Q Live 2026 by Quilter and Chew

Client: Quilter

InterContinental London - The O2

When Quilter issued the RFP for Q Live 2026, the brief was to ‘reinvent’ their flagship conference following a major reduction in budget since their 2024 event (from £1.7m to £805k). Q Live was an established, highly rated conference which hosted 3 content stages, 2 dinners, 40 exhibitors and 700+ delegates and we needed to maintain the calibre and intrigue of the 2026 iteration, regardless of budget. Our only option was to completely reimagine the look and feel of the event, focusing on the Expo.

Inspired by the conference’s theme of ‘Brighter Futures’, Quilter and Chew sought to innovate the Expo area to enhance the delegate experience whilst creating meaningful opportunities to connect with the audience. The focus was on educational, interactive, and enjoyable experiences across a series of stand designs:

1. Discovery theatre

2. Lounge

3. Business lounge

4. Coffee station

5. Game stand

6. Snack stand

7. Hydrate&chat

8. Demo&chat

Despite this being a significant departure from the shell-scheme builds of previous years, marketing efforts led to an over-subscription for stands and a sold-out Expo.

Once exhibitors were onboarded, we centralised production, taking responsibility for the deadlines, compliance, and promotion of their stands at Q Live 2026 to ensure a frictionless exhibitor journey. We utilised the Cvent Exhibitor Platform to clearly outline our Exhibitor’s remaining responsibilities - supplying artwork and supplementing their stand with an app presence, merchandise, and branded clothing.

Feedback from attendees, Quilter staff and exhibitors proved that removing the literal and figurative walls of the shell-scheme unlocks a higher level of engagement. Despite a major budget challenge, a thoughtful, design-led approach turned Quilter’s industry requirement into the highlight of the delegate calendar. Q Live 2026 was not just a conference; it was a glimpse into the ‘Brighter Future’ of the events industry.