July 08, 2026
- Around 587,000 visitors and more than 3,400 exhibiting companies
- Investments in infrastructure, sustainable energy management and business development
Friedrichshafen – With around 587,000 visitors, more than 3,400 exhibiting companies and around 50 events, Messe Friedrichshafen successfully navigated the challenging 2025 financial year while setting key priorities for the company's future. Sales amounted to €19.2 million (2024: €22 million). Due to the cyclical reduction in the event portfolio, a lower profit distribution from Fairnamic GmbH and the continued challenging economic environment, the company recorded a net result of minus €3.1 million for the financial year.
Whether leading international trade fairs, guest events, TV productions, conferences or special events – Messe Friedrichshafen continues to expand and refine its event portfolio. Despite the cyclical impact on its financial results, the company remains firmly committed to investing in its events, its infrastructure and, consequently, specifically in the location. According to the Prognos study published this spring, the trade fair generates annual economic effects totaling more than half a billion euros, making it one of the key economic drivers in the Lake Constance region.
"2025 was a challenging financial year. Nevertheless, we continued to develop our events, invest in the location and thereby laid the foundation for safeguarding Messe Friedrichshafen's economic strength for the city and the region over the long term. Its economic impact, including hundreds of jobs, have recently been confirmed once again by independent scientific research," says Klaus Wellmann, CEO of Messe Friedrichshafen.
Successful events and fresh momentum
The company's own events performed successfully overall. For example, Tuning World Bodensee, Klassikwelt Bodensee and Americana further consolidated their market positions or even expanded their market reach, while attracting strong visitor numbers.
The guest event business also remained stable. A total of twelve guest trade fairs, along with numerous other events of various formats were held, highlighting the strong occupancy levels and versatility of the trade fair grounds. Additional momentum and media visibility were generated by, among others, the ZDF's Giovanni Zarrella show productions and a dinosaur exhibition which was held for the first time on the exhibition grounds and had an extended stay over the turn of the year.
Strengthening future readiness
Alongside its event operations, Messe Friedrichshafen continued to invest consistently in strengthening the company's future readiness. Key areas of investment included upgrades to the trade fair ground's infrastructure, process optimization initiatives and measures aimed at further developing the portfolio.
Another milestone was the completion of the photovoltaic project on the exhibition halls' rooftops. The largest solar roof installation in the Lake Constance region was completed on schedule and, with a total capacity of up to 5.7 megawatt-peak, contributes both to the trade fair ground's energy supply and to the climate goals of the city and region.
Fairnamic: a key strategic building block
The collaboration within Fairnamic GmbH remains an important part of the company's development. The leading international trade fair AERO once again developed successfully and, as a guest event held at the Friedrichshafen trade fair location, contributes directly to the company's success. At the same time, the challenging situation in the bicycle industry and a lower profit distribution from Fairnamic had an adverse impact on the 2025 annual result.
"Over the past few years, we have seen that the demands placed on trade fair organizers are constantly evolving. That is why we are making targeted investments in our events, our infrastructure and our organization. This enables us to continue offering attractive platforms for our industries and generating sustainable economic benefits for the city and the region in the years ahead," explains Stefan Mittag, Commercial Director of Messe Friedrichshafen and Managing Director of Fairnamic GmbH.
Due to Messe Friedrichshafen's cyclical negative annual result, no lease payment was made to Internationale Bodensee-Messe Friedrichshafen GmbH in the 2025 financial year. However, the exceptionally high rental payments in previous years – particularly those associated with the establishment of Fairnamic GmbH – have strengthened the holding company in the long term.
Positive start to the 2026 trade fair year
Messe Friedrichshafen got off to a successful start to the 2026 financial year, with strong visitor and exhibitor numbers. Several events have already achieved record results, including AERO Friedrichshafen and Pferd Bodensee. The cyclical strength of the event portfolio, featuring Fakuma, Fruchtwelt Bodensee and Pferd Bodensee also provides a favorable starting position. Messe Friedrichshafen has also introduced new momentum in 2026 with Astro, a trade fair for astronomy, astrophotography and observation technology, which was launched alongside Ham Radio. In mid-September, Clean Pro Expo, a new trade fair dedicated to professional cleaning and hygiene, will make its debut. For 2027, the trade fair organizers have already announced profi.table, a new trade fair focused on practical solutions in the hospitality industry.
Klaus Wellmann emphasizes: "Personal encounters foster trust, innovation and create economic opportunities. This is precisely why trade fairs remain indispensable platforms for entire industries. We will continue to develop our events with full commitment and conviction, thereby making an important contribution to the economic strength of our region."
Press contact:
Frank Gauß, Head of Communications and Press Officer
Phone: +49 7541 708-310
E-mail: frank.gauss@messe-fn.de
About Messe Friedrichshafen
Messe Friedrichshafen GmbH is one of Germany's leading trade fair companies and is based on Lake Constance at the nexus of four different countries. Founded in 1950 to promote the region's economy, it has made a name for itself worldwide as an organizer and marketer of leisure and trade fairs. Congresses, corporate and sporting events as well as TV productions and live concerts complement the broad portfolio. Every year, Messe Friedrichshafen attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors and thousands of exhibiting companies from more than 100 countries to Lake Constance. A total of 87,500 m² of exhibition space spread over twelve exhibition halls and two multipurpose foyers as well as the two open spaces in the inner courtyard of 15,500 m² and the static display of 20,000 m² offer unique possibilities for eventful trade fair days. The compact exhibition grounds with its own lake in the immediate vicinity of the airport as well as halls with hangar doors allow for a wide variety of potential uses.
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