Germany's trade fair sector contributes over €30 billion annually to the national economy and secures at least 280,000 jobs, according to a study by Prognos commissioned by the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA). The industry also generates more than €5.4 billion in tax revenue for federal, state, and local governments.
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The study surveyed over 33,700 visitors and 17,700 exhibiting companies across 30 trade fairs at 10 exhibition centres between September 2024 and October 2025. Messe Frankfurt alone supports over 30,000 jobs and produces €667 million in tax revenue.
Philip Harting, AUMA Chairman, emphasised the strategic importance of trade fairs for international networking, SME growth, and regional economic development. He called for improved visa processing, transport infrastructure, and streamlined reporting maintaining Germany's position as a global leader in trade fairs.
In 2026, Germany plans 320 trade fairs across 70+ exhibition centres, with Stuttgart hosting 25, and Cologne and Nuremberg 24 each.
Source: www.moebelfertigung.com
