What event highlights will 2025 offer for startups? This article gives you an initial overview of the most important trade fairs, congresses and festivals whose dates have already been set.
Events in the 1st quarter of 2025
January 15 + 16: HAMBURG OPEN - this trade fair focuses on media technology.
February 21 - 23: Gründungscamp - from business idea to mature business model in one weekend.
March 5 + 6: German Creative Economy Summit - the largest national industry get-together for the entire creative industry.
March 11 + 12: d3con - “The Future of Digital Advertising” is the motto of this event.
March 14 - 18: Internorga - startups have their own exhibition area at this leading food trade fair.
Events in the 2nd quarter of 2025
April 1: NCA Innovation Day - 150 startups shall be given the opportunity to pitch.
April 7 - 9: nextMedia Festival - about chances and challenges of the media industry.
April 8 - 10: Aircraft Interiors Expo - the trade fair for the aviation industry.
April 10 + 11: Next.Gen Summit for Good - where the next generation of founders present themselves.
April 25 + 26: ChefTreff Gipfel - for the leap from university to professional life.
April 29 + 30: Inhouse Farming - Feed & Food Convention - a business conference for new approaches in agriculture and nutrition.
May 7 + 8: OMR Festival - the spectacle once again attracts world stars and tens of thousands of guests to Hamburg.
May 20 - 22: SLAS Europe - life science is the theme here.
June 23: Food Innovation Camp – where food startups will find the best networking opportunities.
June 25 + 26: Procurement Summit - the trade fair for digitalization and innovation in procurement.
June 26: solutions: essentials - describes itself as a “makers' summit”.
Events in the 2nd half of 2025
July 10: Hamburg Innovation Summit - business, science and politics come together at this event.
September 17-20: Reeperbahn Festival - one of the world's largest music festivals of its kind.
September 18: NEXT Conference - innovation meets inspiration, according to the event's own description.
October 15: AI.SUMMIT - artificial intelligence in all its diversity.
October 21 - 23: Hydrogen Technology EXPO / Carbon Capture Technology EXPO - two future topics in one trade fair package.
Many more events are planned for the second half of the year, but the dates have not yet been announced.
Events outside Hamburg
The startup ecosystem in Germany has a lot of event highlights to offer, here is just a small selection:
March 31 - April 4: Hannover Messe - a classic that also provides a stage for many startups.
May 20 - 22: Greentech Festival Berlin - a showcase for green and sustainable technologies.
September 17 + 18: DMEXCO Cologne - the focus is on digital marketing
September 29 - October 1: Bits & Pretzels Munich - the startup festival is closely linked to the Oktoberfest.
October 6 - 8: EXPO REAL Munich - the international trade fair for real estate and investment.
International Highlights
These international events are definitely worth a visit:
March 7 - 15: SXSW in Austin/Texas
June 11 - 14: Viva Technology in Paris/France
Beginning of November: Web Summit in Lisbon / Portugal
November 19 + 20: Slush in Helsinki / Finland
