Messe Hannover – An Exhibition of Superlatives

Furthermore, Messe Hannover boasts the greatest thematic diversity in the world when it comes to industry, while also being the world’s largest capital goods trade fair. It brings together the most successful players from the electrical and digital industries, the energy sector, and mechanical engineering. When the world-famous Hannover Messe convenes in spring, it is a time-honored tradition that a selected partner country takes center stage and presents itself and its industrial products.

Risen from the Ruins

Messe Hannover was founded in 1947 on the initiative of the British military government. After the inferno of the Second World War, England was also suffering great hardship, so stimulating the German economy was important to the British occupying forces so that the country could once again provide for itself. Thus, Brian Robertson, the British military governor of the British occupation zone in Germany, decreed: “An export fair is to take place from August 18 to September 7. It will be opened on August 18 at 11 a.m. The Germans are responsible for ensuring that the export fair is a success”.

The fact that the British chose Hanover as the new location for the trade fair proved to be a stroke of historical luck for the exhausted city, 48 percent of which had been destroyed in the war. The “fish sandwich fair”, as the first industrial fair in Hanover was popularly known because of the fish sandwiches handed out with the admission tickets, was a resounding success with 736,000 visitors from 53 countries. This was something to build on, and the Hanover trade fair became a symbol of the German economic miracle, giving a powerful boost to trade and industry in the country.

Just how closely Messe Hannover is interwoven with topics of the future is evident in the fact that the founding conference of the European Monetary Union, which gave the EC a free trade area, took place on the exhibition grounds in 1988. In 2013, the megatrend of Industry 4.0 was spelled out for the first time, a theme that other exhibitions have felt committed to ever since. The organizer, Deutsche Messe AG (DMAG), runs numerous trade fairs abroad and maintains a dense network of trade relations, for example with the exhibition center in Shanghai.

What Sets Messe Hannover Apart

In 1947, people were reluctant to look back. They looked ahead in order to build a better future, one free from the suffering of the past. Messe Hannover has remained true to this spirit from the era of reconstruction and the economic miracle to this day. It is consistently geared toward the future and discusses important topics in order to shape the digital transformation.

Topics relating to research and development are always in focus at a Hanover trade fair. Examples include robotics and logistics automation, hydrogen & fuel cells, and quantum technologies, which played a role at the Hannover Messe 2025. In fact, numerous technological innovations that make our lives easier were born at an exhibition in Hanover. 50 percent of all exhibitors come from abroad; this is where the global players gather. This makes Messe Hannover the ideal place to make contacts, conclude trade agreements, and exchange ideas with one another.

Another unique feature of Messe Hannover is the skillful combination of trade fairs on the one hand and congresses and academic lectures for discussing complex questions of the future on the other. Every year, the exhibition grounds host events such as the world’s largest industrial show, the WUHAN Motor Show, and the German Classics equestrian tournament, which thrill the crowds and ensure that the trade fairs become unforgettable experiences. In many cases, the action takes place at the Hybrid Event Hoop (H’Up) – Hanover’s first multifunctional event location with its own streaming studio.

The Exhibition Grounds

27 halls, numerous pavilions, and other event spaces form the framework of the trade fair. The futuristic-looking Convention Center was created for congresses and major events in the late 1980s. The building, perched high in the air on columns, reminds many visitors of a gigantic flying saucer. Inside the “spaceship”, elegant cascading staircases and an artfully marbled floor delight visitors. Throughout the entire exhibition grounds, numerous glass facades create an impressive atmosphere. As they stroll around, visitors repeatedly pass landscaped quiet zones where they can recharge for further excursions.

Another eye-catcher is the wooden EXPO Roof, which was installed above the world exposition on the occasion of EXPO 2000 and is composed of ten artfully decorated, interlocking umbrellas. The conical artistic roof is particularly impressive when it is illuminated in the evening. Furthermore, Hall 13, at the time the largest self-supporting hall in the world, was built during EXPO 2000. Magnificent ballrooms can be found all over the exhibition grounds, offering a festive way to round off an exciting day at the fair.

Another landmark of Messe Hannover is the 88.8-meter-high Hermesturm, which also serves as a point of orientation for guests. The striking double-tube structure made of reinforced concrete is an observation and transmission tower, taking visitors up via express elevator to a café where they can stop for a break while enjoying a magnificent view of the colorful hustle and bustle on the exhibition grounds. Food and drink are also very well taken care of on the exhibition grounds, with 40 restaurants offering guests tasty catering. Among them, Saal 1 is the largest trade fair restaurant in the world.

Getting to the Trade Fair

The extensive Hanover exhibition grounds are located at Hermesplatz in the southeast of the capital of Lower Saxony. They are closely integrated into the city’s transport network, and numerous public transport services connect the exhibition grounds with the city center. A dedicated trade fair railway station ensures a smooth connection to rail services. Numerous special trains run on major event days.

The crowning touch is a dedicated helicopter landing pad. Trade fair visitors can also reach the fair via the airport, while drivers can get there via the A2 or A7 highways and head for one of the 39,000 on-site parking spaces. There are plenty of hotels in every price category in the vicinity of the trade fair.

The Most Important Trade Fairs in Hanover

The Hannover Messe, which takes place every spring as the world’s largest industrial trade fair and will open its doors to visitors between April 5 and 8, 2027, is the best-known of the Hanover trade fairs. Its appeal is so immense that it offered a new home to many exhibitors from the equally world-famous Cebit exhibition (Centrum der Büro- und Informationstechnik), which was held on the Hanover exhibition grounds from 1986 to 2018. In 2025, the Hannover Messe featured the following focus areas:

• Smart Manufacturing
• Digital Ecosystems
• Energy for Industry
• Compressed Air & Vacuums
• Engineered Parts & Solutions
• International Trade & Investments
• Future Hub

Beyond the Hannover Messe, the expansive exhibition grounds host numerous other important exhibitions, such as the following:

Agritechnica

Agritechnica is the world’s leading trade fair for agriculture. Agricultural businesses present their most advanced machinery here and show us how Farming 4.0 works.

• The next Agritechnica takes place from November 14 to 20, 2027

Transportation

Transportation is all about mobility, transport, and logistics. These are the arteries of commerce. What new vehicles are there, how can success be achieved more efficiently, and is emission-neutral transport even possible? There are many questions, and the trade fair delivers answers.

• Transportation takes place from September 15 to 20, 2026.

LIGNA

Wood and forestry are the themes of LIGNA, a tradition-steeped industry that has been making the treasures of the forest usable for civilization since time immemorial.

• The next LIGNA takes place from May 10 to 14, 2027

DOMOTEX

The range of floor coverings is inexhaustible. Every floor covering offers different properties and conveys different moods. Whether rustic, luxurious, or practical, there is a suitable floor covering for every need. At DOMOTEX, visitors get to know the most stunning carpets.

• The next DOMOTEX takes place from January 17 to 20, 2028.

EMO

EMO is another exhibition that can call itself a world-leading trade fair. When it comes to production technology, it is regarded as the gold standard. EMO focuses on tool manufacturing and metalworking.

• You can find the current dates on the organizer’s website.

Didacta

Industry 4.0 has further increased the value of education and lifelong learning. Those who do not continuously pursue further training lose touch with the economy and fall behind. Didacta is all about innovative learning concepts. 700 exhibitors from 30 countries show us the most didactically valuable innovations in the art of imparting knowledge.

• The next Didacta takes place from February 23 to 27, 2027.