A record year for Koelnmesse in 2024

German based Koelnmesse closed its anniversary year in 2024 with EUR 365.8 million in sales amounting to EUR 21.3 million profit making it a highly successful trade fair year. From a total of 76 events in Cologne and on a global basis.

Therefore, further consolidating the company’s position as one of the leading international trade fair organisers and the new Confex conference and exhibition centre, international premieres, major contract extensions, and new digital services will strengthen the Koelnmesse’s structure and offering. 

During 2024, Koelnmesse welcomed more than 2.1 million visitors from 197 countries and over 34,500 exhibiting companies from 106 nations. A particularly encouraging development was that the company’s subsidiaries in Germany and abroad made a significant contribution to the positive overall result. Koelnmesse remains resolutely on course for growth in the current year.

Our growth shows that those who invest courageously, remain innovative and consistently focusing on the future will be rewarded even in a challenging market environment. We create value for our partners, exhibitors, and visitors, both at our own trade fairgrounds in Cologne and worldwide.

Gerald Bose, CEO of Kolnmesse GmbH

At the same time the company’s planned investment of more than one billion euros in the Cologne site by 2040 marks a clear commitment to its domestic business and, by upgrading the site and regularly expanding digital infrastructures, it is laying the foundations for reliable partnerships with international appeal.

The trade venues with their excellent transport connections and unique proximity to the city centre are highly attractive by global standards for the more than 2.5 million guests who visit us from 220 countries every two years. International business also developed dynamically in 2024 with Koelnmesse successfully establishing eight new events and significantly expanding existing trade fair formats. Therefore, strengthening our international presence is primarily due to targeted activities in key markets and the expansion of strategic partnerships. Koelnmesse has organised a total of 21 new trade fairs abroad since 2023, with nine more on the trade fair calendar for 2025 – clear evidence of the increasing global reach of the Koelnmesse portfolio.

Oliver Frese, COO of Kolnmesse

In our current financial year for sales growth and new business Koelnmesse is aiming for a new sales revenue record with a turnover of around EUR 450 million.

Gerald Bose continues

Koelnmesse has a total of 82 events planned for 2025. These include 60 of its own events. Of these, 39 trade fairs are to be held abroad, eight of which are celebrating their premieres: interzum jakarta, International Hardware Fair Indonesia, International Hardware Fair Saudi Arabia, FSB Sports Show Riyadh, ORGATEC WORKSPACE Saudi Arabia, ORGATEC India, DMEXCO Asia and Labotec (Parma).