The Singapore MICE Forum (SMF) 2026 brought the business events community together at Resorts World Sentosa from 29 to 31 July, with this year’s programme challenging the industry to rethink how it responds to accelerating technological, economic and geopolitical change.
Organised by the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS), the three-day programme brought together industry leaders, professionals and institutions under the theme “Going Beyond”. SACEOS said the wider SMF 2026 programme was expected to engage more than 1,600 participants across its different components.
The main Singapore MICE Forum on 30 July focused on how the sector can navigate disruption while reconsidering leadership, collaboration and value creation. Following opening remarks by SACEOS President Richard Ireland and SMF Chairperson Jasmine Ho, Singapore’s Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan delivered the opening address.
Former Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin opened the conference programme with a keynote on moving beyond “hardware and software” towards “heartware”, exploring the role of human connection, purpose and leadership alongside infrastructure, governance and technology. Other programme discussions addressed resilience amid uncertainty, high-performance teams and AI-driven transformation as the industry considers how established business models may need to evolve.
SMF 2026 extended beyond the main forum. The Association MICE Symposium, jointly organised by SACEOS and the Singapore Business Federation with support from the Singapore Tourism Board, opened the programme on 29 July with discussions on how associations can use events strategically to strengthen growth and impact.
Industry achievements were also recognised at the Singapore MICE Awards 2026 Gala Dinner on 30 July. This year’s Awards expanded to 20 categories, covering areas including Trade Show of the Year, Association Event of the Year, MICE Venue of the Year, Event Tech Application of the Year, Sustainability Initiative of the Year and Emerging Talent of the Year. New categories included Event Organising Team of the Year, Event Marketing Campaign of the Year and Experiential Venue of the Year, reflecting the expanding range of capabilities shaping Singapore’s business events ecosystem.
The programme concluded on 31 July with the Singapore MICE Development initiative and Singapore MICE Challenge, shifting attention towards workforce development and the industry’s next generation. Singapore MICE Development connected students with MICE companies and practitioners, while the Challenge provided students from Institutes of Higher Learning with a platform to propose ideas for the future of business events.
Taken together, the three-day programme positioned SMF not only as an industry forum, but as a platform connecting current leadership priorities with recognition, association development and future talent—reflecting the broader “Going Beyond” call for Singapore’s MICE community to prepare for its next stage of development.
