Private equity giant Apollo Global Management made a significant move into the business events industry on May 9, 2026, announcing agreements to acquire two major live-events companies: Emerald Holding and Questex. The transactions mark Apollo’s formal entry into the rapidly recovering global exhibitions and conferences market, a sector that has regained momentum as businesses increasingly prioritize in-person networking and industry gatherings.
Under the announced agreement, Apollo will acquire Emerald Holding, a publicly traded organizer of trade shows and business-to-business events, in a deal valued at approximately $1 billion. Shareholders are expected to receive $5.03 per share in cash. Apollo also confirmed a separate all-cash acquisition of Questex, a privately held media and events company focused on industries including hospitality, wellness, travel, beauty, and life sciences. Financial terms for the Questex acquisition were not publicly disclosed.
The dual acquisitions reflect growing investor confidence in the long-term strength of the live-events industry. After years of disruption during the pandemic era, in-person conferences and trade shows have experienced a strong rebound, driven by demand for face-to-face networking, product demonstrations, and direct business engagement. Industry analysts have increasingly pointed to live events as resilient revenue generators because they combine sponsorship opportunities, ticket sales, digital media extensions, and data-driven marketing services.
Emerald Holding is widely known for organizing major trade shows and exhibitions across sectors such as retail, design, technology, and outdoor recreation. Its portfolio includes well-known events like Outdoor Retailer, which attracts brands, suppliers, and buyers from across the outdoor and sporting goods industry. The company has spent recent years rebuilding attendance levels and expanding hybrid event capabilities that combine physical and digital participation.
Questex, meanwhile, has established itself as a strong player in specialized industry conferences and digital content services. The company operates events and information platforms focused on sectors where professional networking and expert insights are highly valued. By acquiring both Emerald and Questex simultaneously, Apollo appears to be pursuing a consolidation strategy aimed at building a broader business-events platform with diversified industry exposure.
According to reports surrounding the announcement, Apollo believes the live-events industry remains highly fragmented, leaving room for operational efficiencies and future expansion opportunities through mergers and integrated services. This approach aligns with Apollo’s broader investment strategy of combining complementary businesses into larger operating platforms that can scale more effectively across markets.
The acquisitions also highlight the broader transformation taking place within the events sector. Business conferences and exhibitions are increasingly evolving into year-round ecosystems rather than standalone gatherings. Event operators are investing in data analytics, digital communities, subscription content, and AI-powered attendee engagement tools to create recurring revenue streams beyond physical events. As technology becomes more integrated into event management and audience targeting, private equity firms see opportunities to improve profitability and operational performance.
The timing of Apollo’s move is notable because demand for business conferences and technology-focused events has remained strong throughout 2026. Industry calendars have been filled with major conferences centered on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, enterprise software, and innovation trends. Publications tracking the technology conference sector have identified growing attendance at AI-focused events and enterprise networking gatherings across the United States this year.
For the broader business community, Apollo’s investment signals continued confidence in experiential business models at a time when many industries are balancing remote operations with renewed interest in in-person collaboration. Corporate leaders increasingly view conferences and trade exhibitions as valuable tools for relationship-building, product launches, talent recruitment, and strategic partnerships that are difficult to replicate entirely online.
The acquisitions may also influence competition across the global events industry. Large operators are under pressure to modernize event experiences while maintaining profitability amid rising venue, staffing, and travel costs. With Apollo’s financial backing, Emerald and Questex could gain additional resources to expand internationally, invest in digital capabilities, and pursue further acquisitions.
Apollo has previously invested in experiential and hospitality-related businesses, including entertainment and resort assets, but the Emerald and Questex deals represent the firm’s clearest step into large-scale business events management. Analysts will likely watch closely to see whether the company pursues additional acquisitions in adjacent sectors such as trade media, professional education, or event technology platforms.
The announcement underscores a broader trend reshaping the global business landscape: despite advances in virtual communication technologies, face-to-face professional interaction remains highly valuable. Investors continue to see long-term potential in companies that can successfully combine live experiences with digital engagement tools and industry-focused content ecosystems.
As the transactions move toward completion, the deals are expected to become one of the most closely watched developments in the business-events sector this year, particularly as companies across industries continue searching for new ways to connect customers, partners, and professionals in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.