Reports

How is the German trade fair industry holding its own in a changing world? The new AUMA annual publication "Trends 2025/2026" shows: Between digitalisation, sustainability and AI, personal interaction remains at the heart of the industry. Seven key developments provide insights into the future of trade fairs.

AUMA welcomes the decision of the Federal Foreign Office to abolish the remonstration procedure against visa rejections worldwide as of 1 July 2025 in order to reduce waiting times.

Germany is the leading trade fair venue in the world - also in terms of the high internationality of exhibitors and visitors: last year alone, 2.46 million people came from abroad to the 176 national and international trade fairs in Germany - which corresponds to a foreign share of 34 per cent

AUMA Chairman, Philip Harting, has been elected for a third term of three years. Charlotte Finger, who represents the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), was newly elected to the AUMA Board of Directors.

Despite series of strikes in the first quarter, the German trade fair industry grew significantly in 2024. AUMA reports growth in all key figures - a dynamic year for the industry.

German trade fair venues are planning extensive investments to modernise and further develop their infrastructures by 2029. The aim is to improve the service for exhibiting companies and visitors and to fulfil sustainability goals and high digital standards.

AUMA has now published a guideline for the standardised calculation of greenhouse gases when organising trade fairs. The aim is to ensure the reliability, comparability and transparency of emissions accounting at trade fairs in Germany.

Trade fair participation by companies from Germany remains stable - compared to the previous year, however, the ongoing mix of recession, inflation and political uncertainties is making the decision to participate in trade fairs increasingly dynamic.

The leaders of the global trade fair industry are currently meeting at the UFI Global Summit in Milan, Italy. An important date for Chris Skeith, OBE, who took up his new post as CEO of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry in January. In this interview, the new CEO explains what his first projects are and how Europe can learn from the new trade fair markets

This year, German trade fair organisers are planning 325 trade fairs in almost 40 countries, significantly more than in the previous two years. All dates can now be found in the AUMA trade fair database.