2024: A Primer on the Biggest Trade Fairs You Can Expect

As we catapult into 2024, the events industry is preparing for one of its biggest outings yet! After the proper return to form in 2023, it’s time to get things in full swing as the most anticipated and electrifying trade fairs are about to hit the global stage.

It's not just business; it's about strengthening professional bonds, investigating trends and diving into cutting-edge tech, trend-setting designs, and groundbreaking ideas. Professionals, visionaries, and game-changers will meet up once again under one roof to redefine the future.

From tech hubs to matchmaking, these trade fairs are giving your business all the tools to achieve greatness. So fasten your seatbelts, grab your business cards, and get ready to do business! In this list, we’ve selected the biggest fairs chosen based on audience participation.

Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2024: March 21st – 24th; Bologna, Italy

Prepare for glamour and beauty as Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna, the leader of perfumery and cosmetics events, takes its rightful place at Bologna Fiera. In the ever-evolving realms of cosmetics and beauty, staying ahead means embracing innovation and trends. Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna is your backstage pass to the freshest trends, giving you the edge to position yourself in the vanguard of the beauty revolution.

The numbers are certainly on your side as editions manage to capture the attention of over 220,000 visitors, making their way from 140 countries. Exclusively for industry professionals, you’ll get to network with beauticians, hairdressers, retailers, wholesale agents, distributors and salon owners. The international appeal of the event means networking with beauty gurus from Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Image: cosmoprof

Leipziger Buchmesse 2024: March 21st – 24th; Leipzig, Germany

Step into the enchanting world of words as Leipziger Buchmesse takes center stage at Leipziger Messe. For five centuries, this prestigious book fair has served as the global hub for publishers, agents, authors and bibliophiles alike. An unparalleled platform, it offers visibility and positions you among high-value buyers – 274,000 people in total to be precise.

Forge meaningful connections with authors and readers, publishers, and media entities. The fair is a vibrant celebration of literature's diversity. Navigating the vast landscape of the publishing world, Leipziger Buchmesse embraces all genres from fiction and non-fiction to children's and young adult books, academic, and specialised literature. The thematic arrangement of the exhibition halls captures the wealth of offerings, ensuring visitors can tailor their experience.

In addition to exploring diverse literary genres, the fair recognizes the symbiotic relationship between reading and education. Educational professionals can benefit from events such as the Trend Forum Education, Forum Children, Youth, Education, Forum Teaching Practice of the Association for Educational Media, Digital Learning Lab, and Youth Campus UVÈRSÈ.

Image: b-u-b

INTERMAT 2024: April 24th – 27th; Paris, France

Embark on a journey into the heart of construction and building innovation with INTERMAT, France’s premier construction and building exhibition. For decades, it has been the go-to event for contractors, establishing itself as a major international hub. Positioned perfectly to experience the latest machinery and equipment in real work conditions, INTERMAT provides unparalleled opportunities to network, generate targeted sales leads, and break into highly competitive markets!

Since its inception in 1988, INTERMAT has become a colossal success in Europe, expanding its influence to the East with INTERMAT India and INTERMAT Asia. With the last edition pulling in over 173,000 trade visitors from 160 countries, it’s easy to see why.

The product portfolio is extensive, covering earthmoving, demolition & transportation; buildings & concrete sector; lifting & handling; roads, minerals & foundations; and new technologies. With a live demo area and the INTERMAT Innovation Awards, there's a lot to explore at the exhibition.

The demo area, spanning over 30,000 sq. metres of outdoor exhibition space, is a show in itself. Witness a wide range of machinery performing under real-life conditions. It's a spectacular sight and the most effective way to showcase and sell your vehicles and machinery. Buyers can inspect machinery in great detail and witness its performance as intended.

Image: volvoce

ACHEMA 2024: June 10th – 14th; Frankfurt, Germany

ACHEMA, renowned as the definitive platform for advancements in chemical engineering and the process industry, is gearing up for an extraordinary showcase of innovation. This international exhibition focuses on pivotal topics such as sustainability, safety, and water management. Exhibitors present innovations in analysis technology, laboratory technology, security systems, equipment and instrumentation. The success of ACHEMA stems from its superior B2B platform that serviced a total of 144,628 industry visitors in 2022 and a one-of-a-kind information program.

ACHEMA sets trends across every field with each edition. The exhibition, organised every three years at Messe Frankfurt, charts the entire history of the industry and features special themes complementing its core topics: chemical engineering, energy & alternative feedstock, chemical & biochemical reaction technology, and material processing.

The PRAXISforum comprises a series of short presentations with a practical focus, touching upon best practices, productions and the latest technologies ready for use. For disruptors in the sector, the ACHEMA Start-up Award offers a chance to shine.

Image: frankfurt-rhein-main

IFA Berlin 2024: September 6th – 10th; Berlin, Germany

IFA Berlin stands tall as the world’s premier international trade show for consumer electronics, a must-attend spectacle driving innovation in home appliances. Located at Messe Berlin, it has earned its place among the leading global events, attracting the biggest manufacturers and brands, and with an audience that exceeded 238,000 trade visitors in 2022, it's a thriving marketplace to delve into and reach new regions.

This trade show exhibits a vast array of products, embracing emerging technology markets. The product portfolio spans audio-visual technology, information technology, television technology, multimedia, data transmission, robotics, IoT, smart home, HiFi, payment systems, VOD, air solutions, music electronics and electric household appliances.

In addition to the staple product areas, IFA Berlin has crafted Special Areas IFA, offering a glimpse into the future of home and personal electronics. The IFA iZone serves as a playground for mobile accessories and the product world of Mac, iTech, and Apps. Reseller Park connects exhibitors to major resellers, while IFA Smart Home explores trends in digital home technology.