The final results for trade fairs in 2025 from the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA) remain consistently positive: Across the 304 trade fairs that took place last year, around 192,000 exhibiting companies took part, representing a slight increase of 0.7% compared with the previous editions. More than 6.9 million square metres of exhibition space were rented, marking a slight increase of 0.4%. More than 12.7 million visitors were recorded, representing an increase of 1.9%.
This growth is particularly pronounced at trade fairs with strong international participation in the trade visitor segment (B2B). More than 99,000 international exhibitors showcased their products and services at trade fairs in Germany (+1.5%), while almost 2.8 million international visitors were recorded as attending (+2.9%). This once again underlines Germany’s position as the world’s leading trade fair destination: In 2025, 66% of all exhibitors and over 33% of all visitors came from abroad.
Philip Harting, Chair of the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry, AUMA: “This is remarkable resilience in turbulent times: Germany continues to rank among the world’s leading trade fair destinations in terms of international audiences. However, the economic slowdown in Germany is resulting in increasing caution and restraint. Effective economic policy must deliver tangible results by the end of the year. The gradual reduction in foreign trade promotion, high venue costs and excessive reporting requirements are avoidable, self-inflicted problems. Amid the escalation of crises and conflicts worldwide, these are also having a negative impact on forward-looking investments such as participation in trade fairs. However, continuously rising visitor numbers show that trade fairs, as meeting and networking hubs, are essential for maintaining connection and dialogue.”
The country with the largest number of exhibitors in 2025 is China, with a share of more than 18%, followed by Italy (around 11%) and the Netherlands (5%), Spain (4.5%), and the USA and Türkiye (both 4.4%). China also ranks among the top five foreign visitor nations, accounting for 4.5%, albeit behind the Netherlands (7.3%), Austria (7.1%), Italy (6.8%) and Switzerland (6.4%).
Despite ongoing uncertainties, Germany’s trade fair venues are investing around €1 billion in modernising infrastructure by 2030, with new construction projects also planned. This is according to a recent survey by AUMA. There were also 12 new trade fairs launched in 2025, mainly in the capital goods sector. A further eleven new trade fairs are scheduled to launch this year.
The economic slowdown in Germany is now also impacting the German trade fair industry: After years of bucking the negative economic trend affecting many sectors in Germany, growth in initial key indicators of the trade fair industry is now also slowing. A first-quarter 2026 forecast shows declines in both the number of exhibitors (-2.3%) and rented exhibition space (-4.6%) compared with previous editions. At the same time, visitor numbers continue to grow (+0.9%). Just over 200 of a total of 319 trade fairs this year have taken place by the end of the month, with roughly 120 to come in the second half of the year in Germany’s trade fair calendar.
AUMA is the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (Ausstellungs- und Messe-Ausschuss der Deutschen Wirtschaft e.V.), the umbrella organisation of the German trade fair industry. Representing the interests of large and medium-sized exhibition companies, international organisers, and the associations representing exhibitors, service companies, small trade fair organisers, and visitors, AUMA acts both internationally and nationally.
With 70 exhibition venues stretching from the North Sea to Lake Constance, Germany is unique in its ability to host trade fairs. With 3.25 million square metres of indoor exhibition space, Germany alone accounts for one fifth of Europe’s and more than seven percent of global exhibition space. Two thirds of all leading trade fairs in the global economy take place here.
