By Mary Tucker | Senior Communications and Content Manager | IAEE

A new year brings fresh opportunities to shape policy outcomes. What happens in the White House and on Capitol Hill in 2026 will have a far-reaching impact throughout the business and professional events industry. From trade policies to international travel regulations, the decisions being made by the nation’s leaders today will shape what happens on show floors across America tomorrow.

To help industry leaders navigate this complex landscape, Executive Vice President for the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) Tommy Goodwin will dive deep into the policy issues that matter most in 2026 in the upcoming IAEE webinar, Exhibitions & Events Amidst Uncertainty: 8 Questions for 2026 in Washington, D.C.

Here, Tommy goes behind the headlines to reveal how Washington’s agenda will impact your events, your attendees and your bottom line – and what you can do about it.

As we look at the political landscape in 2026, what are the key dynamics in Washington that industry professionals need to understand, and why should they be paying attention now?

Tommy: The two key words in Washington, D.C., this year will be “uncertainty” and “affordability.” Both Congress and the White House will have those two priorities top of mind as they do their work throughout 2026. That’s why ECA’s 2026 public policy agenda has policies that will reduce economic uncertainty and safeguard affordability for the industry and those we serve front and center.

Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump’s emergency tariffs are unconstitutional. What does this mean for event organizers and exhibitors, and what are the possible immediate effects of this decision?

Tommy: Last week’s Supreme Court ruling was welcome news for the industry. The emergency tariffs have increased costs and uncertainty for event organizers, suppliers, venues, exhibitors and attendees alike. Worse, they have been particularly harmful to small businesses, which account for 99% of all industry companies and 80% of all event exhibitors.

In the days ahead, ECA expects action on Capitol Hill and in the key federal agencies (U.S. Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative) on new tariff policies that withstand constitutional scrutiny. ECA will be encouraging policymakers to pursue trade policies that increase affordability, reduce uncertainty, and increase the competitiveness of both the industry and the U.S. going forward. These include a commitment to free trade agreements and the elimination of tariffs, subsidies, and non-tariff barriers with trading partners around the world.

International travel is the lifeblood of many major events. What are the biggest barriers currently preventing international exhibitors and attendees from coming to U.S. events, and what concrete policy changes is ECA pushing for to address visa wait times and processing issues?

Tommy: International travel developments are a mixed bag these days. On one hand, visa wait times continue to fall at many U.S. embassies and consulates around the word. The U.S. Department of State has also deployed hundreds of new consular affairs officers to help, which is good news. On the other hand, recent expansions of country-specific travel restrictions and the visa bond pilot program mean that many would-be international exhibitors, attendees, and buyers cannot come to exhibitions and events in the U.S.

ECA supports continuing to reduce visitor visa interview wait times at all U.S. posts worldwide while modernizing visa processing, eliminating unnecessary fees that dissuade international stakeholders from visiting the U.S. for events, and enhancing U.S. national security while avoiding overly restrictive policies that reduce international travel and impact the competitiveness of the U.S. as the leading destination for events.

Let’s talk taxes. What specific federal, state or local tax measures are emerging that concern the events industry, and how might they disproportionately affect our ecosystem compared to other sectors?

Tommy: Last year’s tax reform effort was a big win for the industry. In 2026, ECA will be working hard in Washington, D.C. to ensure the industry continues to benefit from those hard-won victories while working to prevent any measures that would give the administration new tariff making authorities or call into question the tax-exempt status of associations and their events and exhibitions.

Beyond the Beltway, quite a few states and cities across the country are facing budget shortfalls. At times like these, state and local policymakers can consider ill-advised tax increases or spending cutbacks that could impact important parts of our ecosystem like destination marketing organizations and public-owned venues. ECA will be ready to play defense should any of those proposals come forward.

Workforce development is critical for our industry’s future. What are the unique challenges the industry faces in recruiting and retaining talent, and what policy solutions is ECA advocating for to help build that next-generation workforce?

Tommy: Congress took two big steps towards partnering with the industry to help us recruit and train our future workforce. First, 529 college savings plans were transformed into career savings plans by allowing funds to pay for certifications like IAEE’s Certified in Exhibition Management® (CEM) designation. In addition, Pell Grants were expanded to pay for skilled workforce training for the first time.

This year, ECA will be active to ensure that these new policies are enacted in a way that provides the maximum benefit for the industry. In addition, ECA will be looking for new opportunities at the state level to support new proposals that would bring new talent into the industry, as well as elevate existing effective workforce development programs and support their expansion.

Sustainability and the path to Net Zero are increasingly important to clients and stakeholders. Why is it important that our industry maintains control over its own sustainability standards rather than having them imposed externally?

Tommy: You said it – the industry needs to maintain control of its path to Net Zero. While Washington, D.C. is rolling back some previous climate-related policies, it remains critical that the industry continues to play a leadership role in decarbonizing the industry. The policymaking pendulum always swings back eventually, and ECA wants to ensure that the industry has a good news story to share with lawmakers when that moment arrives. In the meantime, ECA will continue to monitor developments at the state level and support the work of IAEE to increase event sustainability.

Click here to register for Exhibitions & Events Amidst Uncertainty: 8 Questions for 2026 in Washington, D.C. and learn more about upcoming IAEE webinars here.

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