About This Show
SMM 2026 ran 1-4 September 2026 under the theme "SMM - driving the maritime transition," and closed as the best-attended edition in the fair's history. More than 50,000 participants from 134 nations attended, with around 2,300 exhibiting companies from 66 countries - over 70% of them from outside Germany - across more than 90,000 square meters in twelve halls. These headline figures are preliminary, extrapolated by the organizer from the final day of the event as of noon.
The defining change was structural. Maritime security and defense were consolidated into a purpose-built Naval Hall in B8 for the first time, combining the MS&D Expo, the MS&D conference and a central Naval Stage, with more than 50 specialist exhibitors inside and over 150 dual-use suppliers elsewhere on the grounds. Energy efficiency also gained its own dedicated space, the Energy Efficiency Hub, where 24 companies exhibited across 300 square meters. Organizers reported that security and resilience had moved ahead of decarbonization at the top of the industry agenda, though decarbonization, digitalization and competitiveness all remained central.
Five themed stages structured the side program, hosting the Global Maritime Environmental Congress, the Maritime Future Summit, the TradeWinds Shipowners Forum and the Maritime Security & Defence Conference, alongside a new all about ports conference at the CCH. Twenty-six national pavilions represented around 30 countries, with India, Cyprus and Brazil exhibiting under their own pavilions for the first time. The event was held under the patronage of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
SMM 2028 runs 5-8 September 2028 at Hamburg Messe und Congress.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where did SMM 2026 take place?+
SMM 2026 ran 1-4 September 2026 at Hamburg Messe und Congress in Hamburg, Germany. SMM is biennial, and the next edition, SMM 2028, runs 5-8 September 2028 at the same venue.
How many exhibitors and visitors were at SMM 2026?+
More than 50,000 participants from 134 nations attended, a record for the fair, alongside around 2,300 exhibiting companies from 66 countries - more than 70% of them from outside Germany - across more than 90,000 square meters in twelve halls. These are preliminary figures, extrapolated by the organizer from the final day of the event as of noon.
What was the new Naval Hall at SMM 2026?+
SMM 2026 introduced a dedicated Naval Hall in B8, bringing maritime security and defense into a single purpose-built space for the first time. It combined the MS&D Expo, the MS&D conference and a central Naval Stage, with more than 50 specialist companies and organizations exhibiting inside and a further 150-plus dual-use suppliers across the rest of the fair. Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack delivered a keynote on 3 September in his final public appearance as Chief of the German Navy.
What conference programs ran alongside the exhibition?+
Five themed stages structured the side program. The Global Maritime Environmental Congress (gmec) ran on the Energy Efficiency Stage on 2 September, the MS&D International Conference on Maritime Security & Defence ran on the Naval Stage on 3 and 4 September, and the Maritime Future Summit and TradeWinds Shipowners Forum ran across the week. A new all about ports conference on port decarbonization, digitalization and resilience was co-located at the CCH - Congress Center Hamburg on 2 and 3 September, and the Maritime Career Market returned for two full exhibition days.
Were there national pavilions at SMM 2026?+
Yes. Twenty-six national pavilions represented around 30 countries. India, Cyprus and Brazil exhibited under their own national pavilions for the first time, with India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways organizing two official pavilions.
What was the focus of SMM 2026's decarbonization programming?+
Energy efficiency received its own dedicated exhibition area for the first time, the Energy Efficiency Hub, where 24 companies from Europe, Asia and the Middle East exhibited across 300 square meters covering wind propulsion, fleet optimization and efficiency retrofits. The Global Maritime Environmental Congress focused on green shipping corridors, alternative fuels and regulatory compliance. Exhibitors reported buyers favoring technologies deployable today, against a backdrop of the IMO Net-Zero Framework's mid-term measures remaining unadopted.