Messe Stuttgart posts better-than-expected results for 2025

Messe Stuttgart has closed the 2025 financial year on a stable note despite a challenging economic climate. A total of 39 in-house and 20 guest events were held, attracting a total of 16,030 exhibiting companies and 1,064,518 visitors. With a turnover of 134.6 million euros – an above-average result for an odd-numbered year, which typically sees fewer events – and an operating result (EBITDA) of minus 2.9 million euros, the company performed significantly better than forecast. This was announced by the management during a press briefing in Stuttgart. “2025 has shown that we can deliver reliably even under challenging conditions,” summarised Roland Bleinroth, Managing Director of Messe Stuttgart. He said the better-than-expected result was the outcome of consistent budgetary discipline and sound strategic decisions.

Stable results despite consumer and booking caution

The persistently difficult economic situation in Germany was reflected above all in cautious investment activity by domestic companies and, consequently, more hesitant booking behaviour on the part of the exhibiting business community. It is therefore all the more encouraging that 2025 – traditionally a quiet year for trade fairs – nevertheless recorded predominantly good levels of participation. In Stuttgart, 39 in-house events and 20 guest events took place. Alongside established public trade fairs such as the CMT, the spring fairs and the Stuttgart Autumn Fair, numerous trade fairs and congresses characterised the trade fair year. LogiMAT, as the leading trade fair for intralogistics solutions and process management, provided further impetus. The thematic focus at the trade fairs was on future technologies: in October, these were the parallel trade fairs hy-fcell and Quantum Effects, which served as a platform for hydrogen and quantum technology. In terms of international business, R+T Asia in Shanghai celebrated its 20th anniversary with record numbers of exhibiting companies and visitors, whilst LogiMAT India continued to establish itself successfully in the growing Indian market.

Outlook for 2026: A year of strong turnover and three new formats

For the current financial year 2026, Messe Stuttgart expects, due to the cycle,

significantly higher event and revenue figures. Following a strong start to the year with CMT in January and the catering trade fair INTERGASTRA in February, two further key trade fairs – AMB (metalworking) and VISION (image processing) – will follow in the autumn.

Messe Stuttgart remains particularly active in the area of new product development. Three new formats are expanding the portfolio this year, two of which have already enjoyed a successful launch:

• XR EXPO (April 2026): The trade fair for Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) moved to the exhibition centre and attracted 61 exhibiting companies from over 25 countries, as well as 1,350 trade visitors.

• MTO Days (June 2026): The new buyer’s fair for precision components was scheduled to run alongside CastForge and the Battery Show Europe in order to capitalise on industry-wide synergies.

• EFX – Expo for Electronics Manufacturing (6–8 October 2026): The new industry event for electronics manufacturing will take place alongside VISION, Quantum Effects, Motek and Bondexpo.

“With three new events and a packed programme, we are sending a clear signal in 2026 about our competitiveness and Stuttgart as a business location,” explained Managing Director Stefan Lohnert.

Strategic expansion of the international network

Particularly against the backdrop of weak domestic demand, the participation of international buyers is taking on special significance. The high level of international participation played a decisive role in the success of the trade fairs in 2025. The main countries of origin were from the EU, followed by China, India and North America. Globally, Messe Stuttgart is set to inject new momentum into its international trade fair programme in 2026. In April, Messe Stuttgart took part in the FAIR plus robotics trade fair in Shenzhen (China) as an international partner. This will be followed in November by R+T Southeast Asia in Bangkok, marking another first within the global R+T Alliance. The trade fair portfolio in India was strengthened this year through the acquisition of Cable & Wire. At the start of 2027, Messe Stuttgart will expand its international portfolio to include the new GrindingHub Americas event, thereby reinforcing GrindingHub – the world’s leading trade fair for grinding technology and superfinishing, held in Stuttgart. This flurry of new products will significantly strengthen the company’s trade fair portfolio both at home and abroad.

About Messe Stuttgart

Messe Stuttgart is one of Germany’s leading trade fair organisers. With its excellent infrastructure and unique location directly adjacent to Stuttgart Airport, public transport links and the A8 motorway, it serves as an international meeting place for various industries and markets. The exhibition grounds comprise around 120,000 square metres of indoor space and 40,000 square metres of outdoor space, providing the ideal setting for successful events. The adjacent ICS International Congress Centre Stuttgart complements the offering with 33 flexible function rooms. Messe Stuttgart also organises trade fairs both in Germany and abroad. With four subsidiaries, around 20 overseas representative offices and numerous sales partners, it has a presence in over 50 countries. Leading in-house and hosted events at the Stuttgart venue include, amongst others, CMT, R+T, INTERGASTRA, AMB, LogiMAT, Motek, as well as hy-fcell and Quantum Effects.

2026 Events Calendar

A selection of upcoming events at the Stuttgart venue:

• 15–19 September | AMB

  International Exhibition for Metalworking

• 23–25 September | Annual Conference of the German Society for

  Transfusion Medicine and Immunohaematology (DGTI)

• 30 September – 1 October | All about Process Management

  Specialist event for process management

• 6 October | Biointelligence Congress

  Congress on Biointelligence

• 6–8 October | Bondexpo

  International trade fair for adhesive technology

• 6–8 October | EFX

  Expo for Electronics Manufacturing 2026

• 6–8 October | interbad

  International trade fair for swimming pools, saunas and spas, including a conference

• 6–8 October | Motek

  International trade fair for production and assembly automation

• 6–8 October | Quantum Effects

  Trade fair and conference for quantum technologies

• 6–8 October | VISION

  World’s leading trade fair for image processing

• 10–11 October | We’re getting married!

  Wedding fair

• 16–17 October | infotage FACHDENTAL Stuttgart

  The region’s leading trade fair for dentistry and dental technology

• 20–22 October | Occupational Health and Safety Today

  Trade fair for occupational health and safety

• 24–27 October | südback

  Trade fair for baking and confectionery

• 7–9 November | SÜFFA

  The trade fair for the meat industry

• 10–12 November | tekom Annual Conference

  Conference on Technical Communication

• 19–22 November | Stuttgart Autumn Trade Fair

  Trade fair cluster featuring ANIMAL, KREATIV, the Games Fair, Food and Delicacies, and much more

• 25–26 November | Structured FINANCE

  The conference and trade fair for corporate finance

• 28–29 November | Comic Con Stuttgart

  Public exhibition focusing on comics, comic book adaptations and cosplay

• 12 and 19 December | STUTYARD

  Techno festival

Further information

For more information about Messe Stuttgart and its events, visit

www.messe-stuttgart.de and @MesseStuttgart on Instagram, LinkedIn or Facebook.