London, UK – Lionet Game (LTG) took its Social Competition Carnival series, alongside a full range of indoor and outdoor carnival game booths, to IAAPA Expo Europe 2026 at ExCeL London (21–25 September). Across the show, visiting operators, distributors and venue developers came to experience the games first-hand and to discuss one of the strongest themes of the year: competitive socialising, the shift towards venues where friends, teams and colleagues play, compete and connect together.
- Lionet Game exhibited its Social Competition Carnival series (Mega Hoops, Spin Pitch, Monster Strike and Barrel Toss) together with funfair and FEC carnival game solutions at IAAPA Expo Europe 2026.
- We received a strong flow of enquiries from visitors interested in competitive socialising concepts.
- Conversations with long-standing partners and new contacts gave us valuable insight into where European and international operators are heading.
- Our view: competitive socialising is moving from a niche idea to a core planning theme for modern attractions and entertainment venues.
IAAPA Expo Europe 2026 at ExCeL London, where the global attractions industry gathered from 21 to 25 September.IAAPA Expo Europe 2026: A Global Stage for the Attractions Industry
IAAPA Expo Europe is widely regarded as Europe's leading gathering for the attractions and leisure industry, bringing together theme parks, family entertainment centres (FECs), resorts, museums, zoos and immersive entertainment brands. The 2026 edition marked the show's return to London after four years and was billed by the organisers as its largest yet, with a record show floor of around 21,000 square metres, more than 800 exhibitors, over 175 speakers and more than 60 education sessions.
For a manufacturer such as Lionet Game, a show of this scale offers something rare: a single week in which decision-makers from many regions are in the same place, ready to compare ideas and discuss real projects. It is the ideal setting to test how a new product category is received by an international audience.
Competitive Socialising Takes Centre Stage
Competitive socialising describes a simple but powerful shift in how people choose to spend leisure time. Guests increasingly look for experiences that combine friendly rivalry, teamwork and conversation, rather than purely passive entertainment. Venues built around this idea benefit from longer visits, group bookings and the kind of shareable moments that bring guests back.
This is the thinking behind Lionet Game's Social Competition Carnival series. Each game is designed for side-by-side play, quick rounds and live scoring, so that players naturally compete, cheer each other on and want another go. At IAAPA Expo Europe, we saw clear interest in exactly this combination of skill, social energy and simple, readable gameplay.
Our booth presented the Social Competition Carnival series alongside funfair and FEC carnival solutions.What We Showed: Social Competition, Funfair and FEC Solutions
Our London presentation was built around three solution areas, reflecting how operators actually plan their venues:
- Social Competition: Mega Hoops, Spin Pitch, Monster Strike and Barrel Toss, multiplayer games made for groups, ranking boards and repeat play.
- Funfair Solutions: classic carnival game booths designed for both indoor and outdoor settings, with bold theming and strong visual appeal.
- FEC Solutions: modular carnival formats such as Super Carnival 2, Dreamy Carnival and Club 2077, built to anchor a games zone in a family entertainment centre.
Together, they present a flexible toolkit: operators can start with a single social competition zone, expand into a full carnival and midway area, or combine indoor and outdoor attractions under one consistent brand look.
Conversations That Matter: Old Friends and New Partners
The most rewarding part of any IAAPA week is the people. Over the course of the show, we met many long-standing customers and friends of the brand, and many new faces who were visiting Lionet Game for the first time. Discussions covered layouts, venue concepts, game mixes and how competitive socialising could fit into projects ranging from FECs to leisure destinations and entertainment venues.
We are grateful to every visitor who took the time to play, ask questions and share candid feedback. These conversations are a valuable starting point, and many will continue well beyond the show floor.
Meeting partners old and new at the Lionet Game booth: relationships are at the heart of every IAAPA week.
Design, manufacturing and global solutions: our booth message resonated with an international audience.Market Outlook: Three Signals We Are Watching
Based on our conversations and observations at the show, three signals stand out for operators and investors considering the next phase of venue development:
- From watching to taking part. Guests increasingly value active, participatory experiences. Games that invite groups to compete together fit this behaviour naturally.
- Dwell time and repeat visits. Ranked, round-based play encourages "one more go" behaviour, which supports longer stays and return visits, both important to venue performance.
- Flexible, scalable formats. Operators want concepts they can start small, adapt to indoor or outdoor space and expand over time. Modular carnival and social competition formats answer this need.
These are our own reading of the market rather than a formal forecast, but the level of interest we saw suggests that competitive socialising will remain a central conversation across the industry in the months ahead.
Our Position: Design · Manufacturing · Global Solutions
Lionet Game positions itself as one of China's leading carnival and midway game specialists, combining in-house design, factory-direct manufacturing and project support for customers worldwide. Our focus is on carnival and social competition games, which we develop as complete, themed solutions rather than isolated machines. As a member of IAAPA, we value the chance to engage directly with the international community that shapes the future of the attractions industry.
Looking Ahead
IAAPA Expo Europe 2026 confirmed that the appetite for social, group-based entertainment is real and growing. Lionet Game will continue to invest in competitive socialising concepts, refine its carnival and FEC solutions, and work closely with partners to turn show-floor conversations into successful venues. Thank you to everyone who visited us in London. We look forward to seeing you at the next IAAPA event.
Talk to the Lionet Game team about game selection, layouts and factory-direct pricing for your venue. Get in touch →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is competitive socialising?
Competitive socialising is a leisure trend in which guests play friendly, skill-based games together in groups. It combines competition, teamwork and social interaction, and is shaping the design of modern entertainment venues and family entertainment centres (FECs).
What did Lionet Game exhibit at IAAPA Expo Europe 2026?
Lionet Game exhibited its Social Competition Carnival series (Mega Hoops, Spin Pitch, Monster Strike and Barrel Toss), together with funfair and FEC carnival game solutions suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
Who are Lionet Game's competitive socialising games designed for?
They are designed for operators of family entertainment centres, trendy sports venues, leisure destinations, shopping centres and other entertainment spaces that want group-friendly, high-engagement attractions.
When and where was IAAPA Expo Europe 2026?
IAAPA Expo Europe 2026 took place from 21 to 25 September 2026 at ExCeL London, United Kingdom.
How can I get pricing or a layout plan?
Contact the Lionet Game team through our website to request factory-direct pricing, specifications and a custom layout for your project.
Lionet Game is a China-based specialist in carnival and social competition games, serving customers in more than 50 countries. With a production facility of more than 6,000 m², a showroom of more than 3,000 m², 300+ game titles and an in-house design team, Lionet Game provides design, manufacturing and global solutions for funfairs, family entertainment centres, trendy sports venues and social entertainment destinations. Lionet Game is a member of IAAPA.
About IAAPA Expo Europe
IAAPA Expo Europe is the annual European trade show of IAAPA, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, which represents the global attractions industry. The 2026 edition was held at ExCeL London from 21 to 25 September.
