Advanstar Communications 10-Q 2003 Q3 Quarterly report

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

Exhibit 32.1

Certification of Principal Executive Officer
Required by Rule 13a-14(b) or 15d-14(b)
of the Exchange Act

        In connection with the Quarterly Report of Advanstar Communications Inc. (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Robert L. Krakoff, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge,:

(1)

The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and



(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

By:
/s/  ROBERT L. KRAKOFF      Robert L. Krakoff
Chief Executive Officer

Date: November 14, 2003

QuickLinks

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Required by Rule 13a-14(b) or 15d-14(b) of the Exchange Act