The significance of the exhibition industry in Germany

New Study Highlights the Importance of Germany's Exhibition Industry

320 exhibitions planned for 2026; growth across all key indicators in 2025

Berlin, January 6, 2026 | Germany's exhibition industry contributes approximately 30 billion euros annually to the country's prosperity. This data comes from the German Institute for Economic Research Prognos, which assessed the economic impact of the sector on behalf of the Association of the German Exhibition Industry AUMA. The full study, to be published in the coming weeks, also shows that the exhibition industry provides at least 280,000 jobs in Germany and generates approximately 5.4 billion euros in tax revenues for federal, state, and local governments.

The study is based on surveys of over 33,700 visitors and 17,700 exhibiting companies. These were conducted from September 2024 to October 2025 at 30 exhibitions in ten different German exhibition centers. Messe Frankfurt was the first to publish its figures, which are part of the overall survey. According to this data, it provides over 30,000 jobs just in Germany and generates 667 million euros in tax revenues.

Statement from Philipp Harting

Philipp Harting, Chairman of the Association of the German Exhibition Industry AUMA, stated: "The German exhibition industry is a key sector for international networking and promoting top-level exports. Two-thirds of all leading exhibitions in the global economy take place here. Their significance for German small and medium-sized enterprises cannot be overstated, as exhibitions provide the ideal platform for building international business. Exhibitions give invaluable economic momentum to entire regions, particularly in the hospitality, retail, and skilled trades sectors. Federal and state economic ministers must work to strengthen Germany's position as the number one exhibition location in the world. This includes implementing a modern and digital visa issuance process for our foreign exhibition guests, improving transportation infrastructure, and reducing reporting obligations so we can fully focus on our core business, as well as introducing exhibition funding programs worthy of a leading export nation. These measures are necessary to maintain our leading position in the world."

The 2026 exhibition season kicks off with PSI, the leading European exhibition for the promotional products industry, in Düsseldorf.

A total of 320 exhibitions are planned in approximately 70 exhibition centers across Germany this year. Stuttgart will be particularly busy in 2026, hosting 25 exhibitions, followed by Cologne and Nuremberg with 24 each.

AUMA's research shows positive signs for 2025 across all major industry indicators: At 304 exhibitions held in the previous year, 190,490 exhibitors were registered (an increase of 0.7 percent compared to their previous events). The exhibition space also slightly increased by 0.7 percent to over 6.9 million square meters. The number of visitors grew significantly by three percent to over 12.8 million.

About AUMA

AUMA is the Association of the German Exhibition Industry (Ausstellungs- und Messe-Ausschuss der Deutschen Wirtschaft e.V.), an umbrella organization for the German exhibition industry. Representing the interests of large and medium-sized exhibition companies, international organizers, as well as associations representing exhibitors, service companies, small exhibition organizers, and visitors, AUMA operates at both international and national levels.

With 70 exhibition centers stretching from the North Sea to Lake Constance, Germany is unique in its ability to host exhibitions. Two-thirds of all leading exhibitions in the global economy take place here. On average, 65 percent of exhibitors and 35 percent of professional visitors at all major exhibitions come from abroad. During peak periods, international, national, and regional exhibitions in Germany attract over 235,000 exhibiting companies and 16 million visitors.

Exhibitions in Germany provide over 280,000 jobs. Year after year, Germany's exhibition industry contributes approximately 30 billion euros to the country's prosperity in terms of economic impact. Only the federal government, states, and local authorities collect 5.4 billion euros in taxes from exhibitions in Germany.