Autumn 2021: The Biggest Upcoming Virtual and Hybrid Trade Fairs in Europe

Autumn 2021: The Biggest Upcoming Virtual and Hybrid Trade Fairs in Europe

To reach a broader audience and safely organise large supporting events like meetups, conferences, workshops, presentations, etc., most of the biggest Autumn trade shows will be in a hybrid format. Meaning they will allow the entrance of small groups of visitors, but the majority of the contacts will be held online. Altho nothing can exchange in-person meetings, this innovative format has proven to be effective so far. In addition, some trade shows will be held entirely online, eliminating the need for travel and physical contact.

Are you ready to see which are the largest upcoming digital and hybrid expos in Europe? Here we go.

Disclaimer : All of the listed trade fairs were not cancelled during the time of publishing this article. We make sure to regularly monitor all events and keep track of the latest updates. However, please bear in mind that some trade fairs may be abruptly postponed due to the sudden changes caused by the current health crisis. Make sure to go through FairPoint’s Event calendar for the most accurate information.

The Top Digital and Hybrid Trade Fairs in September 2021

Autumn starts strong with some of the most anticipated digital and semi-digital international trade fairs.

Kind + Jugend, Cologne (09 - 11 September 2021) - Hybrid

Kind + Jugend is a well-anticipated trade show for baby and toddler products that will be held this September at Messegelände in Cologne. The event is branded as the “Re-start edition” and will be filled with new surprises. For starters, the digital platform Kind + Jugend @home will allow access to different events and networking meetings, not only for the trade fair duration. It will be up until the end of October. You can interact by asking questions through the chat program and watch the lectures whenever you like, as the records will stay on the platform. The idea is to allow businesses and consumers to interact with each other both in-person and online. You can decide for yourself whether you want to visit Cologne and see the over 1000 exhibitors and their products or do that from your office space.

Kind + Jugend Expo

DMEXCO, Cologne (07 - 08 September 2021) - Digital

DMEXCO is a leading trade fair dedicated to the digital marketing industry. Similar to last year’s expo, the 2021 edition will be in an all-digital format using the platform DMEXCO @home. For two straight days, the visitors can take part in this business adventure and gain new contacts, find potential clients and meet up with digital experts from around the globe. DMEXCO@home is oriented in 3 main directions - business, interaction and content. Over 800 speakers and industry professionals will share their knowledge during the numerous supporting events. This year’s edition offers 120 masterclasses and over 150 hours of conference programs.

Aircraft Interiors Expo, Hamburg (14 - 16 September 2021) - Digital

The Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) is one of the top trade fairs for aircraft interiors. Due to the large international attention it attracts and the global health crisis, this year’s edition will be held completely online. AIX Virtual is expected to be a huge success, gathering professionals from all sectors of the industry. The expo focuses on the latest innovations in cabin design, passenger comfort and inflight entertainment. The 600 exhibitors will attend the trade fair, alongside 160 000 attendees and 1500 airline visitors. The supporting events will provide over 20 hours of lectures and classes. In addition, participants can join the Passenger Experience Conference (PEC), the Taste of Travel Sessions and the AIX Sessions. It is going to be a busy 2 days, but the gained knowledge, contacts and experience will be priceless.

MARMOMACC, Verona (29 September - 02 October 2021) - Hybrid

MARMOMACC is the largest trade show for the stone industry as it focuses on the “entire natural stone supply and value chain.” The event will be held both at the Veronafiere and online. This year, the organisers have prepared a virtual platform that will help connect professionals from all parts of the world. With the start of the live expo, Marmomacc Plus will become active. However, this will not affect the in-person attendance, as around 50 000 visitors are expected to the trade show. With more than 660 exhibitors from 39 countries, Marmomacc is, without a doubt, celebrating a successful edition.

MARMOMACC, Verona

Automechanika, Frankfurt (14 - 16 September 2021) - Hybrid

Automechanika Frankfurt is one of the most popular and anticipated international trade shows dedicated to the automotive service industry. Despite the pandemic, the event will be held in a "Digital Plus" format. This means that there will be a small in-person exhibition at Messe Frankfurt, but the main events like workshops, seminars, networking meetings, presentations and conferences will be online. More than 130 000 visitors, most of them from abroad, were expected to attend the trade fair. Thus, the digital platform will shorten the travel time and minimise the health risks. Automechanika Frankfurt Digital Plus will combine the best of both worlds, providing its exhibitors and guests with an unforgettable experience.

The Largest Digital and Hybrid Trade Fairs in October 2021

The month of October will bring us, not only a lot of different pumpkins flavoured drinks and snacks, but also many interesting trade show events. Here are the biggest digital and semi-digital events you can take part in:

Anuga, Cologne (09 - 13 October 2021) - Hybrid

Anuga is undoubtedly the largest and most important food and beverage trade fair worldwide. Every two years, more than 7 000 exhibitors and over 150 000 visitors attend the expo. It is impossible to describe this event in just a few sentences, so we have a separate publication dedicated to the live Anuga trade show. However, what we want to focus on now is Anuga @home. This year, for the first time, the biggest food and beverage exhibition has an online version. The platform will be up from the 11th to the 13th of October and allows visitors to experience the show without actually attending it. You can browse through different panels, product and services presentations, lectures and seminars and join the virtual conference room. There is something for everyone.

Anuga, Cologne

SPIEL Essen (14 - 17 October 2021) - Hybrid

Spiel Essen is a leading gaming trade fair that attracts more than 1 000 international and local exhibitors and brands. The event has two main parts - an in-person expo and a supporting digital platform. The SPIEL.digital was released in 2020 and gained instant success. This year the organisers decided to keep the platform and use it once more for the duration of the live expo. Visitors will be able to experience some of the joy of the live Spiel by participating in various gaming presentations, demonstrations, lectures and meetups. Due to the pandemic, the popular supporting event - EDUCATORS’ DAY will also be digital. And for those who have decided to go to Essen this Octobre - prepare for an amazing experience.

Frankfurt Book Fair (20-24 October 2021) - Hybrid

The largest and most popular book trade fair Frankfurter Buchmesse will be held as a hybrid event this Autumn. The 73rd edition of the expo is supported by the German government’s NEUSTART KULTUR programme encouraging exhibitors to participate, lowering their stand fees. In addition, the digital part of the event offers a sense of security for the international visitors, as they can avoid travelling and participate online. The event is of great importance for the book industry as it is a meeting point for authors, publishers and readers to meet and interact with each other. The digital format of the Frankfurt Book Fair will allow you to take part in a large conference, as well as multiple networking events. The organisers have taken all the necessary precautions and are expecting 1000+ exhibitors and over 250 000 visitors from around the world. Not to mention, Frankfurter Buchmesse will have a huge media coverage as almost 10 000 journalists have already confirmed their participation.

Fruit Attraction, Madrid ( 05-07 October 2021) - Hybrid

Fruit Attraction is one of the leading trade fairs for the fresh fruit and vegetable industry. Organised by IFEMA and FEPEX, the 2021 edition is going to be both in-person and digital. The in-person expo is expected to attract over 90 000 visitors and 2000+ exhibitors from around 140 countries. On the other hand, Fruit Attraction LIVEConnect is an innovative digital platform that will allow experts and professionals to meet up, network, participate in various conferences and lectures. The online format provides suppliers, producers and consumers with a way to freely interact with each other from all parts of the world.

Fruit Attraction

VitaFoods, Geneva (04 - 08 October 2021) - Hybrid

VitaFoods is one of the top international trade fairs dedicated to the nutraceutical market. This year’s hybrid edition will run in 2 ways. First, you have the digital format that will be running from the 4th to the 8th of October. Then comes the live trade fair held at the Geneva Palexpo from the 5th to the 7th of October. As you can see, the online expo will last longer to accommodate all of the international and local viewers and participants and give them time to explore the different supporting events online. The main topics of VitaFoods include functional food and beverages, dietary supplements, high-quality service and equipment providers and more. As a professional visitor, you will have the opportunity to interact with suppliers from the 4 key sectors - Ingredients & Raw Materials, Branded Finished Products, Services & Equipment and Contract Manufacturing & Private Label. If you want to make new business connections, discover innovative products and partner up with some of the biggest names in the nutraceutical industry, VitaFoods is the place to visit this October.

EXPO REAL, Munich (11 - 13 October 2021) - Hybrid

Expo Real is the most prominent European trade fair for property and investment. The expo gathers 2000+ exhibitors and over 45 000 professional visitors. The 2021 hybrid event is expected to outdo the previous editions. The organisers have prepared more than “120 conferences and panel discussions'' with 600+ esteemed expert speakers that can be attended both in-person and online. The hybrid format allows visitors to participate in the digital supporting events and the physical summits and meetings. Expo Real covers all aspects of the industry - from development and investing to marketing and use.

The Biggest Digital and Hybrid Expos in November 2021

Autumn will finish strong in the trade fair world with some of the biggest and most important expos.

MEDICA, Dusseldorf (15 - 18 November 2021) - Hybrid

MEDICA is the largest and one of the most important trade shows that will be held in 2021. The expo is dedicated to the healthcare industry and this year, due to the obvious global situation it is expected to attract even more visitors than usual. MEDICA will be held as a hybrid event, meaning several events will be held online through its app. The fair covers a couple of different areas - Imaging and diagnostics / Medical equipment & devices, Physiotherapy / Orthopaedic technology, IT systems and solutions, Laboratory Equipment / Diagnostics tests, Disposables and consumables as well as the Joint Stands sector where there will be international exhibitors from the electromedical/medical technology segment. The visitor profile varies from hospital staff and medical representatives to investors, technical specialists and brand representatives. If you work in the healthcare industry or its accompanying sectors, you need to attend MEDICA, either in-person or through its app.

MEDICA, Dusseldorf

AQUATECH, Amsterdam (02 - 05 November 2021) - Hybrid

As the leading trade fair for the process, drinking and wastewater, AQUATECH will attract both local and international attendees. The expo has a hybrid format allowing a broader audience to benefit from its rich programme and existing supporting events. This year’s edition has 5 main HUBs - Industrial Users HUB, Smart Pumps HUB, Digital Water HUB, Desalination HUB and Water Quality HUB. Each of them has its own programme, organisation and different international partners and sponsors. AQUATECH is the ideal platform for investors, CEOs, suppliers, engineers and technical experts, decision and policy makers to network, discuss the current trends and establish strong business connections.

CPhI Worldwide, Milan (09 - 11 November 2021) - Hybrid

CPhI Worldwide is viewed as one of the most prominent trade fairs dedicated to the pharmaceutical industry. This year its hybrid format will allow even more visitors and exhibitors from all around the world to join in on the action. The online platform will be on from the 25th of October to the 19th of November offering attendants a versatile program of supporting events. The 2-weeks digital expo will be focused on 4 main topics - Product Innovation, Future Forecast, Market Insights and Learning Labs. The live show will be held from the 9ht the 11th of November at Fiera Milano and includes 6 different major sub-events - CPhI (ingredients), P-MEC (equipment), InnoPack (packaging and delivery), ICSE (services), FDF (supply chain) and BioProduction (bioprocessing and manufacturing). As CPhI Worldwide’s organisers say, it brings “the global pharma industry together” creating the ideal conditions for successful knowledge transfer and business.

Altho digital and hybrid trade fairs have started to become more and more popular, nothing can outshine the in-person exhibitions. See our list of the biggest LIVE expos that will take place in Europe this Autumn and decide for yourself. You won’t be disappointed with what these shows have to offer.

When it comes to hybrid events, there are two types of attendees - those who join the expo online and the people who decide to go to the physical trade fair. If you are from the latter, you might experience some difficulties. The biggest one being the lack of suitable accommodation options near the exhibition grounds. This will result in more travel time and possible health risks if you use the public transportation system. There is some good news. Companies like Fair Point can offer you affordable and well-located accommodation options for you to choose from. These agencies work with a broad network of hotels and hostels and can sometimes provide you with sweet exclusive deals.

How can we help you?

Do you need an accomodation for your next trade fair travel? Get up to 30% discounted room rates when booked 6-7 months in advance.

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Fair Point GmbH has no legal or commercial connection with exhibition organisers. Fair Point is an independent travel management company. Fair Point does not operate on behalf of or with the endorsement of exhibition organisers. It is this status which enables Fair Point to contribute independently and objectively to the exhibition industry. The names and logos of the trade fairs and congresses mentioned may be registered trademarks to which Fair Point has no claims.