Expo Experience

The EXPO Experience

Where the Global Card Ecosystem Comes to Life

ICMA EXPO is more than a conference. It's where the global card community comes together to exchange ideas, explore innovation, strengthen relationships and celebrate the industry we share. From conversations on the exhibit floor to educational sessions, networking events and the excitement of the Élan Awards, EXPO creates opportunities to connect across every part of the card ecosystem. See what makes the EXPO experience different through highlights from our 2026 event.

An Ecosystem Built on Connections

The card industry doesn't operate in silos—and neither does EXPO.

Manufacturers connect with suppliers. Technology providers meet personalizers. Industry veterans exchange ideas with emerging professionals. Customers reconnect with longtime partners while discovering companies and solutions they haven't encountered before.

Those connections happen throughout EXPO—in educational sessions, over meals, during networking events and in the conversations that begin on the exhibit floor and continue long after the conference ends.

Where Innovation Meets Opportunity.

Explore the EXPO Exhibit Hall

The EXPO show floor brings the industry's technologies, materials, equipment, products and expertise together in one place. It's an opportunity to see solutions firsthand, ask questions directly of industry experts and discover ideas that can help address today's challenges and tomorrow's opportunities.

But the exhibit hall is about more than what's on display. It's where conversations start, relationships grow and connections across the card ecosystem turn into business opportunities.

Learn. Connect. Discover.

Education at EXPO brings together perspectives from across the card ecosystem. Industry experts, technology leaders and fellow professionals share insights into emerging trends, evolving technologies, business challenges and opportunities affecting the global card industry.

Just as important are the conversations those sessions inspire—giving attendees the opportunity to exchange perspectives and learn from one another.

Celebrating the ICMA Élan Awards of Excellence.

One of EXPO's most anticipated traditions brings the card community together to recognize outstanding creativity, innovation and technical achievement. The Élan Awards celebration at EXPO gives the industry an opportunity not only to recognize exceptional work, but to celebrate the people and companies continuing to move the entire card ecosystem forward.

The 2026 Élan Awards competition received a record-breaking 181 entries—the highest number in ICMA history—demonstrating the continued evolution of physical cards and the extraordinary talent across the industry.

Hear From the EXPO Community.

Why Does the Industry Come to EXPO?

The best way to understand the EXPO experience is to hear from the people who are part of it. Hear what members of the card community had to say about the connections, knowledge and opportunities they experienced at ICMA EXPO 2026.

Be Part of the Next EXPO Experience

You've seen the connections. You've seen the innovation. You've heard from the people who make EXPO what it is.

Now experience it for yourself. Join more than 300 professionals from across the global card ecosystem at ICMA EXPO 2027, May 16–19 at the Hilton Tampa Downtown in Tampa, Florida.

Come to learn. Come to connect. Come to discover what's next.

JOIN US IN EUROPE

Discover Smart and Sustainable Bonding Solutions

27–28 October 2026

Lohmann’s TEC Center, Neuwied, Germany