Südwest Messe

Südwest Messe is a public consumer trade fair (Publikums-Messe) held in the Schwenningen district of Villingen-Schwenningen in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. First staged in 1950 under the name "Südwest stellt aus," it has occupied its current exhibition grounds since 1953 and was renamed "Südwest Messe" in the early 1960s. The fair presents products and services across a wide range of everyday life categories — building and living, health and fitness, household and garden, and enjoyment and culture — and addresses both end consumers and businesses. The event is held annually during the Pentecost (Pfingst) week and ranks among the largest regional fairs in southern Germany, drawing roughly 75,000 visitors over nine days, around 500 exhibitors, and covering approximately 45,000 m². A year-round prefabricated-house exhibition, the HausBauPark Villingen-Schwenningen, is part of the fair. The exhibition grounds also host other events, including the Jobs for Future careers and education fair, the DST Dreh- und Spantage Südwest machining trade fair (biennial since 2017), the SÜMA Süddeutsche Motorrad-Ausstellung motorcycle show, TRAU wedding fair, Mein Hund dog fair, and various concerts, corporate events, and indoor flea markets. The site is operated by Südwest Messe- und Ausstellungsgesellschaft mbH. In 2025 the Südwest Messe celebrated its 75th anniversary.

The exhibition tradition in Schwenningen dates back to 1857, when industrial pioneer Johannes Bürk established the town as a trade-fair location with a large commercial exhibition that attracted over 180 exhibitors. A year later, Villingen craftsmen and trade associations followed with their own Black Forest commercial exhibitions. In 1950, Dr. Hans Kohler, then mayor of Schwenningen, organized the first exhibition for industry, trade, and commerce. Around 60,000 visitors attended the event, then called "Südwest stellt aus," held in the middle of the town. Three years later, the town of Schwenningen transferred the fair organization to a private firm, the Büro für Organisation und Wirtschaftswerbung (BOW) in Stuttgart. In the early 1960s, "Südwest stellt aus" was renamed "Südwest Messe." In spring 1967, a prefabricated-house area with a total of 12 fully furnished prefabricated houses from various manufacturers was created on the exhibition grounds in Schwenningen. This area was comprehensively modernized in 2008 and became part of the "Südwest Messe" exhibition as the "HausBauPark." In 2025, the Südwest Messe celebrated its 75th anniversary. The fair has been held on its current grounds since 1953. Over the decades it has grown into one of the largest regional fairs in southern Germany, with around 75,000 visitors over nine days, approximately 500 exhibitors, and about 45,000 m² of space. The grounds also host other events, including the Jobs for Future careers fair, the DST Dreh- und Spantage Südwest trade fair (biennial since 2017), the SÜMA Süddeutsche Motorrad-Ausstellung, TRAU wedding fair, Mein Hund dog fair, and various concerts, corporate events, and indoor flea markets. The site is operated by Südwest Messe- und Ausstellungsgesellschaft mbH.

• 2025

  Südwest Messe celebrates its 75th anniversary.

• 2017

  DST Dreh- und Spantage Südwest trade fair begins biennial rotation on the grounds.

• 2008

  Prefabricated-house area comprehensively modernized and integrated as "HausBauPark" into the Südwest Messe.

• 1967

  Prefabricated-house area with 12 fully furnished houses created on the exhibition grounds.

• 1960

  "Südwest stellt aus" renamed "Südwest Messe" in the early 1960s.

• 1953

  The fair moves to its current exhibition grounds; organization transferred to BOW in Stuttgart.

• 1950

  First exhibition for industry, trade, and commerce organized by Dr. Hans Kohler under the name "Südwest stellt aus"; around 60,000 visitors attend.

• 1858

  Villingen craftsmen and trade associations hold their first Black Forest commercial exhibitions.

• 1857

  Industrial pioneer Johannes Bürk establishes Schwenningen as a trade-fair location with a large commercial exhibition attracting over 180 exhibitors.

Regional consumer trade fair for southern Germany, combining a broad public exhibition with specialized trade fairs and a year-round prefabricated-house park.

• Südwest Messe

  Annual public consumer fair held during Pentecost week, covering building and living, health and fitness, household and garden, enjoyment and culture.

• HausBauPark Villingen-Schwenningen

  Year-round prefabricated-house exhibition, part of the Südwest Messe.

• Jobs for Future

  Fair for jobs, training, further education, and study, presenting careers, companies, authorities, and educational institutions.

• DST Dreh- und Spantage Südwest

  Biennial trade fair for turning and machining, held since 2017.

• SÜMA Süddeutsche Motorrad-Ausstellung

  Southern German motorcycle exhibition held on the grounds.

1. 1Homemesse-vs.de
2. 2Südwest Messewikidata.org
3. 3Südwest Messede.wikipedia.org