Munich Trade Fair – Becoming a Global Player with a Clear Concept

The Origins of the Exhibition Grounds

The relocation of the Munich trade fair to the decommissioned airport site was no foregone conclusion, but the result of careful planning. With the involvement of renowned partners such as the Danish architecture firms Bregenhoj & Partner and Bystrup as well as the engineering company Obermeyer Planen und Beraten, a pioneering project emerged whose new exhibition grounds offered numerous advantages to exhibitors and visitors alike.

The compactness of the exhibition grounds makes the exhibition a trade fair of short distances. The 18 light-flooded exhibition halls are arranged symmetrically and stand close together. Architectural highlights include the International Congress Center (ICC), the Conference Center (CCN) and the MOC event center. Also popular are the Riem Arcaden with over 140 shops and cafés on three floors, offering a shopping experience that covers every wish.

Getting There and Location

Messestadt Riem is a district in the east of the metropolis, belonging to the borough of Trudering-Riem. The exhibition grounds are closely connected to the city’s transport network. Starting from the main station, visitors reach the exhibition grounds in 20 minutes on the U2 line. Although Munich Airport (MUC) is around 40 km from the trade fair, it offers a shuttle service during events. Bus lines also serve the exhibition grounds, and arriving by taxi is possible as well. Drivers reach the trade fair via the A94 motorway, which runs close to the exhibition grounds.

What Makes Messe München Special

The Munich trade fair offers a multifaceted experience with diverse encounters on spacious exhibition grounds, while shopping and recreation options are located in the immediate vicinity of the exhibition halls. The range of exhibitions is legendary, and of the roughly 50,000 exhibitors each year, 60 to 70 percent come from abroad. The organizer, Messe München GmbH, maintains a far-reaching network of cooperations around the world and hosts trade fairs on all five continents.

While the present-day importance of the Frankfurt trade fair can be traced back in a clear line of tradition to the Middle Ages, the Munich trade fair is more modern and consistently oriented toward the future. The 2024 edition of the Munich exhibition was held under the guiding theme of “Perspectives that inspire”. The focus is on questions of the future, and among the roughly 90 trade fairs each year, twelve events on the grounds are world-leading trade fairs, regarded globally as the most important events in their respective industries.

The Twelve World-Leading Trade Fairs at the Munich Trade Fair

These are Munich’s twelve world-leading trade fairs, which set the pace in their respective industries.

analytica – Trade Fair for Laboratory Technology

Numerous important inventions are devised in the laboratory. In addition, laboratory technology and biotechnology are becoming increasingly important in Industry 4.0. The analytica offers scientists a forum for exchange and for presenting their most pioneering concepts.

• The next analytica takes place from April 25 to 28, 2028.

automatica – Trade Fair for Robotics

The automatica is the leading trade fair for robotics. Robots have long been controlling one another and, with the help of AI and machine learning, are increasingly operating independently of human control. It is a place of wonder that shows what is possible in the field of robotics.

• The next automatica takes place from June 22 to 25, 2027

BAU – Trade Fair for Construction Technology

The BAU puts master builders in the spotlight. It reveals the secrets of architects, presents the most sought-after building materials and demonstrates the ideas with which sustainable building can be realized in the age of global warming. Planning, building and design – the BAU offers an inspiring insight into the magical world of the art of building.

• The next BAU takes place from January 11 to 15, 2027

bauma – Trade Fair for Construction Machinery

The bauma is all about construction machinery of every kind. Over 2,000 exhibitors present the most innovative construction machines for industrial, residential and commercial construction on the expansive exhibition grounds.

• The next bauma takes place from April 3 to 9, 2028.

ceramitec – Trade Fair for Ceramics

Ceramics is one of the oldest cultural techniques. It is ceramic artifacts that give visitors access to ancient civilizations. The ceramitec presents the latest trends and innovations in the ceramics industry and powder metallurgy. It is about key technologies of the future such as additive manufacturing, 3D printing processes and sustainability.

• The next ceramitec takes place from April 25 to 27, 2028.

electronica – Trade Fair for Electronics

Industry 3.0 began with computers, and Industry 4.0 with their networking, the internet. Communication in the information age runs via high-performance computers. In no other industry is change as fast-paced as here. At the electronica, visitors get to know the world of electronics and its latest achievements. Here, exhibitors introduce guests to innovations in the fields of AI, machine learning, quantum computing, autonomous driving, blockchains, VR, AR and the Internet of Things (IoT).

• The next electronica takes place from November 10 to 13, 2026.

IFAT – Trade Fair for Environmental Technologies

In the Anthropocene, environmental technologies are essential to conserve our resources and halt the greenhouse effect. At the IFAT, exhibitors are given a stage to present their most significant innovations. The IFAT is broadly positioned, covering topics such as water supply and wastewater management, waste and raw materials management, recycling, and sustainability in road construction.

• The next IFAT takes place from May 29 to June 1, 2028

LASER World of PHOTONICS – Trade Fair for Photonics

This world-leading trade fair is dedicated to components, systems and applications of photonics. Photonics focuses on information processing based on the interactions of light signals, which play an important role in medicine, lighting, data, printing and information technology, sensor technology, and testing and measurement technology. Visitors get to know the world of lasers and learn why the future of quantum technology – the theory of relativity of the 21st century – is being decided here.

• The next LASER World of PHOTONICS takes place from June 22 to 25, 2027.

LOPEC – Trade Fair for Printed Electronics

The acronym LOPEC stands for Large-Area, Organic & Printed Electronics Convention. It is the world’s leading trade fair for printed, flexible and organic electronics. The exhibition offers visitors insights into the magical world of disciplines such as lighting technology, microsystems technology, sensor technology, nanotechnology and much more.

• The next LOPEC takes place from March 3 to 4, 2027.

productronica – Trade Fair for Electronics Manufacturing

Having emerged from the electronica, the productronica is the exhibition for electronics manufacturing. The trade fair showcases the complete value chain of electronics manufacturing and presents the wide range of innovations in electronics production with the help of interactive elements for practice-oriented demonstration.

• The next productronica takes place from November 16 to 19, 2027.

transport logistic – Trade Fair for Logistics

In today’s globalized economy, smoothly functioning supply chains are the result of advanced logistics solutions. At the transport logistic, visitors experience what has been happening in the field of logistics and why the increasingly digital processes along the supply chain are the heart of globalization.

• The next transport logistic takes place from April 26 to 29, 2027.

drinktec – Trade Fair for Beverages

Drinking is life-giving, and drinking is a pleasure. The variety of wonderful beverages such as cola, lemonade, black tea, green tea, medicinal tea, iced tea, smoothies, cocoa, coffee, juice, nectar, isotonic drinks, coconut water and, not to forget, alcoholic beverages of every kind. drinktec is the result of human creativity. Perhaps our beverage industry already has the next taste experience up its sleeve. Find out!

• The next drinktec takes place from September 11 to 15, 2028.