Industry Trends & Innovation

The 2027 draft budget makes significant cuts to the international trade fair programme. The number of German joint stands at trade fairs worldwide has been falling for the past ten years, whilst at the same time export sectors are calling for a change of direction in the funding of international trade fairs.

In-person industry networking events and digital event search to be brought together under one roof in future

Capacity utilisation forecasts are above last year’s level for the second year running – 186 companies registered for the survey

A new technological standard is intended to simplify the configuration of mobile event networks and reduce technical interface problems at events.

Digital conference organised by the Federal Association for Event Safety on 26 November 2026

For the past 10 years, the City of Munich has been using the NIKOS [audio]² public address system to provide visitor information at the Oktoberfest.

Groh-P.A. Event Technology is investing in the new cardioid subwoofer from L-Acoustics – making its debut at Radio Hamburg’s ‘Stars for Free’ event at the Barclays Arena

Preventing the de facto abolition of mini-jobs – Seven million people affected – Zöllick: “Anyone who supports mini-jobs must also ensure they remain affordable”

GEMA and music and events associations have published new guidance on the remuneration and labelling of AI-generated music at live events.

At the end of September, fwd: the Federal Association of the Events Industry launched a nationwide succession network for young managers and future leaders in the events sector.

At recent MICE network summits, a trend towards automated B2B sourcing systems with integrated ESG documentation has become apparent.

The IHK General Assembly is calling for an overarching strategy for the concert and events industry, as well as faster approval procedures for new and modernised event venues.

fwd: the Federal Association of the Events Industry is setting up a support centre for the industry’s next generation of leaders. With this new succession network, the association is creating a framework for executives who are in their first few years in top management. The first members will meet in Langenhagen on 30 November for the launch event.

Augsburg, 9 September 2026 – The Federal Association for Industrial Communication (bvik) has published its study “B2B Marketing Budgets 2026” for the 14th time. The long-term study, scientifically supervised by Prof. Dr Hannes Huttelmaier of the University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, shows that: Marketing budgets are growing by 2.1 per cent in nominal terms to an average of 3.57 million euros – whilst prices for externally procured services have risen by around 12 per cent over the same period. In real terms, companies therefore have less marketing budget at their disposal than in the previous year.

Hamburg, 7 September 2026 – The AfD’s strong showing in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt marks a political breakthrough.

Berlin, Germany, and Toronto, Canada, 2 September 2026 — The North American Broadcasters Association (NABA) and the Association of Professional Wireless Production Technologies (APWPT) are entering into a strategic partnership to promote the interests of users of wireless microphones and other production equipment in North America and Europe.

The Institute for Communication Studies and the trade association fwd: have announced a new short course for the professional development of event project managers.

The 2027 draft budget makes no provision for the continuation of the pilot programme that has only just been implemented – associations are calling on the Federal Government to continue to take genuine responsibility for the urban planning objectives of the mixed-use city.

Alteglofsheim, 27 August 2026 – The LiveKultur Federal Foundation has received project funding from the Initiative Musik to establish the Club-Euro – hitherto a successful regional model from Cologne – nationwide. From 1 September 2026, Zora Brändle will take over as project manager. Clubs and venues can register to take part with immediate effect.

The group’s second site in Spain opened on 26 August 2026. This marks a further expansion of the group’s European network. Its high-quality event equipment and logistics standards are now also available in Mallorca.

On 24 November 2026, the Federal Conference of the Events Industry is inviting all stakeholders in the sector to the Allianz Forum in Berlin to jointly agree on policy demands. With no obligation to join an association or follow any hierarchy, everyone here has a say and votes for the new Council of Representatives, which carries their voice directly to political decision-makers.