IFA Berlin, the world’s leading industry event for consumer electronics and home appliances, is gearing up for a full-scale and real-life return to the exhibition halls and fairgrounds of Messe Berlin. Last year saw a deliberately small-scale “special edition” of IFA Berlin, extending the invitation-only real-life presentations and meetings with a virtual exhibition and event space.
With the world on course to emerge from the pandemic, the organisers are now seeing huge interest from brands, manufacturers and retailers across all industry sectors, who want to come to Berlin and see products and innovation in action once again. IFA Berlin 2021 will take place from 3 to 7 September. Some exhibition segments are seeing unprecedented levels of interest and are already reserved by more than 80%.
“IFA Berlin is the world’s most inspiring tech event, and completely unique in its depth and breadth of showcasing the global technology industry – from start-ups to the biggest consumer electronics brands in the world,” says Martin Ecknig, CEO of Messe Berlin. “The message we hear from our industry is loud and clear: ‘Tech is Back in Berlin’ and ready to meet with retailers, media and consumers – safely, but in real life.”
Kai Hillebrandt, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of gfu Consumer & Home Electronics GmbH, says: “It’s been a tough year for everybody, but our industry has innovated and worked really hard to help people cope and be resilient – to make it possible to stay connected with friends and families, to work from home, to stay healthy and even entertain ourselves at a time of lockdowns and other restrictions. Now we are ready to showcase our innovation for the future beyond.”
Just like during last year’s “special edition” of IFA, public health and safety is the top priority for the organisers of IFA Berlin 2021. They are in constant contact with public health authorities as they develop concepts that will ensure the safety of visitors and exhibitors alike.
“As always, keeping our visitors and exhibitors safe is our top priority. The global vaccination effort is gaining huge momentum, while tough lockdowns are finally beginning to pay off – which gives us confidence that we can invite the world to come to Berlin in September for IFA 2021,” says Jens Heithecker, IFA Executive Director and Executive Vice President of Messe Berlin. “Of course, with all our precautions to ensure everybody’s good health, we don’t expect IFA Berlin 2021 to set new records. However, the trend is clear: IFA Berlin is set for a full-scale comeback, to lead our industry once more.”
This year IFA Berlin will offer an even broader event portfolio:
• The IFA Berlin exhibition spread across the full space of Messe Berlin, including industry keynotes
• IFA NEXT, the edge of tomorrow – bringing together IT market leaders, innovators, start-ups, researchers, developers and entrepreneurs
• SHIFT Mobility – a convention on the future of urban mobility
• IFA+ Summit – with megatrends of digital future technologies
Two events are IFA newcomers:
• Tech Up for Women – a highly innovative conference, designed by women for women, to learn from and with top female executives, researchers and experts and to establish global networks
• Berlin Photo Week – a creative and spectacular reinforcement of IFA’s product portfolio on the subject of imaging on the exhibition grounds in parallel with Berlin Photo Week events throughout the city
During the most recent full-scale event, in 2019, IFA Berlin welcomed 238,700 visitors, 1,930 industry partners and 5,360 journalists – all coming from more than 130 countries and territories.
Last year’s special edition of IFA Berlin – a tightly controlled, three-day real-life event, amplified and extended by a virtual exhibition space – had 145,900 visitors onsite and online, with 1,570 industry partners participating and 10,750 journalists following the event. The special edition attracted visitors from 100 countries and territories.
About IFA Berlin
IFA, the world’s most significant trade show for consumer and home electronics with a record number of new products being unveiled is the main market place for key retailers, buyers, and experts from the industry and the media. IFA 2021 takes place in Berlin from 3-7 September.
