The premier event for the attractions industry in Asia, IAAPA Expo Asia 2026, will take place June 9-12 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, connecting executives from theme parks, integrated resorts, water parks, family entertainment centers, and technology companies.
Programming highlights include an Opening Reception at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort with exclusive access to World of Frozen, the IAAPA Foundation’s first Asia-Pacific scholarship program, and a 1.5-day post-tour at Qingyuan Chimelong International Forest Resort.
The trade show floor will host more than 300 exhibitors showcasing innovations in attractions technology, guest experience, design, and operations.
Opening Reception at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
The Opening Reception runs Wednesday, June 10 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort with exclusive access to World of Frozen, one of the destination’s newest themed lands. The agenda includes coach transfer from the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, a welcome reception at the Royal Banquet Hall, and time at World of Frozen. Tickets are priced from $229 USD advanced for IAAPA members and $319 USD advanced for non-members.
First Asia-Pacific Scholarship Program
The IAAPA Foundation will debut its first Asia-Pacific scholarship program in partnership with Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU). Students in HKMU’s attraction management program have developed projects focused on enhancing guest experience, sustainability, and business performance. A winning group will be selected by HKMU faculty and IAAPA representatives, with the scholarship presented on the last day of the show. The award presentation will be open to registered media and attended by university leadership and IAAPA executives.
Post-Tour at Qingyuan Chimelong International Forest Resort
A 1.5-day Post-Tour to Qingyuan Chimelong International Forest Resort runs Saturday-Sunday, June 13-14, offered as a complete experience and not available for partial purchase. The program covers Forest Kingdom, the Great Safari, the Hot Spring Water Park, and Giraffe Castle Hotel, with guided tours and presentations from Chimelong leadership.
EDUTours
IAAPA’s signature EDUTours offer behind-the-scenes access to Ocean Park Hong Kong, Kidztopia, and Kai Tak Sports Park during show week. The Ocean Park tour on Tuesday, June 9 opens back-of-house on the Giant Panda Adventure, the Little Meerkat and Giant Tortoise Adventure, and the Grand Aquarium, with focus on conservation, sustainable practices, and animal welfare. Tickets for the Ocean Park EDUTour are priced from $179 USD advanced for IAAPA members.
Education Conference
The education conference will run more than 20 EDUSessions addressing key trends shaping the future of the attractions industry, including artificial intelligence, operational excellence, workforce development, retail and food and beverage strategies, and revenue optimization. Session highlights include:
- Designing Delightful Food & Beverage Journeys (Wednesday, June 10 at 3:30 p.m.) features case studies from Universal Beijing Resort on its “hero food products” approach to IP-integrated dining and LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort on its Brick Burger end-to-end rollout.
- From Spectacle to Story: Transforming Live Entertainment into Lasting Memories (Thursday, June 11 at 10:00 a.m.) pairs Randy Wojcik (VP, Entertainment Creative, USJ Creative Entertainment, Universal Studios Japan) and Brett Ingram (Assistant Vice President, Event Management, Sands China) on storytelling, stagecraft, and scalable production techniques.
- Engaging Gen Z: A People-First Workforce Framework (Wednesday, June 10 at 1:30 p.m.) is delivered by TEEG, winner of the 2026 IAAPA Brass Ring Award for Best Training Program, walking through its five-pillar framework covering recruitment, learning, recognition, communication, and well-being.
Leadership Breakfast
The Leadership Breakfast runs Thursday, June 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in the IAAPA Theatre sponsored by Chimelong. Mr. Su Zhigang, Founder and Chairman of Chimelong Group, will deliver remarks in Chinese with real-time AI-powered translation. Su was inducted into the IAAPA Hall of Fame in 2025 as the first Chinese inductee. Tickets are priced from $99 USD advanced for IAAPA members.
Connections Hub
A new Connections Hub on the show floor will host interactive discussions, peer-to-peer learning, and operational problem-solving conversations among industry professionals.
Event Dates and Ticketing
IAAPA Expo Asia 2026 runs June 9-12, 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. EDUSession content is included with Show Floor and Education Conference Registrations. Special events including the Opening Reception, Leadership Breakfast, EDUTours, and post-tour require separate ticketing and are subject to availability.
For full event information, registration, and the complete agenda, visit IAAPA Expo Asia 2026.
What This Means for Seasonal Operators (Analysis)
The IAAPA Expo Asia 2026 education program reads like a checklist of the trends Seasonal Entertainment Source has been tracking.
F&B as IP storytelling. “Designing Delightful Food & Beverage Journeys” walks through Universal Beijing Resort’s hero-food product approach to IP-integrated dining and LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort’s end-to-end Brick Burger rollout. SES has been tracking this thread for months. Tokyo DisneySea just expanded Ratatouille into a restaurant overlay and added sommelier programs at MiraCosta. Kennywood built an entire spring event around the Potato Patch fry. Universal’s Fan Fest Nights menu was built inside each IP footprint. Europa-Park brought in Sally Özcan to operate a creator-led café as it rebranded the Ammolite.
Different markets, same thesis: F&B functions best as part of the storytelling.
Activate the locals. Comcast called out softness at Universal Beijing and Universal Studios Japan in Q1, and the response across the Asia-Pacific portfolio has been to program for the regional audience first. It’s interesting that IAAPA appears to be doing the same, with the Leadership Breakfast keynote from Chimelong founder Su Zhigang, delivered i
