Koelnmesse

Koelnmesse, also known as Cologne Trade Fair, is an international trade-fair organizer and exhibition-center operator headquartered in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Its business combines the operation of a large exhibition venue with the organization and hosting of trade fairs, congresses, conferences, and industry events. The company serves professional audiences across sectors including food and beverages, food-processing technology, furniture, digital business, interactive entertainment, photography, dental technology, confectionery, motorcycles, scooters, and bicycles. The Cologne trade-fair ground was established in 1922. Its historic development was closely associated with the Rheinhallen complex and with Cologne's position as a major commercial and transport hub. Until 2005, the trade-fair operation was based in the historic Rheinhallen. From 2005 onward, the principal exhibition activity moved into newer premises adjacent to the former complex. The site retains architectural landmarks from earlier phases of the venue, including the Fair Tower Cologne, or Messeturm Köln, completed in 1928. The tower became a recognizable feature of the fairgrounds and formerly included a restaurant at its top. Koelnmesse is among Germany's largest trade-fair organizers. Reference material describes an annual program of around 80 trade fairs and more than 2,000 conferences, supported by approximately 284,000 square meters of exhibition floor area. Its portfolio includes both large international flagship events and specialized professional exhibitions. Anuga is positioned as a major global food and beverage fair, while Anuga FoodTec focuses on suppliers and technologies for the food and drink industries. Gamescom is a leading European event for interactive games and entertainment. Other prominent events associated with the venue include Art Cologne, Dmexco, EuVend, imm Cologne, Intermot, the International Dental Show, Internationale Süßwarenmesse, and Photokina. The exhibition grounds are located in Deutz on the right bank of the Rhine, directly beside Köln Messe/Deutz station. The location provides rail access through Deutsche Bahn, including ICE services connecting the site with Cologne Central Station and Cologne/Bonn Airport. The fairgrounds are adjacent to Rheinpark, a large riverside park, and Tanzbrunnen, an open-air theater; local Stadtbahn services also connect with the venue. This transport infrastructure is an important practical feature of Koelnmesse's event proposition because many of its exhibitions attract international exhibitors and visitors. Beginning in 2018, Koelnmesse undertook the largest renovation program in its history. The works are planned to continue until 2030, with a stated total cost of approximately 600 million euros. Around two-thirds of the investment is allocated to renovating seven southern halls dating from the 1970s. The program represents a long-term modernization of the physical platform supporting the company's international trade-fair activities. Koelnmesse's present identity therefore combines a historic Cologne venue, a large-scale exhibition infrastructure, and a diversified portfolio of sector-specific events serving business-to-business communities.

Koelnmesse's history is rooted in the establishment of the Cologne trade-fair ground in 1922. The creation of a permanent exhibition platform reflected Cologne's role as a commercial center and its location within Germany's major transport network. Over time, the venue developed into an important setting for national and international business exhibitions. For much of its earlier modern history, the trade fair was based in the Rheinhallen, a historic complex that became closely associated with Cologne's exhibition identity. The Messeturm Köln, or Fair Tower Cologne, was completed in 1928 and became one of the site's most recognizable architectural landmarks. The tower formerly included a restaurant at its highest level, adding a public-facing feature to what was otherwise primarily a professional exhibition environment. A major transition took place in 2005, when the trade-fair operation moved from the historic Rheinhallen into newer premises built next to them. This shift expanded and modernized the venue while maintaining continuity with the established Cologne fairground. The site is located in Deutz on the right bank of the Rhine, beside Köln Messe/Deutz station and close to Rheinpark and Tanzbrunnen. Its rail connections, including ICE services, support access for exhibitors and visitors from across Germany and abroad. Koelnmesse subsequently developed a diversified program of international trade fairs and conferences. The portfolio spans food and beverages, food-processing equipment, furniture, digital industries, games and interactive entertainment, dental medicine and technology, confectionery, photography, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, and other professional markets. Events such as Anuga, Gamescom, Art Cologne, Dmexco, the International Dental Show, and Internationale Süßwarenmesse give the organization visibility well beyond the Cologne region. In 2018, Koelnmesse began the most extensive renovation program in its history. The planned work is expected to run until 2030 and has a stated cost of approximately 600 million euros. About two-thirds of the investment is directed toward renovating seven southern halls dating from the 1970s. The program is intended to renew the physical infrastructure on which the company's event portfolio depends while preserving Cologne's role as a major international exhibition destination. Reference material characterizes Koelnmesse as one of Germany's largest trade-fair organizers, with around 80 trade fairs and more than 2,000 conferences annually, and approximately 284,000 square meters of exhibition floor area. Its historical trajectory is therefore defined by the expansion of a 1922 fairground into a large international venue, the relocation from the Rheinhallen to newer adjacent facilities in 2005, and the continuing modernization program launched in 2018.

• 2018

  Largest renovation program begins

  [1]Koelnmesseen.wikipedia.org

  Koelnmesse began its most extensive renovation project, planned through 2030, with approximately 600 million euros allocated to modernizing the fairgrounds.

• 2005

  Move from the Rheinhallen to newer premises

  [1]Koelnmesseen.wikipedia.org

  Koelnmesse moved its principal trade-fair operation from the historic Rheinhallen into newer facilities located beside the former complex.

• 1928

  Fair Tower Cologne completed

  [1]Koelnmesseen.wikipedia.org

  The Messeturm Köln became a prominent landmark of the exhibition grounds and later formed part of the site's historic identity.

• 1922

  Cologne trade-fair ground established

  [1]Koelnmesseen.wikipedia.org

  The Cologne trade-fair ground was founded, establishing the institutional and physical basis for the later Koelnmesse organization.

A large international business-to-business exhibition platform combining venue operations with a broad portfolio of sector-focused trade fairs and conferences.

• Food and beverage trade fair

  Anuga

  Anuga is Koelnmesse's major international food and beverage trade fair. It brings together professional participants from across the food industry and functions as a broad platform for showcasing products, business opportunities, and sector developments.

• Food-processing technology trade fair

  Anuga FoodTec

  Anuga FoodTec is a supplier-focused exhibition for the food and beverage industries. Its scope centers on technologies, equipment, and services used in food and drink production and processing.

• Games and interactive entertainment trade fair

  Gamescom

  Gamescom is a major European trade fair for interactive games and entertainment. The event serves the professional games ecosystem while also providing a highly visible platform for the wider interactive-entertainment sector.

• Art fair

  Art Cologne

  Art Cologne is an art-fair offering in Koelnmesse's portfolio. It provides an organized marketplace and meeting place for participants in the international art sector.

• Digital-industry exhibition and conference

  Dmexco

  Dmexco is an international exhibition and conference focused on the digital industry. It connects professional audiences around digital business, marketing, technology, and related industry development.

• Dental trade fair

  International Dental Show

  The International Dental Show is a professional exhibition for dental medicine and dental technology. It provides a sector-specific venue for companies, practitioners, and other dental-industry participants.

• Confectionery trade fair

  Internationale Süßwarenmesse

  Internationale Süßwarenmesse is a major confectionery trade fair. Its focus is the professional confectionery market and the commercial presentation of products and industry offerings.

• Furniture trade fair

  imm Cologne

  imm Cologne is a leading furniture-sector trade fair held at the Cologne exhibition grounds. It provides a professional platform for furniture and interior-related businesses and audiences.

• Motorcycle, scooter and bicycle trade fair

  Intermot

  Intermot is an international exhibition covering motorcycles, scooters, and bicycles. The event serves the mobility, vehicle, equipment, and related consumer-industry segments.

• Photography and imaging trade fair

  Photokina

  Photokina is a major photography and imaging fair associated with Koelnmesse. It provides a sector platform for professional and commercial developments in photographic and imaging technology.

• 2018

  Long-term fairground modernization programStrategy

  Background

  Several southern exhibition halls dated from the 1970s and required substantial renewal as part of the venue's continuing development.

  Action taken

  Koelnmesse launched a renovation program planned to continue until 2030, with approximately 600 million euros committed to the project and about two-thirds directed to seven southern halls.

  Aftermath

  The program is intended to modernize the exhibition infrastructure supporting Koelnmesse's international event portfolio; the full outcome remains dependent on completion of the planned works.

  Renovation program cost. Approximately €600 million committed (Program announced as beginning in 2018 and planned through 2030)

  Source

• 2005

  Relocation to newer exhibition premisesStrategy

  Background

  The historic Rheinhallen had served as the trade-fair base, while the organization required newer exhibition infrastructure.

  Action taken

  Koelnmesse moved its principal trade-fair activities into newer premises built next to the historic complex.

  Aftermath

  The move created a more modern operating platform while preserving the broader identity and location of the Cologne fairgrounds.

  Source

1. 1Koelnmesseen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Koelnmesse official websitekoelnmesse.de