The international garden lifestyle and BBQ trade fair spoga+gafa will move from its traditional June schedule to September starting in 2027, organisers Koelnmesse have announced. The change follows extensive consultation with exhibitors, associations and market partners and aims to better align the event with the industry's seasonal and commercial cycles.
© spoga+gafa
Until then, the fair will continue under its current schedule, with spoga+gafa 2026 taking place in Cologne from 22–24 June 2026 as planned.
According to Koelnmesse, the shift to September responds directly to industry feedback and is intended to strengthen the fair's role as a global platform for garden lifestyle and BBQ sectors. Sebastian Rosito, Vice President Trade Fair Management at Koelnmesse GmbH, explained: "The move to September from 2027 onwards is a response to key feedback from the industry and supports a more reliable scheduling and product range planning. The new date also creates better conditions for effectively presenting innovations and new products."
From 2027 onwards, the trade fair will take place during the first two weeks of September, offering exhibitors and buyers greater planning certainty.
© spoga+gafa
The confirmed dates are:
- 07–09 September 2027
- 05–07 September 2028
- 04–06 September 2029
The new schedule aligns the event more closely with the actual business cycle of the garden and outdoor living sector. By early autumn, the gardening and barbecue season has largely concluded, meaning companies have clearer sales data and market insights to guide product development, purchasing decisions and range planning for the following year.
This timing is also expected to create improved conditions for retailers and manufacturers to attend the fair, as it falls outside the peak operational season for many businesses.
The decision was broadly welcomed by industry organisations. Christoph Büscher, Chairman of the Industry Garden Association (IVG), said: "spoga+gafa is and remains to be a significant leading trade fair for the garden industry and is very important to us. The move to September is a good compromise and an opportunity to further develop the trade fair and keep it fit for the future."
© spoga+gafa
The booth of SUNS.
The new timing is expected to benefit the fair's different segments. The BBQ industry will be able to evaluate the season's performance before planning new product lines, while the Living segment, including outdoor furniture and decoration, can better align launches with retailers' ordering cycles. The Creation & Care section will also gain opportunities for growth in plant-related product ranges.
As an additional gesture towards the sector, exhibition space prices for the 2027 edition will remain at the same level as in 2026.
Organisers emphasise that preparations are currently focused on spoga+gafa 2026, which will once again bring together international manufacturers, retailers and industry experts in Cologne under the fair's strategic theme "growing forward."
More information:
spoga+gafa
www.spogagafa.com
