IMEX Frankfurt 2027 – Germany

What to expect

IMEX Frankfurt is the global business event for the meetings, events and incentive travel industry, widely regarded as the largest and most influential MICE trade show in Europe. Organized by IMEX Group and hosted annually at Messe Frankfurt since 2003, the show has secured its future in Frankfurt through 2030 under a multi-year agreement, confirming the city as the home of IMEX. The event brings together the entire global meetings ecosystem in one place, from national and regional convention bureaus, tourist offices and destination management companies to hotel groups, convention centers, cruise lines, airlines, spa resorts, technology providers and event management specialists.

For 2027, IMEX Frankfurt returns with thousands of pre-qualified buyers and exhibiting companies from around the world. The 2025 edition attracted over 13,000 international visitors including over 4,000 buyers and 2,900 exhibiting companies, while earlier editions have featured more than 3,400 exhibitors from 170 countries and 3,500 exhibitors including 42 new stands with 180 education sessions. The 2027 show promises the same scale with enhanced business opportunities, immersive activations, and a comprehensive education programme designed to inspire, educate and connect. The central talking point for 2026 was Design Matters in keeping with Frankfurt RheinMain region being named World Design Capital 2026, and the talking point concept continues to shape activations, booth activities and learning programmes. Visitors can expect a highly efficient appointment system with pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings between exhibitors and buyers, extensive networking events, and a free day of specialist education that allows deep dives before the main trade show opens.

The show is built on the principle of putting buyers face-to-face with the right suppliers through personalized support, ensuring strong ROI for exhibitors and productive sourcing for buyers. Messe Frankfurt itself plays a prominent dual role as host location and exhibitor, showcasing its own venues including Festhalle, Forum, Hall 5 and iconic Hall 3.

Event dates

Event Dates: May 11–13, 2027

Trade show: Tuesday May 11, Wednesday May 12, Thursday May 13

Specialist education: Free day of specialist education Monday May 10, 2027, including Association Focus, Exclusively Corporate, and specialist programmes for association professionals at Kap Europa the day before the main show.

Opening hours: Trade show typically 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with extended networking events in evening. Hosted buyer programme includes arrivals and welcome events on Monday.

Frequency: Annual, normally in May, with 2026 edition May 19–21, 2027 edition confirmed May 11–13.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venue & exhibition site

Venue: Messe Frankfurt, Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1, 60327 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. One of the world’s largest and most modern and connected venues in the heart of Europe, with direct motorway, rail and air connections and excellent infrastructure for global gatherings. Messe Frankfurt offers versatile event spaces including Festhalle, Forum, Hall 5, Halls 8 and 9, and Congress Center Messe Frankfurt with Room Fantasie.

Hall allocation: IMEX Frankfurt takes place in Halls 8 and 9 of Messe Frankfurt. Hall 8 houses main exhibition with thousands of stands from destinations, hotels and technology providers. Hall 9 houses IMEX Hosted Buyer Lounge, German-language education from respected MICE Impact Academy and wide range of activations. The layout reflects IMEX team’s own design thinking in practice, with dedicated zones for education, networking and meetings. Messe Frankfurt also offers guided tours of event spaces including Festhalle, Forum, Hall 5 and iconic Hall 3 which is original home of IMEX.

Site facilities: Business facilities, press center, networking lounges, catering, cloakrooms, digital information points and IMEX app for navigation and appointment management.

Full event programme

The full event programme is structured around business, education and networking, with over 200 sessions across multiple tracks.

Business programme: Pre-scheduled one-to-one appointments between exhibitors and buyers via online appointment system. Exhibitors showcase services across consumer goods, hotels, airlines, travel, tour operators, tourism organisms, event organization, incentive events, equipment and technologies, leisure and MICE. Over 12 percent growth in event technology section in recent editions reflects strong tech focus.

Education programme: More than 200 sessions without FOMO, curated by Head of Programme. Programme built around annual Talking Point that unifies activations and learning. For 2026 Talking Point Design Matters celebrated design as ultimate differentiator, showing how design unlocks human potential. Education tracks include Designing for Human Needs looking at inclusive design and neurodivergent audiences, Design Matters rooted in Talking Point, and tracks on sustainability, technology and future trends. TED-style talks at Inspiration Hub focus on Trends and Future-Think brought by Swedish Network of Convention Bureaus.

Specialist education day: Free day on Monday before trade show includes Association Focus one-day learning event for association professionals at Kap Europa, Exclusively Corporate event for corporate meeting planners with keynote sharing business experience and strategic use of events, and programmes for agency planners, association executives and young professionals.

Networking and social: Morning runs, guided tours of Messe Frankfurt, evening receptions, hosted buyer dinners in downtown Frankfurt locations such as VaiVai, and destination showcases.

Key speakers & keynote speakers

IMEX Frankfurt attracts renowned speakers from business, design, sustainability and events industry.

Talking Point keynotes: For Design Matters edition, speakers explore how revisiting design challenges membership retention and engagement, AI and future of work, and how design can drive both engagement and bottom-line results. Record-breaking disabled adventurers, renowned sustainability professionals and US event planners supporting mission-forward organizations have featured.

Association Focus keynotes: Opening keynote exploring membership retention and engagement challenges for associations, second keynote on AI and future of work.

Exclusively Corporate keynotes: UK entrepreneur and Co-owner of Ultimo Brands International Michelle Mone OBE has delivered keynote sponsored by London & Partners, sharing business experience and recounting how strategic use of events helped build brand.

Future-thinking speakers: Alexis Barnekow and Anders Persson introducing methodology to increase engagement and make communication fun and easy through quirkshops.

Education leaders: Tahira Endean, Head of Programme at IMEX, walks through programme planning, plus experts from MICE Impact Academy for German-language education.

Conference sessions & tracks

Eleven education tracks including four new offerings in recent edition:

Designing for Human Needs: How to unlock human potential by creating environments where everyone can thrive, with 15 to 20 percent of global population estimated neurodivergent, inclusive design topics.

Design Matters: Rooted in new IMEX Talking Point, celebrating design as ultimate differentiator, timely with Frankfurt RheinMain region named World Design Capital 2026. Immersive activations and exhibitor booth activities.

Sustainability and Impact: New dedicated track aiming to gather international roster discussing impact on world, including sustainability professionals and mission-forward organizations.

Technology and Innovation: Event technology growth, AI, predictive maintenance, digital access systems, smart venues.

Trends and Future-Think: TED-style talks at Inspiration Hub focusing on future trends, brought by Swedish Network of Convention Bureaus.

Association and Corporate: Specialized tracks for association professionals and corporate planners including Exclusively Corporate and Association Focus.

German-language education: MICE Impact Academy sessions in Hall 9.

Session times & schedule

Monday specialist education: Full day 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Kap Europa and Messe Frankfurt, including Association Focus, Exclusively Corporate, and other specialist programmes. Evening welcome receptions and hosted buyer dinners.

Tuesday to Thursday trade show: Exhibition open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with appointments, education sessions running concurrently from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. across Inspiration Hub, education stages and Hall 9.

Morning: Hosted buyer lounge breakfast, early networking runs, guided venue tours, education sessions.

Midday: Keynotes, panel discussions, exhibitor presentations.

Afternoon: One-to-one meetings, activations, workshops.

Evening: Social events, destination receptions, official IMEX networking events.

All education sessions included with registration, with ability to filter programme by track and build personal agenda via IMEX app.

Ticket types & registration

IMEX Frankfurt operates on free registration model for buyers and visitors, with hosted buyer programme offering complimentary travel and accommodation.

Visitor buyer: Free registration for qualified buyers, including access to exhibition, education sessions, networking events and appointment system. Registration requires IMEX account creation if not created previously.

Hosted buyer programme: Complimentary participation for qualified hosted buyers, including free flights or trains up to reimbursement limit, complimentary room only in 4 and 5 star hotel in Frankfurt to fit programme dates, complimentary transfers to and from Frankfurt airport and train station to hotel and to Messe Frankfurt and return. Programme exclusions include insurance, visa processing, upgrade of hotel room and air ticket class, meals. Participants must fulfill minimum appointments and cover own travel and hotel if compliance option selected with compliance letter.

Compliance option: Option to cover own travel and hotel expenses while still enjoying other benefits of hosted buyer, with compliance letter provided.

Exhibitor registration: Exhibitor sponsorship packages available including attendee sponsorship $11,340, exhibitor sponsorship $11,340, hosted buyer sponsorship $12,960 based on previous edition converted to USD, including banner at top of email and promotional benefits. Contact sales team hello@imexevents.com.

All tickets: Tickets $0.00 USD for visitors, hosted buyer programme free of charge, no hidden fees or penalties, unrivaled service before, during and after IMEX.

Registration deadlines

Hosted buyer application: Applications open 6 to 8 months before show, early application recommended due to limited places and flight reimbursement limits. Check official site for 2027 application window.

Visitor registration: Registration now open for 2026 edition as reference, with 2027 registration expected to open early 2027. Registration free and remains open until show days, but early registration recommended for appointment scheduling.

Appointment system: Pre-show appointment system opens approximately one month before show, allowing buyers and exhibitors to request and confirm meetings. Marked upswing in pre-show appointments noted in recent editions.

Specialist education: Registration for Association Focus and Exclusively Corporate requires separate sign-up with limited capacity, first-come first-served.

Exhibitor list & major companies

IMEX Frankfurt features more than 2,598 to 3,400 exhibitors from 170 countries across diverse sectors.

Destinations: National and regional convention bureaus, tourist offices, convention centers, city marketing organizations, including Frankfurt RheinMain, Sarawak with Borneo Adventure, Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, Cat City Holidays, Mercure Miri City Centre, Pullman Kuching, Pullman Miri Waterfront and Wah Tung Travel as example of Sarawak Pavilion.

Hospitality: Hotel groups, spa resorts, convention hotels, independent hotels, including Steigenberger Golf & Spa Resort Camp de Mar and many global chains.

Venues: Convention centers, unique venues, stadiums, conference hotels.

Transport: Airlines, cruise lines, rail providers.

Technology: Event technology providers with 12 percent growth in recent edition, including event management software, registration platforms, engagement tools.

Services: Destination management companies, event agencies, conference planners, incentive houses.

Full exhibitor list available via official exhibitor search and IMEX app, with 42 new stands in recent edition indicating continuous growth.

Exhibition halls & floor plan

Halls 8 and 9: Main exhibition halls for IMEX Frankfurt, with Hall 8 housing majority of exhibitor stands and Hall 9 housing Hosted Buyer Lounge, education stages and activations. Both halls interconnected and located in eastern section of fairground with easy access via City entrance and Galleria.

Floor plan features: Wide aisles for networking, dedicated education stages, Inspiration Hub for TED-style talks, hosted buyer lounge as premium meeting area, German-language education area, technology showcase area.

Navigation: IMEX app provides ground plan, exhibitor search by sector and destination, appointment locations and real-time updates. Messe Frankfurt guided tours include Festhalle, Forum, Hall 5 and Hall 3 original home of IMEX.

Setup: Exhibition stand builder services available in Frankfurt including design, technical development, production, graphics, lighting, furniture, AV, installation, handover and dismantling.

Networking & business meetings

Appointment system: Core of IMEX is pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings between buyers and exhibitors, with online system allowing both parties to request meetings. Marked upswing in pre-show appointments shows efficiency of system.

Hosted buyer lounge: Exclusive VIP lounge in Hall 9 for hosted buyers with catering, quiet meeting areas, networking opportunities and concierge service.

Social events: Morning runs, hosted buyer dinners at downtown Frankfurt buzziest spots such as VaiVai with partners Leonardo Hotels Benelux and O’Callaghan Collection, destination receptions, association networking.

Education networking: Networking events tied to education tracks, association focus networking, corporate planner meetups.

Community: IMEX community platform for year-round connection, sustainability strategy, modern slavery policy and code of conduct ensuring inclusive environment.

Industry sectors & highlights

MICE sectors covered: Consumer goods, hotels, airlines, travel, tour operators, tourism organisms, event organization, incentive events, equipment and technologies, events, leisure, MICE.

Key highlights: Free travel and accommodations for hosted buyers, exclusive social opportunities and VIP treatment, over 200 education sessions across 11 tracks, immersive activations around Talking Point, technology showcase with strong growth, association focus at Kap Europa, corporate planner programme, German-language education.

Sustainability: Sustainability strategy, focus on positive impact across sector, sessions on sustainable events.

Design focus: With Frankfurt as World Design Capital 2026, Design Matters talking point celebrates design as ultimate differentiator, with activations showing how design unlocks human potential.

Event rules & visitor information

Admittance: Traders only, admittance type traders only, frequency every year, buyer target includes Europe and global buyers. Registration requires business verification for hosted buyer programme.

Code of conduct: IMEX code of conduct, legal terms, privacy policy, modern slavery policy and sustainability strategy apply to all participants, ensuring respectful and inclusive environment.

Accessibility: Accessibility information available at frankfurt.imexevents.com, with Messe Frankfurt fully accessible venue including elevators, ramps and accessible services.

Travel: Official travel information including flights, trains, transfers included in hosted buyer programme, with reimbursement limits.

Contact: Organizer IMEX, The Agora, 1st Floor, Ellen Street, Hove, UK, email hello@imexevents.com, phone +44 (0) 1273 227311, venue Messe Frankfurt Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1 60327 Frankfurt Germany.

How to get there

By air: Frankfurt Airport is one of Europe’s largest hubs 15 minutes from Messe Frankfurt by taxi or S-Bahn. Take S-Bahn lines S8 or S9 to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, then U-Bahn U4 to Festhalle/Messe or S-Bahn S3-S6 to Messe station. Complimentary transfers to and from airport included in hosted buyer programme.

By train: Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof one stop away from fairground, with high-speed connections across Germany and Europe. From Hauptbahnhof U-Bahn U4 directly to fairground. Complimentary train travel up to reimbursement limit included for hosted buyers.

By car: Follow signs to Messe Frankfurt via A5 and A648, address Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1, 60327 Frankfurt am Main. Parking available in Rebstock area with shuttle.

Public transport & parking

Public transport: Frankfurt has extensive RMV network with S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses. From city center U-Bahn U4 to Festhalle/Messe directly at fairground. For hosted buyers, complimentary transfers to and from train station to hotel and to Messe Frankfurt and return included.

Parking: Messe-owned parking garage and Rebstock parking area with continuous shuttle to City and Galleria entrances. Parking fee applies. Early arrival recommended due to large exhibitor setup.

Transfers: Hosted buyer programme includes complimentary transfers, with no meals included. Voucher system for RMV may apply for visitor tickets if issued.

Accommodation areas

Hosted buyer accommodation: Complimentary 4 and 5 star hotel accommodation in Frankfurt included in hosted buyer programme, room only, to fit programme dates. Hotels include Leonardo Hotels Benelux and O’Callaghan Collection partners. Post-show extension to Essen, Berlin, Karlsruhe, Baden-Baden available through GCB German Convention Bureau hosted buyer programme including flights or trains and hotel in those cities.

Visitor accommodation: Frankfurt offers extensive hotels near Messe in Europaviertel, Gallus, Bahnhofsviertel within walking distance or one U-Bahn stop, city center Innenstadt and Altstadt 10 to 20 minutes by public transport, and airport area Gateway Gardens for international visitors. Booking via MICE Service Group conference hotels in Frankfurt, with early booking recommended due to large show.

Additional nights: Increase of hotel room class at own expense, with room only basis in hosted programme.

Previous year’s highlights

IMEX Frankfurt 2026 will take place May 19 to 21 in Halls 8 and 9 with central talking point Design Matters. IMEX Frankfurt 2025 attracted over 13,000 international visitors including over 4,000 buyers and 2,900 exhibiting companies. Previous editions featured 3,500 exhibitors including 42 new stands, 180 education sessions and 12 percent growth among event technology section.

IMEX Frankfurt 2024 took place May 14 to 16 at Messe Frankfurt with exhibitors including national and regional convention bureaus, hotel groups, venues, cruise lines, airlines, spa resorts, tech providers and event management specialists.

Business indicators all looking strong as IMEX opened with rise in new exhibitor numbers and significant stand size increases plus marked upswing in pre-show appointments. IMEX in Frankfurt opened with 3,500 exhibitors in Hall 8. Messe Frankfurt secured IMEX through 2030 with multi-year agreement from 2026 to 2030, reflecting long-standing collaboration since first show more than 20 years ago in 2003.

Official registration & tickets

Official website: https://frankfurt.imexevents.com/

Registration: Registration for IMEX Frankfurt is free. Join as visitor buyer via official site frankfurt.imexevents.com, create IMEX account if not created previously, then proceed to register. Hosted buyer registration via portal imex-frankfurt.com hosted buyer programme page with compliance option covering own expenses.

Contact: hello@imexevents.com, phone +44 (0) 1273 227311, sales team T +44 1273 224 955. Organizer IMEX, The Agora, 1st Floor, Ellen Street, BN3 3LN Hove, UK. Venue Messe Frankfurt Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1 60327 Frankfurt Germany.

Tickets: Tickets $0.00 USD for visitor buyers, hosted buyer programme completely free of charge including flights or trains, hotel accommodation and transfers up to reimbursement limits. No hidden fees or penalties. Experience unrivaled service before, during and after IMEX.