InnoTrans enters its 2026 anniversary year fully booked, more international than ever and with a wide-ranging programme.
A milestone anniversary is fast approaching, with 30 years of InnoTrans due to be celebrated in 2026. From 22 to 25 September, the 15th edition of the leading International Trade Fair for Transport Technology will be welcoming visitors to the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. Berlin will once again be the hotspot for tomorrow’s mobility themes, with leading minds exchanging ideas on innovative concepts and smart solutions.
A year before it opens, InnoTrans is once again in high demand. Covering a total area of 200,000 square metres, the display area is fully booked. Interest has grown particularly in the Railway Infrastructure segment. The AI Mobility Lab, which debuted at InnoTrans 2024, is also attracting great attention. In 2026, this special exhibition is again presenting companies and their innovations in the fields of AI, robotics, cybersecurity and data protection for transport systems in a dedicated hall. The AI Mobility Lab is augmented by a specialist stage programme and guided AI tours, inviting interested visitors to explore AI-based solutions and products in every segment at InnoTrans.
More international than ever
Already, it is becoming clear that the proportion of international exhibitors has grown. More than 200 first-time and new exhibitors have registered for 2026, many of them from Europe, China and India.
In addition to Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national railway operator, numerous international transport companies are taking part. They include China Railway, RTA from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR), the Ministry of Transport from Qatar, the Turkish railway company TCDD, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), Polskie Koleje Państwowe (PKP) and the Moroccan National Railways Office (ONCF).
Many international associations are presenting the economic power of their country’s industry, including the Association of Czech Railway Industry (ACRI), Swissrail, MAFEX from Spain, PFP from Portugal, RIA from the UK, ARA from Australia, JORSA from Japan and KORSIA from Korea.
Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Denmark, France, Belgium, Finland, Brazil, China and Japan are among those represented on a combined stand.
The Convention – the InnoTrans thinktank
Featuring numerous high-level panels and expert discussion rounds on current and future-oriented mobility topics, the InnoTrans Convention has always been the platform where specialists come together. Central to the event are the Dialogue Forums, which take place daily during the trade fair at palais.Berlin. They are organised by the German Railway Industry Association (VDB), the German Transport Forum (DVF), the Association of the European Rail Industry (UNIFE), the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (ZVEI) and the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV).
In addition to the Dialogue Forums, InnoTrans provides opportunities for exchanging ideas on every specific topic. Be it the International Design Forum (IDZ), the International Bus Forum (DVF), the International Tunnel Forum (STUVA), the DB Innovation Forum or the Public Transport Forum (ETC), trade visitors can look forward to inspirational speakers and fascinating discussions.
Meet. Create. Inspire. – success-oriented interactive formats at InnoTrans 2026
The Mobility Cleaning Circle, a joint dialogue platform with CMS Berlin, the leading trade fair for cleaning and hygiene, is again part of the supporting programme. The event brings together representatives from all sectors of transport companies and the cleaning industry.
The Railway Influencer Festival is entering its second round and continues to take shape. Here, in a festival-like atmosphere, influencers und bloggers from around the world will be able to network with invited guests. The InnoTrans website lists a selection of popular influencers. A jury will present the Railway Influencer Award in four categories. In addition to the Best InnoTrans Video, Best Brand Video and Best Mobility Channel, there is a new category for the Best Urban Mobility Video, which honours authentic travel stories and experiences with public transport.
The InnoTrans Hackathon – AI on Track event will also inspire fresh thinking. Developers, startups and exhibitors will be working on AI-based solutions. Companies can benefit from direct access to new ideas and talent, while participants will be able to present their concepts to an international audience. The highlight is the awards ceremony on the Friday of InnoTrans when the best teams will be honoured.
Meeting place for the future for the companies and specialists of tomorrow
The InnoTrans Campus brings companies and young professionals together and the RecruitingLAB offers a specialised area for this purpose. The Jobwall displays exhibitors’ current job vacancies, both digitally on InnoTrans Plus and in analogue form in the hall. The Talent Stage is where exhibitors can hold short presentations on their companies. Following the success of its online format in 2025, the Eurailpress Career Boost is now back live on stage. It offers job seekers from various professional fields the opportunity to present themselves with a 90-second pitch.
30 years of InnoTrans: looking back and ahead
This anniversary holds a special highlight in store. 15 October 1996 is when the first InnoTrans opened, and to celebrate its thirtieth anniversary InnoTrans is looking back on trade fair highlights over three decades. If you would like to be there live, make a note of March 2026 because that is when the ticket shop opens.
