Press Release
A Strong Event Year with History: Messe Berlin Kicks Off 2026 with Highlights and Major Anniversaries
With international flagship trade fairs, new formats, and several major anniversaries, Messe Berlin is setting special highlights at the Berlin exhibition grounds in the first half of 2026.
Messe Berlin is launching the 2026 event year with a dense and high-caliber program. As early as the first half of the year, the Berlin exhibition grounds will become a central platform for global industries, political debate, and forward-looking innovations. International flagship trade fairs, new congress formats, and several significant anniversaries will shape the year—kicking off with a major highlight: from January 16 to 25, Messe Berlin will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Green Week.
“2026 is a special year for Messe Berlin and for the location as a whole. Together with our partners, exhibitors, and guests, we are celebrating major anniversaries—while at the same time demonstrating how relevant our flagship trade fairs and congresses are to the world’s future topics,” says Mario Tobias, CEO of Messe Berlin. “The start of 2026 exemplifies what Messe Berlin stands for: internationality, topical relevance, and strong, high-impact formats.”
2026: An Anniversary Year for the Berlin Exhibition Location
For Messe Berlin, 2026 is marked by several milestone anniversaries. The year opens with the 100th anniversary of the Green Week, celebrated from January 16 to 25, 2026, at the exhibition grounds beneath the Radio Tower. Planned activities include special anniversary products and campaigns, as well as prominent guests from politics and society.
In addition, Berlin’s Radio Tower will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026. From March onward, Messe Berlin will mark the occasion with numerous activities, events, and public guided tours of the tower.
Further anniversaries mark milestones of successful trade fair formats: ITB Berlin will look back on 60 years in March as the world’s leading travel trade show, while the international flagship trade fair for transport technology, InnoTrans, will celebrate its 30th anniversary in September.
Flagship Trade Fairs and Major Events in the First Half of the Year
The event year begins in January with traditional and politically relevant formats: at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (January 14–17), international decision-makers will discuss future issues in global agricultural and food policy. At the same time, the Grüne Woche (January 16–25) will open its doors to trade visitors and the general public from around the world.
In February, the international fresh produce sector will once again gather in Berlin at FRUIT LOGISTICA (February 4–6). With most recently 91,000 trade visitors, it is one of the most important global trading platforms across the entire value chain. Also in February, the E-COMMERCE Berlin Expo (February 17–18) will take place at the exhibition grounds for the first time, bringing together experts, companies, and start-ups from the digital commerce sector.
March is dedicated entirely to tourism: ITB Berlin (March 3–5), the world’s largest travel trade show, brings together destinations, tour operators, mobility providers, and technology companies. In the anniversary year, Angola will serve as the official host country.
Future Topics, Congresses, and New Formats
In spring, key future topics come into focus: with BUS2BUS (April 15–16), Messe Berlin addresses the transformation of the bus industry. At the same time, FIBE 2026 (April 15–16), Messe Berlin’s fintech and finance festival, will take place. Just a few days later, DMEA (April 21–23) will bring digital health experts to Berlin.
In May, numerous international congresses will follow, including the ESMO Breast Cancer Congress (May 6–8), the Europäischer Polizeikongress (May 6–7), and CWIEME Berlin (May 19–21) as a central platform for the international electrical and coil winding industry.
In June, a new specialist congress and festival format will premiere with bio:cap (June 9–11). This international platform at the intersection of life sciences, artificial intelligence, and venture capital brings together stakeholders from research, industry, start-ups, and investment—strengthening Berlin as a hub for innovation and investment.
ILA and Mary Jane as Strong Trade Fair Highlights in June
Another highlight of the first half of the year is ILA Berlin (June 10–14), one of the world’s most important aerospace trade shows. At the same time, Mary Jane Berlin (June 11–14), Europe’s largest cannabis trade fair, will take place, celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2026. The first half of the year concludes with the Hauptstadtkongress (June 23–25), one of the most important congresses for Germany’s healthcare sector.
The event year will continue in the fall with further international flagship trade fairs—including global highlights such as IFA and InnoTrans—at the Berlin exhibition location.
About Messe Berlin
Berlin has been a trade fair venue for over 200 years, and for many decades one of the most important worldwide. As the trade fair company owned by the capital, every year Messe Berlin conceives, markets and organises hundreds of live events. It aims to be an outstanding host for visitors to every event, to give individuals an optimum boost for their business and ensure fair conditions for everyone. This approach is reflected in the company’s slogan ‘Messe Berlin – Hosting the World’.