for 2026, the Experience Stage evolves from the former Business Events Stage at IBTM @ ATM, broadening its focus to drive growth in the interconnected fields of business events, corporate travel, and experiential design. This rebranded platform will underscore the Middle East’s emerging prominence as a global hub for meetings and events, a position supported by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), which returns as the Official Business Events Partner. The programme will explore crucial topics such as the evolution of leadership in the events industry, the transformative impact of event technology on engagement and logistics, and the development of innovative event formats that cater to a new era of hybrid and in-person gatherings. It will provide practical, actionable strategies for event planners, destinations, and suppliers, focusing on how to create impactful, inclusive, and sustainable events that deliver measurable returns and memorable experiences for attendees.
To further elevate the conference, the 2026 programme will place a strong emphasis on creating more interactive and intimate attendee experiences across all stages. This commitment is realized through the introduction of exclusive roundtable discussions, the launch of new “Lunch ‘n Learn” sessions for deeper-dive conversations, and dedicated “Meet the Speaker” opportunities that facilitate direct engagement with industry experts. A notable technological enhancement is a new partnership with Vox Technologies, which will provide attendees with headset devices that translate sessions in real time. This innovation is set to break down language barriers, encouraging deeper, more inclusive conversation and enabling valuable peer-to-peer knowledge exchange among a diverse global audience. This expanded scope, combined with a renewed focus on inclusion and evidence-based insight, firmly underscores ATM’s position as the region’s preeminent knowledge platform for the travel industry.
A Blueprint for a Resilient Travel Future
The comprehensive discussions and strategic insights presented throughout the event culminated in a unified vision for a more technologically advanced, inclusive, and sustainable travel industry. The sessions on the Global Stage provided attendees with a clear macroeconomic and geopolitical framework, which was then complemented by the forward-looking technological roadmaps detailed on the Future Stage. Similarly, the powerful conversations at the Women in Travel Forum on equity and the practical strategies for experiential design from the Experience Stage converged to offer a holistic blueprint for progress. Delegates departed not merely with a collection of disparate ideas, but with an integrated understanding of how these critical pillars support one another in building a resilient and dynamic sector. The event successfully equipped the industry with the actionable intelligence and collaborative spirit needed to navigate the complexities of the coming decades with confidence and purpose.
