Informa, the FTSE 100 events and academic publishing group, now expects underlying revenue growth of about 3% this year, half its previous guidance of about 6%, after further disruption in Saudi Arabia.
The company said the estimate assumes no further contribution from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2026, following the latest force majeure activity (a clause that frees organisers from obligations when events beyond their control prevent them from going ahead).
Informa said it is still tracking to double-digit underlying growth in earnings, as measured by adjusted diluted earnings per share, which excludes the dilution from shares issued for the Clarion Events acquisition. The 2025 base is 49p.
Absent Saudi Arabia, it said, revenue would remain on course for the original 6% guidance.
The recent escalation has led to more rescheduling. The 2026 Global Health Exhibition in Riyadh will move to a virtual format, with the physical event shifting to October 2027.
The 2026 Cityscape Global in Riyadh has moved to January 2027, while the 2027 edition stays in November 2027.
Stephen Carter, the chief executive, said Informa "continues to deliver strong performance and underlying growth". He said the group's international breadth limits the impact of specific in-market disruptions.
Underlying revenue rose 6.5% in the nine months to 30 September, excluding non-recurring data contracts. Including those contracts in the 2025 comparison, growth was 5.4%.
B2B Live Events, which covers the Informa Markets, Connect and Festivals businesses, grew 8.0%. Informa pointed to particular strength in the Americas, Europe and ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Academic Markets, the research publishing arm, grew 4.0%, again excluding the data contracts.
Informa TechTarget, the technology marketing business, saw underlying revenue fall 1.6%. Enterprise technology customers are putting AI investment ahead of product marketing and sales support.
In the Middle East, Africa and India region, Informa said its rescheduling programme had worked. More than 50 brands have traded this year, generating more than $530m of revenue, including more than $230m from about 30 brands since the half-year results.
Events held include Middle East Energy, the GISEC cyber security show, LEAP and Money20/20 Middle East.
Informa said all regulatory filings for the Clarion Events acquisition have been submitted, and completion is expected in the first two weeks of December.
Clarion will add more than 100 business-to-business event brands in 2027, with extra scale in North America and Asia and a stronger European position.
