Confex and numerous new events strengthen Cologne's position in the event market. As a trade fair and congress location, the city is establishing its leading position in the national and international event business. Confex, which opened in June 2024, made a significant contribution to this, inspiring event planners in its first year of operation and providing new impetus for trade fairs, congresses and events. Koelnmesse GmbH and its subsidiary Koelncongress GmbH are also very pleased with the new additions to the guest trade fair and congress business for the coming years.
Success story: Confex drives innovation — autumn congress schedule full
In its first year of operation, Confex has already achieved impressive results. 41 events took place over 63 days, attended by around 45,000 participants and included numerous corporate events organized by well-known companies from the financial and insurance sectors as well as major IT and scientific congresses. Looking ahead to the coming years, Confex already has an excellent booking schedule through to 2032 and is also gaining a new target group. Numerous medical societies have decided to hold their annual congresses at Confex long term. This target group previously found it difficult to find suitable venues in Cologne due to their size requirements. Confex now effectively closes this gap.
"We are delighted by this extremely positive booking schedule, as it shows the tremendous attractiveness Confex has for event planners," says Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse GmbH. "In addition to the professional event logistics, the city of Cologne is extraordinarily welcoming of its guests. The guest event organisers also feel this. Trade fair culture comes to life here — with heart and soul, many years of experience and individual solutions for every event."
In October 2025, the DGHO Annual Meeting for Haematology and Oncology will be returning to Cologne after 35 years. Around 5,500 international experts from the fields of science and medicine are expected to attend the four-day congress at Confex to present and discuss new approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of blood diseases and cancer. The 55th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, which has already chosen Confex as its venue for several years, as well as the 60th Congress of the German-speaking Society for Intraocular Lens Implantation, Interventional and Refractive Surgery will follow in spring 2026.
A very special premiere will take place in September 2025. Deutsche Telekom's DIGITAL X - Focus Edition, a new platform for focused and exclusive exchange on the key issues of the digital future, will welcome up to 4,000 trade visitors from business, politics and society to this year's focus topic "Ready for AI" at Koelnmesse's Confex.
In addition to this, a long-standing regular customer, the VdS Brandschutztage, with over 150 exhibitors and 4,600 visitors from 20 countries, will return to the Congress Centre of Koelnmesse in both 2025 and 2026.
"We are looking forward to the new medical congresses, long-term contract extensions and also to a strong autumn with a wide range of bookings not only at Confex and the Koelnmesse grounds, but also at all Koelncongress properties," says Ralf Nüsser, General Manager of Koelncongress GmbH. "The excellent acceptance of Confex opens up promising market opportunities and establishes the venue as a driving force in both the national and the international event market."
Guest trade fairs - strong partnerships, top-class newcomers and returnees in Cologne
In addition to the successful launch of Confex, Koelnmesse and its subsidiary Koelncongress also see an accompanying massive surge in demand for guest trade fairs at the Koelnmesse grounds. Newcomers, returnees and long-term partnerships are gaining importance in the portfolio.
RX (Reed Exhibitions Limited), for example, has decided to host PSI - the leading European trade fair for promotional products in Cologne permanently starting in January 2027. More than 11,000 trade visitors will meet around 5,000 member companies of the leading PSI network. This will be another highlight from the RX event portfolio in Cologne.
"We would like to thank RX for their trust in the cooperation with Koelncongress and are pleased to welcome PSI to Cologne in addition to their FIBO and Chemspec events," emphasizes Ralf Nüsser.
Chemspec Europe, the international trade fair for fine and speciality chemicals, took place in Cologne again in spring 2025 and will once again be held in the location in 2026. In November 2026, the traditional BIO-Europe will also return to Cologne. Both events serve to strengthen Cologne's importance as an innovative location for chemistry and biotechnology.
Back in July, the ZEG Bike Show celebrated its comeback after a four-year break with a new event format in the cathedral city, which will take place again in Cologne's exhibition halls in summer 2026 to mark the 60th anniversary of the bicycle buying cooperative, ZEG.
The European Taxi Fair, which has been held every two years for decades, was once again held in Cologne in November 2024 after a one-off interruption and will open its doors to trade visitors at the Koelnmesse grounds again in November 2026.
Two new specialized guest trade fairs are also coming to Cologne. In September 2025, the Power Transmission & Distribution Technology EXPO will celebrate its premiere as a compact trade fair focused on the energy sector. Starting in November 2026, there will be something to listen to at Confex: the first Finest Audio Show Cologne will invite trade visitors and end consumers to Cologne every year.
In addition to the new guest trade fairs, it is encouraging to see that various companies will be holding their exhibitions and corporate events at the Koelnmesse site and other Koelncongress properties in the coming years.
Cologne is a sought-after event location with Koelncongress as a reliable partner
Cologne and the trade fair location not only score highly in terms of hospitality and professional support, but also as a location for science, innovation and business. Its central location in the heart of Europe and good international accessibility also speak for themselves. The inner-city location, the short distances between the city centre, trade fair grounds and the ICE train station along with a diverse cultural offering create additional added value and make the Koelnmesse grounds particularly attractive for event organisers and guests.
The Koelncongress portfolio also includes top locations such as the historic Gürzenich, the Rheinterrassen or the magnificent Flora, which can be booked as a full-service package for side events such as evening or exhibitor events in addition to the guest event.
Koelncongress is already expecting more than one million guests to come to Cologne in the current financial year for congresses, guest trade fairs and a wide range of events.
The hotel and restaurant industry as well as numerous other sectors in the region also benefit from these guests.
"The new acquisitions and contract extensions are a strong signal for Cologne," says Gerald Böse. "Koelncongress has once again proven itself to be a competent event partner in Cologne, offering customised solutions and the highest level of professionalism. We will now jointly expand the location portfolio to include the Design Post, where exclusive seminars and social events will be made increasingly possible in addition to the proven showroom concept."
About Koelncongress GmbH:
Koelncongress GmbH was founded in 1994 from the former Congress unit of Koelnmesse. Today, Koelncongress GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of Koelnmesse GmbH and, with more than 50 employees, serves as a full-service provider in four business segments: Guest Fairs, Congresses and Meetings, Corporate Events and Social Events.
Up to 30 guest trade fairs on the Koelnmesse trade fair grounds as well as an additional 1,700 events with more than 1 million visitors take place each year at attractive locations in Cologne including the Gürzenich, the Tanzbrunnen, the Rheinterrassen, the Flora, Confex and the Koelnmesse Congress Centres.
Further information about Koelncongress:
www.koelncongress.de/en/
Photo material on Koelncongress and the locations:
www.koelncongress.de/en/press/image-and-video-database/
Koelncongress on social media:
www.facebook.com/Koelncongress/
www.linkedin.com/company/koelncongress-gmbh/
Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.
Koelncongress GmbH
Mandy Pahl-Bauerfeind
Procurist I Senior Vice President
phone: 0221 - 821 2537
m.pahl@koelncongress.de
Photo: © Koelnmesse, Hans Blossey