News about the Corona virus

Dear Koelnmesse Customers and Partners,

Even in these times of the coronavirus pandemic, we have a safe and promising trade fair venue to offer our customers. With this in mind, in compliance with the terms of the Coronavirus Protection Ordinance of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia and in close coordination with the authorities in Cologne, we have drawn up measures for our trade fairs in Cologne that will seamlessly intermesh and govern the way we interact at the trade fair. Our goal is to provide the highest and most professional level of safety while creating an environment, in which our customers’ business can grow again. We firmly believe that, with this comprehensive catalogue of measures in place, we will be in a position to organise trade fairs in Cologne soon again.

Get a picture of our measures, which we have summarized under the keyword #B-SAFE4business .

We take seriously the difficult situation of our customers – and their concern for the health of their employees. However, we remain firmly convinced that, if all parties involved behave prudently, trade fairs can be held safely and successfully under new circumstances and subject to appropriate conditions. As event professionals, we see ourselves in a position to create framework conditions suitable to trade fairs, even in times such as these:

Trade fairs with a B2B orientation are fundamentally different to sporting events and funfairs. With trade fairs, the focus is on personal conversations and business contacts.
In keeping with this, the German government classifies exhibitors and visitors as "business travelers with an important reason". There is thus formally no longer a fundamental obstacle to participating in a trade fair in Germany.
We are convinced that our trade fairs offer exhibitors and visitors ideal platforms for accelerating their return to business and for a rapid success after the crisis.
We are also convinced that the participants of our trade fairs are aware of their responsibility and will stick to the safety regulations and precautionary measures.
In Cologne, hotels, restaurants, transport companies and retailers have been familiar with the special features of the trade fair business for many years and prepare carefully for the return of their guests and customers.
As central business platforms, trade fairs offer an indispensable way to quickly and sustainably return the economy to the greatest possible normalcy.
Production, logistics, sales and communication will change, networking of the players, reactivation of economic relationships and the establishment of new business will be more important than ever before. It is essential for all market participants to actively prepare for this now.

We have an obligation to our customers and their sectors to offer them favourable prospects once again. The Koelnmesse event teams look forward to welcoming you to the trade fair grounds in Cologne.

Which trade fairs are affected in Cologne?

The following changes currently apply to the trade fair ground in Cologne:

INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR COLOGNE (originally 01.03. to 04.03.2020) will not take place in 2021 either..
h+h cologne, International Trade Fair for Creative Handicraft + Hobby Supplies (originally 20.03. to 22.03 2020), will take place from 26.03. to 28.03.2021 as a purely digital event
insureNXT | CGN (originally 21. to 22.04.2020) is cancelled, it will take place from 21. to 22.04.2021 purely digitally.
ART COLOGNE (originally 23. to 26.04.2020) and COLOGNE FINE ART & DESIGN. (originally 19. to 22.11.2020) have been postponrd to 17. to 21.11.2021.
photokina (originally 27. bis 30.05.2020) is cancelled.
Imaging Innovation Conference (originally 26.05.2020) is cancelled, a new date is in coordination.
PerMediCon (originally 09. to 10.06.2020) is cancelled, next date will be in November 2020.
THE TIRE COLOGNE (originally 09. to 12.06.2020, postponed to 18. to 20.05.2021) will not be held. The next regular date is 24. to 26.05.2022.
CCXP COLOGNE (originally 26. to 28.06.2020) is cancelled.
gamescom (originally 26. to 29.08.2020) will take place from 27. to 30.08.2020 exclusively in digital form.
devcom (originally 22. to 24.08.2020) will take place from 17.08. to 30.08.2020 also exclusively in digital form.
spoga+gafa (originally 06. to 08.09.2020) pauses 2020. As a central order fair from 2021 onwards it will be moved to June to reflect the business cycles of the garden industry. The next date will be 30.05. to 01.06.2021.
Kind + Jugend (originally 17. to 20.09.2020) pauses 2020. The next date will be 16. to 19.09.2021.
DMEXCO will be held on the dates originally scheduled (23. to 24.09.2020) as a purely digital event: DMEXCO @home. Next DMEXCO will take place from 07. to 08.09.2021.
INTERMOT (originally 6. to 11.10.2020) will not take place in 2020.
ORGATEC (originally scheduled for 27. to 31.10.2020) pauses 2020. The next date will be 25. to 29.10.2022.
euvend & coffeena (originally scheduled for 29. to 31.10.2020) pauses 2020. The next date will be 27. to 29.10.2022.
LivingKitchen (originally 18 to 24.01.2021) will not take place in 2021
imm cologne (originally 18 to 24.01.2021) pauses in 2021 and will take place from 17. to 23.01.2022 again.
ISM und ProSweets Cologne (originally 31.01. to 03.02.2021) will not take place in 2021. Next date will be 30.01. to 02.02.2022.
spoga horse (originally 06.02. to 08.02.2021) will not take place in 2021.
IDS (originally 10. to 13.03.2021) will now be held from 22. to 25.09.2021.
Anuga FoodTec (originally 23. to 26.03.2021) will now be held from 26. to 29.04.2022.
interzum will take place as a purely digital event interzum@home on the originally planned date from 04. to 07.05.2021.

The organizers of several guest trade fairs have also decided to postpone their events to a later date, or not to hold them at all:

IAW (originally 10.03. to 12.03.2020) does not take place.
EMV (originally 17.03. to 19.03.2020) has been postponed to 15.03. to 17.03..2022.
FIBO (originally 02.04. to 05.04.2020) will now be held from 24. to 27.06.2021.
ANGA COM (originally 12. to 14.05.2020) has been postponed to 08. to 10.06.2021.
Deutsche VET (originally 15. to 16.05.2020) has been postponed to 11. to 12.11.2020.
Chemspec Europe (originally 27. to 28.05.2020) does not take place.
Plastic Free World Conference & Expo (originally 16. to 17.06.2020) will take place from 16.07. to 17.07.2021.
iVT Expo (originally 24. to 25.06.2020) has been postponed to 29.06. to 30.06. 2021.
Zukunft Personal Europe (originally 15. to 17.09.2020) has been canceled. A virtual HR Week takes place from 12. to 16.10.2020.
TrauDich (originally 17. to 18.10.2020) will not take place in 2020.
Europäische Taximesse (originally 06. to 07.11.2020) will not take place in 2020.
Profesional Motorsport World Expo (originally 11. to 13.11.2020) will take place from 10. to 12.11.2021.
PMR Expo,will be held on the dates originally scheduled (24.11. to 26.11.2020) as a purely digital event
Babywelt (originally November 2020) will not take place in 2020.
FILTECH (originally 23.02. bis 25.02.2021) will not take place. Next regular date is 08. tp 10.03.2022.

Should you have further questions about guest events, please contact the organiser concerned.

A current overview of the trade fairs in Cologne can be found in our calendar of events .

Which Koelnmesse trade fairs are affected outside Germany?

The following changes currently apply to our events outside Germany:

EmTech ASIA in Singapore (originally 25. to 26.02.2020) will take place digitally from 04.08. to 06.08.2020.
MIECF in China (originally 26. to 28.03.2020) has been cancelled.
interzum guangzhou in China (originally 28. to 31.03.2020) will be postponed to 27. to 30.07.2020.
ANUFOOD China 2020 (originally 15. to 17.04.2020) has been postponed to 21. to 23.04.2021.
Wine & Gourmet Japan (originally 15. to 17.04.2020) has been postponed to 21. to 23.04.2021.
FIT 0/16 und Pueri Expo in Brazil (originally 23. to 26.04.2020) are postponed to 06. to 09.06.2021.
IDEM Singapore (originally 24. to 26.04.2020) is also not able to take place at the new date (19. to 21.06.2020). This year a digital solution is offered from 19.06. to 19.08.2020.
THAIFEX - Anuga Asia in Thailand (originally 26. to 30.05.2020) is postponed to 22. to 26.09.2020 and will take place as a hybrid event.
interzum bogotá in Colombia (originally 26. to 29.05.2020) is postponed to 10. to 13.05.2022.
Alimentec in Colombia (originally 9. to 12.06.2020) is postponed to 8. to 11. Juni 2021.
China International Hardware Showin China (originally 07. to 09.08.2020) is postponed to 08. to 10.10.2021.
ANUTEC - International FoodTec India and Annapoorna - ANUFOOD India in India (originally 23. to 25.09.2020) is postponed to 06. to 08.09.2021.
DAMA in Singapore (originally 09. to 10.10.2020) is postponed to 2022.
gamescom asia in Singapur (originally 15. to 18.10.2020) is postponed to 14. to 17.10.2021.
yummex Middle East in VAE (originally 03. to 05.11.2020) is postponed to 07. to 09.11.2021,
ProFood Tech in USA (originally 13. to 15.04.2021) has been cancelled.
WellFood Ingredients Summit in Brasilia (originally 14. to 15.04.2021) has been cancelled.
ANUFOOD Brazil (originally 09.03. to11.03.2021) is postponed to 12.04. to 14.04.2022.

You can find an up-to-date overview of the trade fairs in Cologne in our calendar of events.

Where can I get more information about the Corona virus?

More information can be found on the websites of the following institutions:

Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (Federal Ministry of Health)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Robert Koch Institute (German Health Institute)

How do the German, European and global trade fair associations advocate for the restart of trade fair business?

Trade fair associations at the German, European and global levels are campaigning in public and amongst political decision-makers for an restart of trade fairs in Germany and worldwide. Together with the trade fair sector, they have developed the appropriate framework conditions and measures and introduced these to the public. The details of these conditions can be found here:

UFI: Global framework for reopening exhibitions and B2B trade events post the emergence from COVID-19

European Exhibition Industry Alliance: Position Paper - Exhibitions and Live Events are the fast track to economic recovery

AUMA: German Economy Needs Exhibitions for Restart

What is to be considered in Cologne?

Cologne is well prepared to welcome its trade fair guests and offer them a pleasant stay of the best possible quality, even under the current conditions. Public life is working – with strict adherence to official rules and with responsible behaviour by local citizens and non-resident guests.

All responsible owners and institutions have developed and implemented measures and concepts for the safest possible handling of each other in accordance with the regulations of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

In the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, retail businesses, businesses in the hotel and restaurant sector and cultural and leisure facilities are open, subject to the corresponding conditions. Please note that this does not apply to the month of November: cultural, sports and leisure facilities have been closed since Monday 2 November, also public houses, restaurants and bars. The collection and delivery of food is still permitted. Retail outlets will remain open subject to hygiene requirements. Accommodation for tourist purposes is not permitted, but will continue to be available for business travellers.

A mouth nose protection covering the mouth and nose must be worn in all commercial, cultural and leisure facilities with public and customer traffic as well as in passenger transport. The city of Cologne recommends that people generally wear a mouth nose protection in public places. Anyone travelling in places where a mouth nose protection is mandatory, e.g. in shops, without appropriate protection will be punished by a fine.

In Cologne and the surrounding region, a minimum distance of 1.5 m must always be kept between people in public spaces. There are exceptions for families and members of the same household.

Public transport – buses, trains and taxis – is running. The nearby Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt airports are in operation.

Passengers on buses and trains must also wear a mouth nose protection. Non-compliance with this rule is a punishable offence. Permanent air exchange is ensured in the vehicles.

Pubs and restaurants are subject to strict hygiene and infection protection standards. Mouth nose protections are mandatory both indoors and outdoors. These may be removed once you have taken a seat at a table to eat and drink. All service staff wear mouth nose protections. Guests must leave their personal data for tracking purposes. Please note that since 2 November, public houses and food outlets such as restaurants and bars will remain closed.

Hotels are implementing individual hygiene concepts that are based on the same rules. The individual establishments are happy to provide information about these.

Shops are generally open regardless of their size. They communicate their rules of conduct individually in the entrance areas. One person is allowed per 10 m² of sales area.

More Information

- Regulations of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (German only)

- Information of the touristic federation of North Rhine-Westphalia (Tourismus NRW e.V.)

- I nformation of the Cologne Tourist Board (KölnTourismus)

As of 11.02.2021