GL Events: Revenue Up 44.3% in Third Quarter, Annual Targets Raised
GL Events published on October 14, 2026 revenue of €415.9 million for the third quarter, up 44.3% year-on-year (43.1% at constant exchange rates). The group has raised its annual targets and now aims for growth at constant exchange rates and scope exceeding 10% for fiscal year 2026.
This quarter marks an acceleration compared to the first half. Revenue had increased by 8.9% in the first quarter (€468.1 million) and by 8.6% in the second quarter (€498.2 million). The third quarter of 2025, the comparison base, stood at €288.2 million. The 2026 period included delivery of services for the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games, presented by the group as the main contributor to the Live division.
Over the first nine months, activity reached €1,382.2 million, up 17.4% on a reported basis and 19.4% at constant exchange rates. The share of international business increased from 52% at end September 2025 to 55%.
Live and Venues Up Around One-Quarter Over Nine Months
GL Events Live, the group's leading division, achieved €246.2 million in revenue in the third quarter, bringing its nine-month total to €790.6 million, compared to €631.7 million a year earlier. Growth stands at 25.1% on a reported basis and 27.0% at constant scope and exchange rates.
In addition to the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games, the division worked on the Esports World Cup, the 46th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government in Durban and COP 17 on desertification in Mongolia. In Europe, it was involved in the Cannes Yacht Festival and the visit of Pope Leo XIV to France, followed by the Maison & Objet and Batimat trade shows in Paris in September.
GL Events Venues recorded €136.7 million in the third quarter and €434.8 million over nine months, compared to €351.0 million in 2025, representing an increase of 23.9% on a reported basis and 15.9% at constant scope and exchange rates. In France, the division relied on the Stade de France schedule (concerts by The Weeknd, BTS, System of a Down, PLK and Jay-Z) and trade fairs in Marseille, Metz, Caen, Saint-Étienne and Strasbourg. Internationally, the group cites Japan, Chile, Brazil and Hungary.
Exhibitions Down 19.3%, Up on Comparable Biennial Basis
The GL Events Exhibitions division generated €33.0 million in the third quarter and €156.8 million over nine months, compared to €194.3 million a year earlier. The decline reaches 19.3% on a reported basis and 22.4% at constant scope and exchange rates.
The group attributes this primarily to unfavorable biennial timing and persistent difficulties in the Chinese market, particularly for trade shows related to construction, renovation and fashion. These sectoral difficulties were already among the risks cited when publishing the half-yearly results on July 22, 2026. On a comparable biennial basis, the division's activity grew by 12.8% over nine months.
In the third quarter, the calendar included Première Vision Paris, the CFIA and Sepem in Toulouse as well as medical conferences. Internationally, the division organized the Estetika and ExpoPostos trade shows in Brazil, Expo Café in Chile, Tranoi in Tokyo and an edition of Première Vision in New York in July.
Annual Growth Target Raised to Over 10%
The group now targets, for 2026, growth at constant exchange rates and scope exceeding 10%, growth in operating profit and a capex program of around €80 million. When publishing the half-yearly results on July 22, 2026, the target was growth at constant exchange rates exceeding 8%. Revenue for fiscal year 2025, published on April 7, 2026, stood at €1,716.8 million.
Third quarter revenue came in below the €469 million estimate of the sole analyst tracked before publication. For the full year, four analysts anticipated on average €1.87 billion. Olivier Ginon, Chief Executive Officer, stated: "enhanced visibility on our annual targets, which we are raising today".
On the portfolio side, GL Events won the tender for the management and operation of the Lima Convention Center in Peru (approximately 18,000 m² with capacity reaching 10,000 people). The contract, with a 15-year term, is expected to be signed before end of 2026 and generate in steady state annual activity exceeding €12 million. Discussions have also been initiated regarding the sale of the Arena de Rio de Janeiro, following a mark of interest received.
Annual revenue will be published on January 21, 2027 and annual results on March 4, 2027. With €1,382.2 million achieved at end September, the group has raised its annual growth target at constant exchange rates and scope to above 10%.
