Munich has three trade show venues, not just one. If you’re heading to BAU in Riem, you’ll end up at a different address than someone going to Babini at the MOC in Freimann. That may sound like a minor detail, but it could end up costing you half an hour. This trade show calendar lists all the major trade shows in Munich from fall 2026 through the end of 2027, assigns them to the correct venue, and shows how much time you should allow for the trip from the airport or downtown.
Key Points at a Glance
- The three Munich exhibition venues are spread out: Messe München and ICM in Riem to the east, the MOC in Freimann to the north, and the MTC in Milbertshofen.
- The major international events in the coming months are EXPO REAL (October 5–7, 2026), electronica with SEMICON Europe (November 10–13, 2026), and BAU 2027 (January 11–15, 2027).
- IAA Mobility 2027 will take place from September 7 to 12, 2027, and is the largest single event of the period.
- On trade show days, travel time to the convention center increases significantly, especially between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m.
- For trade show days with multiple appointments, a vehicle for the entire day is usually more cost-effective and less stressful than individual transfers.
Munich Trade Show Calendar: Dates for 2026
The following overview lists the relevant trade shows and conferences through the end of 2026, along with their locations.
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| September 15–17, 2026 | expopharm | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| September 15–17, 2026 | INTERGEO | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| September 28–30, 2026 | Bits & Pretzels | ICM, Riem |
| October 5–7, 2026 | EXPO REAL | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| October 13–14, 2026 | eMove360° Europe | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| October 21–23, 2026 | MUNICH MEDIA DAYS | House of Communication |
| October 24–25, 2026 | BEAUTY FORUM Festival | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| November 10–13, 2026 | electronica | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| November 10–13, 2026 | SEMICON Europe (concurrent) | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| November 13–15, 2026 | Babini | MOC, Freimann |
| November 24–25, 2026 | BIM World MUNICH | ICM, Riem |
| November 25–29, 2026 | Home & Crafts | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| November 25–29, 2026 | Food & Life (concurrent) | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| December 14–15, 2026 | Aviation Forum | Unterschleißheim |
Three events stand out. EXPO REAL brings the European real estate industry to the city, resulting in correspondingly high hotel occupancy rates. electronica and SEMICON Europe run concurrently and fill the entire exhibition grounds. Heim+Handwerk and Food & Life also overlap, though they attract a predominantly regional audience.
Munich Trade Show Calendar: Dates for 2027
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| January 11–15, 2027 | BAU (World's Leading Trade Fair) | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| January 29–31, 2027 | opti | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| February 10–14, 2027 | f.re.e | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| February 12–14, 2027 | IMOT | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| February 19–22, 2027 | INHORGENTA | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| February 21–23, 2027 | TrendSet Winter | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| March 9–11, 2027 | ICE Europe | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| March 10–14, 2027 | International Crafts Fair (IHM) | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| April 13–15, 2027 | DMEA | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| April 26–29, 2027 | transport logistic + air cargo Europe | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| June 8–10, 2027 | Intersolar Europe + ees Europe | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| June 22–25, 2027 | automatica + LASER World of Photonics | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| July 10–12, 2027 | TrendSet Summer | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| September 7–12, 2027 | IAA Mobility | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| October 12–14, 2027 | Inter Airport Europe | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| October 24–28, 2027 | iba | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| November 16–19, 2027 | productronica | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
| December 8–10, 2027 | STUVA Expo | Munich Trade Fair, Riem |
As of September 2026. Dates are subject to change. The Messe München’s event calendar.
Three exhibition venues, three trips
That's where most of the time is wasted. Munich doesn't have a central convention center; instead, it has three separate locations in different parts of the city.
- Messe München and ICM are both located at the exhibition grounds in Riem, in the eastern part of the city, right next to the former airport. Virtually all of the leading international trade shows take place here.
- The MOC is located in Freimann in the north, at Lilienthalallee 40. From the Riem exhibition grounds, it’s a good 15 kilometers across town. If you plan to visit both in one day, it’s better to take a car rather than make two separate trips.
- The MTC is located in Milbertshofen, also in the north. It primarily hosts order and fashion trade shows.
Before booking, check which location your trade show is actually taking place at. Confusing Riem and Freimann is the most common planning mistake when traveling to trade shows.
Travel times and realistic time buffers
The following figures are based on our own test drives and are higher than what navigation services show.
| Route | Normal travel time | On exhibition days in the morning |
|---|---|---|
| Munich Airport (MUC) to Messe Riem | [XX] min. | [XX] min. |
| Downtown to the Riem Trade Fair | [XX] min. | [XX] min. |
| Hotel District: From the Central Station to the Riem Exhibition Center | [XX] min. | [XX] min. |
| From Munich Airport to MOC Freimann | [XX] min. | [XX] min. |
| Riem Exhibition Center to MOC Freimann | [XX] min. | [XX] min. |
There are two critical time windows: between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., when exhibitors and visitors are arriving at the same time, and starting at 5 p.m., when evening rush-hour traffic coincides with people heading home. If you have an appointment at the booth at 9 a.m., you should double your usual travel time. Click here for details on the Munich airport transfer service with flight tracking.
In a nutshell
- Riem, Freimann, and Milbertshofen are three separate locations. The venue determines the route.
- In the morning before 10 a.m. and in the evening after 5 p.m., the trip to the convention center takes significantly longer than usual.
- If you're visiting multiple locations in a single day, you'll get there faster with a vehicle booked for the entire day than with individual trips.
When Is a Day-Use Vehicle Worth It?
A typical day at a trade show rarely consists of just the trip there and back. In between, there’s lunch with a client in town, a quick stop at the hotel, and the booth party in the evening.
If you have more than two trips on a trade show day, booking by the hour is usually the better choice. The vehicle stays on the grounds, documents and samples remain in the car, and you aren’t dependent on a vehicle happening to be available between two appointments. Regarding vehicle selection: Business Class is sufficient for two people with briefcases; for a booth team with equipment, the V-Class from our fleet is a better choice.
For exhibitors who pick up guests over the course of several days of the trade show, we coordinate multiple vehicles according to a fixed schedule. For this, it’s worth getting a customized quote that goes beyond the standard per-trip rate.
Conclusion
Planning a trip to a trade show in Munich is easy once two things are clear: which of the three venues it will take place at and how long the drive will actually take on that day. We’ll take care of the rest. You can book our chauffeur service for trade shows and business meetings for individual trips or for the entire duration of the trade show.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trade Shows in Munich
Where is the Munich Trade Fair held?
Messe München is located on the exhibition grounds in Riem, in the eastern part of the city, ZIP code 81823. The ICM, the International Congress Center, is located on the same grounds. The MOC and the MTC are separate venues in northern Munich and are not part of the exhibition grounds.
Which trade show is coming up next in Munich?
Following Oktoberfest, EXPO REAL will be the next major international event, taking place October 5–7, 2026. Prior to that, expopharm and INTERGEO will run concurrently in mid-September, followed by the Bits & Pretzels startup festival at the ICM in late September.
How do I get from Munich Airport to the trade show?
By car, the route takes you along the A92 and the highway ring road; by public transportation, take the S-Bahn and the U2 to Messestadt West or Ost with one transfer. A chauffeur-driven transfer will take you directly to the appropriate entrance without any transfers and with your luggage, which is especially important when setting up your booth early.
How far in advance should I book a chauffeur for a trade show?
For major trade shows such as BAU, electronica, or IAA Mobility, you should book several weeks in advance, as demand throughout Munich increases during these periods. For smaller trade shows, a few days’ notice is sufficient. If you’re booking multiple vehicles, the earlier you book, the easier it is to plan.
Is it worth hiring a chauffeur for just one day at a trade show?
Yes, if the day includes multiple stops or if you're accompanying guests. For a simple round trip with no stops in between, a one-way transfer is the more affordable option. It's the number of trips that makes the difference, not the distance.
Can I have customers picked up at the airport?
Yes, with flight tracking and a personal greeting in the arrivals area. For exhibitors expecting multiple guests during the trade show, we’ll coordinate pickups throughout the entire event according to your schedule.
