Selected by Exhibition Marketing Experts: '5 Notable Exhibitions in April 2026' - What are the exhibitions where 'primary information' becomes highly valuable in the AI era?

Exhibition Sales Marketing Co., Ltd. has announced five notable exhibitions to be held in April 2026. These notable events were carefully selected from BtoB and BtoC exhibitions held across Japan, specifically highlighting those that are useful for creating business opportunities and grasping market trends. With the widespread use of AI, we have entered an era where anyone can easily obtain information. On the other hand, what determines a company's competitiveness is not the public information available to everyone, but the 'primary information' obtained directly on the front lines. Exhibitions are valuable opportunities to directly experience the challenges of attendees, industry trends, and the implementation status of new technologies, and their value is increasing precisely because we are in the AI era. Especially for BtoB companies, exhibitions have become an important arena for sales activities, not just for meeting new customers, but for grasping the realities of the market. ## Expert Comment: Kenichi Kiyonaga, Representative of Exhibition Sales Marketing The further we advance into the AI era, the higher the value of 'primary information' becomes for companies. Much of the information handled by AI is secondary information that has already been published. However, exhibitions gather primary information such as the true feelings of attendees, the movements of competitors, and the realities of the industry. This provides crucial hints for corporate sales strategies. Even in BtoB corporate sales, the role of exhibitions is expected to become increasingly important. An exhibition is not merely a place for PR; it is a place to interact directly with prospective customers, understand their challenges, and create opportunities to build relationships. For companies to grow in the AI era, it is essential to strategically utilize such real-world touchpoints. ### Exhibition Trends **1. Expansion of AI/DX-related exhibitions** As corporate digital transformation (DX) progresses, the presence of exhibitions themed around IT and digital solutions is growing. Exhibitions focusing on generative AI, data utilization, and the cloud attract attendees not only from IT companies but also from diverse industries such as manufacturing and logistics. **2. Increase in industry-specific exhibitions** In recent years, specialized exhibitions focusing on specific industries or genres such as 'logistics', 'energy', and 'crisis management' have been increasing. Highly specialized exhibitions are characterized by attendees with a high sense of purpose, making it easier for exhibiting companies to secure high-quality business negotiation opportunities. **3. Evolution of experiential exhibitions** At exhibitions, not only product explanations but also experiential displays and demonstrations have become important. Exhibits that attendees can actually touch and experience are easier to remember and are effective in creating opportunities for business negotiations. For these reasons, the importance of experiential booths is increasing even in the BtoB sector. ## 5 Notable Exhibitions in April 2026 ### (1) Interpets. April 2026 Organizer: Messe Frankfurt Japan https://interpets.jp.messefrankfurt.com/tokyo/ja.html