Koelnmesse reported a strong 2025 financial year, posting revenue of EUR455.5 million and a consolidated result of EUR62 million, as the German trade fair organizer benefited from the performance of its flagship events, a growing congress business in Cologne and continued international expansion.
The results come despite what the company described as a challenging geopolitical and economic backdrop.
The Cologne-based organizer said about 2.5 million visitors from 214 countries and more than 43,800 exhibiting companies from 120 nations took part in Koelnmesse events during the year, underscoring the scale of its domestic and international exhibition business.
“Our development shows that strong brands, an international presence, and long-term investments enable stability and growth even in volatile times,” explains Koelnmesse CEO Gerald Böse.
The company’s performance also highlights the broader economic role major trade fairs continue to play in Germany and, in particular, in North Rhine-Westphalia. According to a recent study by Prognos, Koelnmesse events generate roughly EUR2.64 billion in economic impact across Germany and support around 25,000 jobs nationwide. In Cologne alone, the trade fair business accounts for about EUR1.36 billion in annual economic impact and supports 14,000 jobs, according to the study.
“The long-term development of Koelnmesse benefits the entire region, far beyond just the company itself,” says Cologne’s Mayor Torsten Burmester. “The figures clearly demonstrate the importance of a strong international trade fair venue for value creation, employment, and the economic vitality of our city.”
Koelnmesse staged 79 events worldwide during the financial year, reinforcing its position among the world’s larger trade fair operators. A major contributor to that performance was the continued growth of established events in Cologne, including Anuga, the food and beverage trade fair, and gamescom, one of the world’s largest video game events.
Anuga was one of the year’s standout performers. In October 2025, more than 8,000 companies from 110 countries presented products and innovations in Cologne, marking the highest exhibitor count in the event’s history and setting a new record for the city’s trade fair business.
“Bigger than ever and unmatched in its diversity,” is how Oliver Frese, Chief Operating Officer Koelnmesse GmbH, describes the event. “Anuga impressively demonstrated the central role it plays in the international food industry. It serves as a showcase for the success of an entire sector and is a key driver of billions in sales,” Frese continues.
gamescom also expanded further, setting records for international participation, exhibitor numbers and exhibition space. Koelnmesse is also using its established brands to build new formats and adjacent business lines. Among them is ISM Ingredients, a spin-off intended to broaden the reach of its sweets and snacks platform. Together with ISM and ISM Manufacturing, formerly ProSweets Cologne, the format is intended to create a more integrated platform covering the full value chain of the international confectionery and snacks sector.
“Spin-offs like these underscore our approach of continuously developing successful brands and tapping into new target groups and markets,” Frese says.
International expansion remains a central pillar of Koelnmesse’s strategy. What began in the late 1990s with the company’s first trade fair abroad has grown into a portfolio of 53 events outside Germany. Over the past two decades, the number of international trade fairs in its portfolio has more than quadrupled, with eight new events added in 2025 alone.
The company has expanded into markets including Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and India as it seeks to capture growth in emerging economies. At the same time, Koelnmesse said it is adapting to geopolitical uncertainty and market volatility. Some events planned for Saudi Arabia in June 2026, including FSB Sports Show Riyadh and International Hardware Fair Saudi Arabia, have been postponed until 2027. Even so, the company said it remains committed to the Middle East as a strategic growth market.
Koelnmesse also pointed to its role in delivering the German Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka as a demonstration of its ability to execute large international projects. The “Wa! Germany” pavilion drew more than three million visitors and received two awards from the Bureau International des Expositions, including a Sustainability Award and a Silver Award for thematic development. The company said the pavilion served as a globally visible showcase for innovation, sustainability and international cooperation.
Another area of growth in 2025 was Confex, Koelnmesse’s congress and event center, which completed its first full year of operation. The venue hosted more than 40 events, ranging from corporate gatherings for international companies to IT, scientific and trade association congresses. Medical congresses were a particularly strong segment, with several professional associations choosing Cologne for international seminars.
Koelnmesse said Confex helped drive attendance growth at individual events by expanding the range of venue options available in Cologne. Its subsidiary Koelncongress surpassed one million guests for the first time across congresses, guest events and other gatherings in 2025.
The economic significance of Koelnmesse extends well beyond exhibition revenue. The company said sectors including hotels, food service, retail, logistics and specialized service providers across Cologne and North Rhine-Westphalia benefit from the influx of exhibitors and visitors generated by trade fairs and congresses. It also argued that infrastructure investment at the exhibition site is laying the foundation for sustaining those economic gains over the long term.
Looking ahead, however, Koelnmesse expects 2026 to be more difficult. The company said the year will be shaped not only by a still-uncertain economic and geopolitical environment, but also by the cyclical nature of the trade fair industry. Several of Koelnmesse’s large international fairs operate on two- or three-year cycles and will not return to Cologne until 2027, limiting the contribution of some of its biggest events in the coming year.
“The economic and geopolitical environment will remain challenging and highly dynamic in 2026,” says Gerald Böse. “In addition to this, 2026 will be a challenging year for Koelnmesse due to the regular cycle of trade fairs. Leading international trade fairs held every two or three years will not take place in Cologne again until 2027. This makes it all the more important to act with strategic consistency, prioritise investments in a targeted manner, and continue to develop our international brands.”
Find out more at: https://www.koelnmesse.de