Press Release
PRELIMINARY CONCLUSION: InnoTrans 2026
Record-breaking numbers for the anniversary: InnoTrans 2026 is the hub of the global mobility industry.
Exhibitors, visitors, international reach: InnoTrans 2026 broke numerous records in its 30th year. The satisfaction ratings from trade visitors also speak for themselves.
- Approximately 175,000 trade visitors from more than 120 countries underscore the event’s high level of international participation
- 3,190 exhibitors from 59 countries for the 30th anniversary
- AI, digitalization, and innovative propulsion concepts shaped the trade show
In its 15th edition, InnoTrans 2026 once again brought together the global rail and transportation industry and set new records. Approximately 175,000 trade visitors from more than 120 countries flocked through the 42 fully booked halls at the world’s leading trade fair for transportation technology – a new record in its 30-year history. 3,190 exhibitors from 59 countries (including 750 first-time exhibitors) showcased their products across Messe Berlin’s 200,000-square-meter exhibition grounds, which were fully booked – also a record. With approximately 200 more exhibitors than in 2024 and 180 world premieres, InnoTrans further underscored its role as the industry’s international meeting place and innovation platform.
“The anniversary edition was an InnoTrans of superlatives,” says Dirk Hoffmann, Chief Operating Officer of Messe Berlin: “An increase of more than 5,000 trade visitors compared to 2024, plus 3,190 exhibitors from 59 countries and 180 world premieres: These figures make us very proud and demonstrate the influence InnoTrans still wields 30 years after its debut. Once again, Berlin has brought the global mobility industry together – and created the space for personal encounters, new partnerships, and concrete business deals. It is truly the world’s leading trade fair.”
“Over the past two years, AI has evolved from a trending topic into the single most dominant topic of conversation. With InnoTrans 2026, artificial intelligence has become a widespread reality across the industry,” says InnoTrans Director Kerstin Schulz: “The high satisfaction ratings show us that we are striking a chord with our visitors through this program while also providing our exhibitors with the ideal conditions to showcase their innovative strength.” A representative survey of InnoTrans participants revealed satisfaction ratings of more than 90 percent.
On the outdoor and track areas, exhibitors presented 113 vehicles from 17 countries – ranging from the hybrid locomotive by Chinese exhibitor CRRC, which celebrated its world premiere in Berlin, to Stadler’s hydrogen-powered narrow-gauge train and Siemens Mobility’s software-defined locomotive platform. Other key themes of the trade show included digitalization, automation, and cybersecurity. With the inaugural “AI on Track” AI hackathon and the AI Mobility Lab, InnoTrans also placed additional focus on new AI applications for the mobility sector. The French exhibitor Alstom, for example, introduced the AI assistant “Talk to my train,” which is designed to help maintenance teams identify and repair problems on trains more quickly.
The InnoTrans Convention also brought together high-ranking representatives from business, politics, and industry associations – including at the Rail Leaders’ Summit, the kickoff event of the European infrastructure association ENIM, and the European-African Industry Dialogue.
Sarah Stark, CEO of the German Railway Industry Association: “Every two years, InnoTrans serves as a showcase for an industry that moves millions of people and creates economic growth and jobs with a future. Once again this year, it was the forum for numerous discussions, world premieres of new technologies, and the starting point for strong international partnerships. Here, the railway industry can show the way forward!”
Enno Wiebe, Director General of UNIFE: “This edition of InnoTrans shows how far we have come technologically—especially in the area of digitalization—to enable better rail transport services, and what benefits come from improving and implementing manufacturing innovations. Our journey continues—even faster and even further than before. That is why we are actively advocating for a successor to the “Europe’s Rail” Joint Undertaking and for the opportunity to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible in partnership with European decision-makers.”
Ingo Wortmann, President of the Association of German Transportation Companies: “Even after 30 years, InnoTrans remains the central meeting place for the international transportation industry and showcases the innovations that will shape the mobility of tomorrow. Especially in times of profound transformation within the industry, it offers a vital opportunity to bring people together to develop solutions and jointly set the course for efficient, sustainable, and reliable transportation.”
Wolfgang Weber, Chairman of the Executive Board of the German Electrical and Digital Industries Association: “On its 30th anniversary in 2026, InnoTrans has once again demonstrated just how technologically advanced the rail industry already is today. Manufacturers have the right solutions to key challenges facing the rail sector, such as the roll-out of ETCS and DAK, as well as autonomous driving. Now they need political backing to ensure that this translates into momentum for modernisation and implementation.”
Dr Heike van Hoorn, Managing Director of the German Transport Forum: “InnoTrans has once again demonstrated just how much is happening in the international rail industry. A sense of energy and enthusiasm for innovation was palpable everywhere. We can be proud of our domestic rail industry and of the trade show Messe Berlin, which once again went the extra mile to make this event truly unique.”
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Roland Leucker, Managing Director of the Studiengesellschaft für Tunnel und Verkehrsanlagen (STUVA) e. V.: “InnoTrans has once again impressively demonstrated that a high-performance infrastructure is the backbone of the rail industry’s future. Tunnels are indispensable for this. The STUVA Tunnel Forum provided the ideal platform to generate new momentum for the industry through in-depth discussions on key forward-looking topics such as sustainability and the use of artificial intelligence.”
Pedro Fortea, General Director of MAFEX (Spain): “I have attended every InnoTrans since 2002 and have seen firsthand how the trade show has grown alongside the rail industry to become its leading global gathering. For MAFEX, the association representing the Spanish rail industry and coordinator of the Spanish national pavilion, InnoTrans is a key platform for showcasing the strength and innovative power of our industry and further strengthening the international standing of Spanish rail companies.”
About InnoTrans
InnoTrans is the leading international trade show for transport technology, held every two years in Berlin. The five exhibition segments of InnoTrans comprise Railway Technology, Railway Infrastructure, Public Transport, Interiors and Tunnel Construction. InnoTrans is organised by Messe Berlin. The 15th InnoTrans took place from 22 to 25 September 2026 at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. Messe Berlin is organising InnoTrans Asia specifically for the Asian market from 7 to 9 September 2027 at the Singapore EXPO grounds. For more information, visit www.innotrans.de and www.innotrans-asia.com and Linkedin.
About Messe Berlin
Berlin has been a trade fair venue for over 200 years, and for many decades one of the most important worldwide. As the trade fair company owned by the capital, every year Messe Berlin conceives, markets and organises hundreds of live events. It aims to be an outstanding host for visitors to every event, to give individuals an optimum boost for their business and ensure fair conditions for everyone. This approach is reflected in the company’s slogan ‘Messe Berlin – Hosting the World’.
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