IFA Berlin 2026 runs 4-8 September at Messe Berlin. Your complete guide to trade and private days, ticket prices, IFA Global Markets, the B2B programme, exhibitors and travel.
| Detail | Info | Detail | Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | 4-8 September 2026 | 🏛️ Location | Berlin, Germany |
| 📺 Focus | Consumer electronics + home appliances - trade show and public expo | 🏢 Venue | Messe Berlin (Messedamm 22, 14055 Berlin) |
| 🔁 Frequency | Annual (early September) | 🌍 Reach | 1,900+ exhibitors from 49 countries (2025) |
| 👥 Attendees | ~220,000 from 140 countries (2025) | 🗓️ Organisers | IFA Management GmbH (gfu + Clarion Events) |
Quick Answer: When is IFA Berlin 2026 and what is it? IFA 2026 runs at , Messedamm 22, Berlin. It is the world's leading trade fair for consumer and home technologies, and unusually for a show of its size it is . On Friday 4 September, general private admission begins at , although families, school groups and visitors with disabilities are admitted from 10:00; from Saturday 5 to Tuesday 8 September private visitors have 10:00 to 18:00 access. The wider IFA week starts earlier: the , and Samsung opens its own downtown showcase on . Private day tickets start at ; trade tickets start at for one day.
If you searched "IFA 2026", you are probably one of three people: a consumer wanting to see Europe's biggest tech launches before the holiday season, a retailer or buyer with a week of meetings to plan, or a brand deciding whether a stand in Berlin is worth the budget. IFA serves all three at once, which is exactly what makes it confusing to plan for.
This guide covers the full 2026 schedule, how the trade and private ticket structures actually differ, the B2B layer that consumer previews skip entirely, who is exhibiting (including the biggest structural story of this edition), how to exhibit, and how to get to Messe Berlin.
IFA - Internationale Funkausstellung, now positioned as "Innovation For All" - is the world's leading trade fair for consumer and home technologies. It traces its roots to 1924 and celebrated its centenary in 2024, making it one of the world's oldest technology exhibitions. It is run by IFA Management GmbH, a joint venture between gfu Consumer & Home Electronics GmbH - the owner of the IFA trademark - and Clarion Events Ltd. Messe Berlin is the venue and infrastructure partner rather than a shareholder, under a contract that was extended early and now runs to 2034.
The scale is genuinely global. The 2025 edition drew around 220,000 visitors from 140 countries and more than 1,900 exhibitors from 49 countries, across more than 190,000 square metres of the Messe Berlin grounds.
What sets IFA apart from CES or MWC is its dual character. Most major technology shows are trade-only. IFA runs a serious professional programme and a mass-market public expo in the same halls, in the same week. That combination is the reason brands treat IFA as a launch platform rather than only a sales meeting: a product announced in Berlin in early September lands in front of European retail buyers and consumer media simultaneously, roughly three months before the holiday sales peak.
The show spans televisions and audio, computing and gaming, smartphones and connectivity, major and small home appliances, smart home, beauty tech, wellbeing, mobility and outdoor. Artificial intelligence in the home has become the dominant cross-category theme, and the 2026 edition is themed "The future is now."
The core show runs Friday 4 to Tuesday 8 September 2026. But IFA week effectively begins two days earlier, and if you are attending on business, those two days matter:
| Date | What happens | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 Sep | Samsung downtown showcase opens at Humboldt Carré | Trade and media professionals; arrangements vary before 4 Sep |
| Thu 3 Sep | IFA Retail Leaders Summit at Palais am Funkturm | Separate C-level invitation |
| Fri 4 Sep | Trade visitors from 9:30; general private admission from 12:00 | Trade ticket, then day ticket |
| Sat 5 Sep | Full show; IFA Global Markets opens | Trade ticket / day ticket |
| Sun 6 Sep | Full show | Trade ticket / day ticket |
| Mon 7 Sep | Full show; Smart Living Forum (new for 2026) | Trade ticket / day ticket |
| Tue 8 Sep | Final day | Trade ticket / day ticket |
Opening hours:
| Visitor type | Friday 4 Sep | Saturday 5 - Tuesday 8 Sep |
|---|---|---|
| Trade visitors | 9:30-18:00 | 9:30-18:00 |
| Private visitors (general admission) | 12:00-18:00 | 10:00-18:00 |
| Families, school groups, visitors with disabilities | 10:00-18:00 | 10:00-18:00 |
The point worth flagging: Friday morning gives trade visitors the earliest access before general public admission. If your reason for attending is booth meetings or an uncrowded look at competitor stands, that is the window to aim for - but note it is not a fully closed trade session, since families, school groups and visitors with disabilities are admitted from 10:00. IFA never gives trade visitors the quiet full day that a trade-only show does.
| If you are... | Go on | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A retail buyer or brand-side trade visitor | Friday + Monday | Friday morning gives you the earliest access before general public admission; Monday is a full working day with the Smart Living Forum |
| An OEM/ODM or sourcing professional | 5-7 September | IFA Global Markets runs only those three days - outside them, the sourcing floor is simply not open |
| A consumer who wants the atmosphere | Saturday or Sunday | Peak energy, full stage programme, every stand fully staffed |
| A consumer who wants to actually try things | Monday or Tuesday | Typically a better bet for hands-on demos than the weekend (TSB advice, not an IFA figure) |
IFA uses two entirely separate ticket structures. Buying the wrong one is the most common planning mistake, because a private ticket does not unlock trade-only formats such as IFA Global Markets, or the professional benefits included with a trade pass.
| Ticket | Advance | On site |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | €21.50 | €28.00 |
| Student (with valid proof) | €14.00 | €16.00 |
| Visitor with disability (with valid proof) | €14.00 | €16.00 |
| Family (2 adults + up to 3 children) | €43.00 | €56.00 |
| School group (2 teachers + up to 33 pupils) | €45.00 | - |
| Children up to and including 15 | Free | Free |
Buying online in advance saves up to 23 percent against the on-site price. Note two practical rules: cash is not accepted at the venue (cards only), and an IFA ticket does not include Berlin public transport.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 day | €65.00 |
| 2 days | €99.99 |
| 5 days (full access) | €138.00 |
| IFA Platinum Pass | €990.00 |
Early-bird booking saves up to around 18 percent against on-site prices. The five-day pass at €138.00 is the obvious value pick if you are attending more than two days.
A trade ticket buys considerably more than earlier entry. It includes access to IFA Global Markets, the Retail Innovation Zone (which opens at 8:00 with breakfast), 100+ hours of keynotes and panels, the IFA App for scheduling 1:1 exhibitor meetings, fast-track check-in, free Wi-Fi, the on-site shuttle, and hotel and travel discounts. Eligibility covers professionals across consumer electronics, home appliances, retail and adjacent industries, including buyers, distributors, manufacturers, investors, analysts and media.
The Platinum Pass adds Media Days access, a VIP lounge with meals, front-row keynote seating, concert tickets and VIP entrance. At €990.00 it is aimed at executives whose week is built around scheduled meetings rather than floor walking.
For the canonical show record and updates, see the IFA Berlin 2026 show page.
IFA occupies most of the Messe Berlin grounds, spanning halls across the site plus the Sommergarten, the Palais am Funkturm and the City Cube. The 2026 layout leans harder into themed hubs than the traditional hall-by-category split:
The stage programme runs across five content tracks: World of AI & Future of Tech, Retail & Future of Commerce, Marketing & Creativity, Culture & Lifestyle, and Smart & Sustainable Living.
Practical tips for the floor:
This is the half of IFA that consumer coverage ignores, and the reason the week is on so many corporate calendars.
| Format | Dates (2026) | Best for | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| IFA Retail Leaders Summit | 3 Sep, Palais am Funkturm | C-level retail and brand leadership | Invitation / separate registration |
| IFA Global Markets | 5-7 Sep | Sourcing, OEM/ODM, supply chain | Included with trade ticket |
| Retail Innovation Zone | 4-8 Sep (opens 8:00) | Retailers, store concepts, omnichannel | Included with trade ticket |
| Smart Living Forum | 7 Sep | Policy, industry and R&D leadership | C-level, half-day forum |
| IFA Next | 4-8 Sep | Startups, investors, media | Included with any ticket |
IFA Global Markets is Europe's leading B2B sourcing platform for consumer and home electronics, running as a distinct event within IFA from 5 to 7 September and bringing together 550+ international suppliers and manufacturers. If your job involves OEM/ODM sourcing, components or supply chain rather than finished-brand retail, this is the part of IFA you are actually coming for.
The IFA Retail Leaders Summit returns for its second edition on Thursday 3 September at the Palais am Funkturm - the day before the show floor opens. The opening keynote and panel are open to press; from 10:30 onward the summit runs under Chatham House Rules. NIQ is the Official Global Insights Partner for 2026.
The Retail Innovation Zone is new prominence for 2026: interactive zones covering forward-looking store concepts, omnichannel strategy and new business models, with expert talks, workshops and masterclasses, plus the IFA Retail Lounge (complimentary breakfast 8:00-10:00, free meeting spaces for IFA Retail Members, daily lunch).
The Smart Living Forum is genuinely new for 2026: a half-day economic policy forum on Monday 7 September, bringing C-level executives from industry, retail and R&D together with European policymakers on smart living, kitchens, interiors and wellness.
IFA Next is where the startup and investor traffic concentrates - pitch presentations, investor matchmaking and stage access, alongside established brands' innovation units.
More than 1,900 brands are expected across the 2026 show. Confirmed and expected exhibitors include LG Electronics, Xiaomi, Bosch, Siemens, Electrolux, TCL, Miele, Withings, RingConn and Ultrahuman, alongside a large startup contingent in IFA Next.
The structural story of this edition, though, is Samsung.
For 2026, Samsung is leaving the City Cube at Messe Berlin after twelve years and building a standalone showcase at Humboldt Carré in central Berlin, opening 2 September, two days before IFA itself. Product presentations, European retailer and distributor meetings, B2B customer sessions and press briefings all move downtown. During the IFA show days, entry requires an IFA trade visitor pass.
Samsung has not left IFA. It remains the main sponsor of the Creator Hub at Palais am Funkturm, shaping that space with its own programming. IFA Management CEO Leif Lindner framed the move as an extension rather than a defection: "IFA is increasingly evolving into a platform for the creator economy... we are extending IFA into downtown Berlin with their new exhibition concept."
The move mirrors Samsung's CES 2026 decision to use the Wynn rather than the Las Vegas Convention Center, and it is worth watching for anyone who plans trade show budgets. The off-site anchor-tenant model - keep the badge, keep the audience, drop the hall - is spreading among the largest exhibitors. If it works for Samsung in Berlin, expect more brands to test it.
Two practical consequences if you are attending:
Also worth noting on the absence side: as of mid-August, several wearables brands including Garmin, Huawei, Polar and Whoop are not listed among the 2026 exhibitors, and Zepp Health is expected to run a separate event rather than take a stand inside Messe Berlin. Chinese exhibitor registrations, by contrast, have grown sharply year on year.
Because exhibitor lists and hall assignments firm up in the weeks before the show, check the official IFA exhibitor directory shortly before you travel. We will update this section as the lineup is confirmed.
There are three broadly different reasons to take space at IFA, and they lead to very different budgets:
Decide which of the three you are buying before you look at floor plans, because the right hall, stand size and staffing model follow from that choice, not the other way round.
A few cautions specific to IFA:
Applications, floor-space pricing and packages run through the official channels at ifa-berlin.com/exhibit, with a separate application route for IFA Next.
The venue. Messe Berlin GmbH, Messedamm 22, 14055 Berlin, in the Westend district beneath the Funkturm radio tower. The grounds have several entrances, and which one you want depends on your hall.
By public transport. Berlin's network serves the grounds directly:
By air. Berlin Brandenburg (BER) is the city's single international airport, southeast of the centre, connected by regional trains and the S-Bahn. Allow about an hour to the Messe including a change, and more during show-week peaks.
By rail. Berlin Hauptbahnhof is a major hub on the German and European high-speed network, with direct ICE services to most German cities and international connections. From Hauptbahnhof the Messe is a straightforward S-Bahn journey.
Accommodation. Berlin has deep hotel capacity, but IFA week compresses it and pushes rates up. Charlottenburg and the Westend are closest to the grounds; Mitte is better if your week includes downtown sessions such as Samsung's Humboldt Carré showcase.
Accessibility. The venue is fully wheelchair accessible, and visitors with disabilities meeting the stated criteria receive one free accompanying ticket.
Entry requirements. Germany is in the Schengen Area. Non-EU visitors should check Schengen visa requirements early - September is peak season and appointment slots fill.
When is IFA Berlin 2026? IFA 2026 runs from 4 to 8 September 2026 at Messe Berlin, Messedamm 22, 14055 Berlin, Germany. The IFA Retail Leaders Summit takes place on 3 September, and Samsung's downtown showcase at Humboldt Carré opens on 2 September.
What is the difference between trade days and public days at IFA? IFA does not have separate trade and public days in the way most shows do. Trade visitors have access from 9:30 to 18:00 on all five days. General private admission begins at 12:00 on Friday 4 September, although families, school groups and visitors with disabilities are admitted from 10:00; from Saturday 5 to Tuesday 8 September private visitors have 10:00 to 18:00 access. Friday morning therefore gives trade visitors the earliest access, before general public admission. A trade ticket also unlocks IFA Global Markets, the Retail Innovation Zone and the B2B programme, which private tickets do not.
How much do IFA Berlin 2026 tickets cost? Private adult tickets are €21.50 in advance or €28.00 on site, with students and visitors with disabilities at €14.00 in advance, a family ticket at €43.00, and free entry for children up to and including 15. Trade tickets are €65.00 for one day, €99.99 for two days and €138.00 for full five-day access, with an IFA Platinum Pass at €990.00. Booking online in advance saves up to 23 percent on private tickets. Cash is not accepted at the venue.
Is IFA open to the public? Yes. IFA is one of the few major technology trade fairs that runs a full public expo alongside its B2B programme. General private admission begins at 12:00 on Friday 4 September - with families, school groups and visitors with disabilities admitted from 10:00 - and runs 10:00 to 18:00 on 5-8 September.
What is IFA Global Markets? IFA Global Markets is Europe's leading B2B sourcing platform for consumer and home electronics, running from 5 to 7 September 2026 within IFA. It brings together 550+ international suppliers, OEMs and ODMs with brands, retailers and distributors. Access is included with a trade visitor ticket.
Is Samsung exhibiting at IFA 2026? Samsung is participating but not from the Messe Berlin show floor. After twelve years in the City Cube, it has moved its product presentations, retailer and B2B meetings and press briefings to a standalone showcase at Humboldt Carré in central Berlin, opening 2 September. During the IFA show days, entry requires an IFA trade visitor pass. Samsung remains the main sponsor of the IFA Creator Hub at Palais am Funkturm on the fairgrounds.
How big is IFA Berlin? The 2025 edition drew around 220,000 visitors from 140 countries and more than 1,900 exhibitors from 49 countries, across more than 190,000 square metres at Messe Berlin.
Is IFA worth attending for businesses, not just consumers? Yes. IFA Global Markets, the Retail Innovation Zone, the IFA Retail Leaders Summit, the new Smart Living Forum and IFA Next make the week a significant B2B moment for European consumer electronics and appliance retail. Its position in early September - ahead of the holiday sales season - is what gives it commercial weight for buyers and brands alike.
How do I get to Messe Berlin? Take S41, S42 or S46 to Messe Nord/ICC for the North and East entrances, S3 or S9 to Messe Süd or Westkreuz (Messe Süd serves the South Entrance and Hall 1), or U2 to Kaiserdamm or Theodor-Heuss-Platz. Bus routes X34, X49, M49, 104, 139, 218 and 349 also serve the area. Berlin Brandenburg (BER) airport is roughly an hour away by public transport including a change, and Berlin Hauptbahnhof connects to the grounds by S-Bahn.
What is new at IFA 2026? The 2026 edition is themed "The future is now" and expands content creation, computing and gaming, wellbeing and beauty tech, mobility and IFA Next. The Beauty Hub, Creator Hub and Outdoor, Gardening & Cooking zones have been expanded, the Retail Leaders Summit returns for a second edition, and the Smart Living Forum launches on 7 September as a new economic policy format.
