The History of NürnbergMesse – How It All Began
The history of NürnbergMesse goes back a long way and underlines the city’s historical importance as a trading hub. The course for today’s success was set as early as the beginning of the 1970s. On 10 January 1973, the exhibition centre in the Langwasser district was first opened to meet the growing space requirements of the Internationale Spielwarenmesse. The following year saw the founding of the trade fair company and its complete repositioning as an event-driven trade fair venue. NürnbergMesse therefore celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024.
NürnbergMesse Today
Over the past decades, NürnbergMesse has continuously evolved and modernised. Today, the Nuremberg exhibition centre comprises a portfolio of 16 halls with a total of around 180,000 square metres of exhibition space, plus an additional 50,000 square metres of outdoor space. For more than half a century now, it has hosted trade fairs, congresses and corporate events of all kinds. Today, the trade fair company NürnbergMesse GmbH ranks among the largest and most modern exhibition centres in Europe and organises numerous leading international trade fairs. The official key figures for 2023 underline this development:
- Around 1.3 million visitors
- 904,466 m2 of net exhibition space
- 28,135 exhibitors
- 265.1 million euros in revenue
The Biggest Trade Fairs in Nuremberg
NürnbergMesse hosts numerous major trade fairs that are regarded as leading events and international flagship fairs in a wide range of industries. Thanks to its excellent infrastructure and central location in Europe, the Nuremberg exhibition centre attracts millions of visitors and exhibitors from all over the world every year. Here are some of the best-known and largest trade fairs you should not miss:
Spielwarenmesse
The histories of the Spielwarenmesse and NürnbergMesse are closely intertwined. In fact, the Internationale Spielwarenmesse was the main reason for building a new exhibition venue at the end of the 1960s. The focus here was above all on the expansion potential of the exhibition grounds in Langwasser.
The Spielwarenmesse, held annually at the beginning of the year, is the world’s largest trade fair for toys and leisure products. More than 2,800 exhibitors from around 70 countries present their latest products and trends here. The fair attracts over 70,000 trade visitors every year and is considered the most important industry gathering for toy manufacturers and retailers.
Next Spielwarenmesse: 2 to 6 February 2027
BIOFACH
The BIOFACH trade fair is the world’s No. 1 leading trade fair for organic food and takes place over four days every February. More than 3,000 exhibitors from over 130 countries present their organically produced foods and sustainable products here. For more than 20 years, BIOFACH has been the central meeting point for pioneers and newcomers who share a passion for organic food and the organic market. The fair offers a unique platform for the exchange of knowledge and innovations in the field of organic farming and nutrition.
- Next BIOFACH trade fair: 16 to 19 February 2027
FachPack
FachPack is one of the most important trade fairs for packaging, technology and processes in Europe. The fair brings together more than 1,500 exhibitors and 40,000 trade visitors. FachPack offers a comprehensive presentation platform for innovations and solutions in the packaging industry and promotes the exchange of contacts and relevant industry expertise.
- Next FachPack trade fair: 21 to 23 September 2027
GaLaBau
The GaLaBau trade fair is Europe’s leading trade fair for gardening and landscaping. It takes place every two years in September and attracts more than 1,250 exhibitors and around 70,000 trade visitors. The fair showcases the latest trends and technologies in green construction and offers an extensive supporting programme with expert talks and live demonstrations. In addition, the gardening trade fair is complemented by a wide range of products and services aimed at operators of leisure parks, campsites and kindergartens as well as those responsible for the construction, maintenance and management of golf courses.
- Next GaLaBau trade fair: 15 to 18 September 2026
Consumenta
The Consumenta in Nuremberg takes place every year and, as one of the largest consumer fairs in Germany, is a true flagship event for NürnbergMesse. It offers a broad spectrum of themed worlds covering living, building, leisure and culinary enjoyment. Visitors can discover the latest trends, take part in workshops and sample culinary specialities. The fair is a popular meeting point for families and also offers special themed worlds and activity areas that ensure a varied experience.
Next Consumenta trade fair: 31 October to 8 November 2026
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Location and Accessibility
The NürnbergMesse exhibition grounds are conveniently located in the south of the city and are excellently connected to the public transport network. By car, you can easily reach the grounds via the A3, A6 and A9 motorways. Nuremberg Airport is only around 15 minutes away and offers connections to numerous international destinations.
Modern Exhibition Halls
NürnbergMesse has 16 modern, multifunctional exhibition halls with a net exhibition space of over 180,000 square metres. The halls can be configured flexibly and feature state-of-the-art technical equipment to meet the varying requirements of exhibitors. In addition, numerous conference rooms and event areas are available.
A special highlight: Hall 3A is one of the best-known halls of the exhibition centre. It was opened in 2014 and designed by the London office of the internationally renowned architect Zaha Hadid. Its distinctive architecture and modern design make Hall 3A a true highlight and a central venue for numerous trade fairs and events in Nuremberg.
A Focus on Sustainability
NürnbergMesse relies on resource-conserving measures to minimise its ecological footprint. These include energy-efficient buildings, the use of renewable energies and comprehensive waste management.
A Wide Range of Services
NürnbergMesse offers a wide variety of services to make the stay as pleasant as possible for exhibitors and visitors. These include an extensive catering offering, a business centre, free Wi-Fi across the entire exhibition grounds and numerous parking facilities. Multilingual information and advisory services are also available for international guests.
Our Conclusion: A Place of Innovation and Encounter
We are certain: NürnbergMesse is far more than just an event venue – it is a place of innovation, knowledge exchange and encounter! Every year, it attracts millions of visitors and exhibitors from all over the world who come here to discover the latest trends and technologies, make contacts and build business relationships.
The unique combination of history, modernity and sustainability makes this iconic trade fair venue an outstanding example of successful planning concepts. It comes highly recommended by us!
