Electronics trade fair IFA likely to remain in Berlin

Despite around a third fewer visitors than before the Corona break in 2019, IFA 2022 was celebrated as a complete success. For a long time it was unclear whether the electronics trade show would remain loyal to the German capital. In the meantime, it is certain: the IFA will remain in Berlin.

Electronics trade show IFA in Berlin: organizers reach agreement

Long before the start of IFA 2022 in September, things were heating up in the background around the electronics trade show. As early as March 2022, rumors were circulating that the trade show might say goodbye to Berlin in the future and relocate.

At the beginning of May, Jens Heithecker, head and face of IFA for more than 20 years, had to leave, and shortly afterwards the new management team around David Ruetz and Kai Mangelberger was introduced. But what will happen next with IFA and will IFA 2023 continue to be held in Berlin?

What followed were long and apparently very tough negotiations. As the Berliner Morgenpost reports and the Tagesspiegel, among others, the organizers Gfu and Clarion have now reached an agreement with the trade fair company.

10 years of Berlin with special right of termination

On November 18, the governing mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) wants to present the results of the negotiations. If Messe Berlin’s supervisory board agrees, IFA will remain in Berlin for another ten years.

However, both parties will be granted a special right of termination after five years. Nevertheless, the approval of the supervisory board is considered almost certain – after all, IFA is an enormous economic factor for the region.

According to the agreement, Messe Berlin will only act as a lessor for the exhibition grounds, while the event will be taken over in its entirety by gfu and the event company Clarion. Together, the two want to further develop the trade fair.

By the end of next week at the latest, we will know for sure what will happen with IFA and whether IFA 2023 will be able to take place at its usual location in Berlin. For IFA, the new beginning should point the way ahead. In 2019, before the Corona forced break, around 245,000 people visited the electronics trade show.

Visitor numbers at IFA have remained at roughly the same level since 2010. But then came COVID-19. In 2022, by contrast, there were “only” around 161,000 visitors – with significantly more trade visitors than before the pandemic, as reported by gfu.