Five years ago this week.. IBC 2021 fell victim to the Covid-19 pandemic, as a dull virtual event made a poor attempt at replacing the Amsterdam show’s usual mid-September placement, for the second year running. Attempts to reschedule IBC for November 2021 also suffered the same fate in the end, raising serious questions about the long-term viability of large in-person tradeshows. Returning to the present day, IBC 2026 attracted 41,225 attendees, marking a minor decrease from 43,858 in 2025. This drop in footfall is not the gulf many predicted, boosted by a 36% increase in first-time exhibitors, as 256 companies made their debut. It shows that, despite industry apprehensions, major M&E events are alive and kicking. Disney+ adds curated…