Outdoor living is becoming an expression of modern lifestyle and is opening up new opportunities for the trade and industry. The recent edition demonstrated how strongly the significance of the outdoor section is changing and how it will influence the market in future. After three intensive and successful trade fair days, the leading global trade fair for garden lifestyle & BBQs drew a positive balance. With around 26,000 trade visitors from over 100 countries as well as more than 1,600 exhibitors from home and abroad, the event confirmed its position as the leading platform of the garden industry.
The top visitor nations included Germany, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Italy, France, Poland as well as the USA, Australia and Canada. This represents a remarkable result in the light of economic uncertainty and geopolitical challenges, which can also be evaluated as a positive signal for the new schedule. The trade fair focused on key themes that are currently moving the garden industry: the wish for emotional relevance, strategic orientation and market-relevant innovations.
“In a year that is currently still characterised by economic restraint, spoga+gafa underlined the key role it plays as an international industry meeting point,” stated Oliver Frese, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse. “This success not only underpins the international relevance of the event, but also stands for a visible transformation that we will consistently shape with spoga+gafa over the coming years. Progress is not possible without change.”
New Strategic Direction for 2026
With a revised concept for 2026, the fair is ensuring itself a sustainable position close to the market. It is reacting to the frequently expressed expectations of the industry for a clearer structure, stronger target group orientation and a targeted reaction to new leisure time and consumer habits. The “Outdoor Adventure” section will enhance the established theme sections “Living”, “Creation & Care” and “BBQs” with an own hall from 2026 onwards.
Here adventure, activities and outdoor lifestyle will meet product innovation and community building. The outdoor section will become an experiential area for exercise, balance and adventure. The fair is selectively expanding its target groups to include outdoor distributors, content creators as well as brands, who want to stage the Outdoor Adventure theme emotionally and tell a different story.
The outdoor furniture section will be restructured in the course of the concept. Curated exhibition space exclusively for outdoor furniture manufacturers, who convince with sustainable production, short delivery routes and high design quality, will arise in Hall 9. This focus on origin, quality and style not only strengthens the European market, but also creates an unmistakable profile on the international trade fair scene.
Enhanced Product Sections and Future Schedule
Other product sections are also being realigned. The theme Asia-Sourcing will in future be bundled in an own hall under the name “Garden Sourcing Hub” specifically for international buyers. Furthermore, every two years the “Flavour Market” will create a stronger interlinking in the BBQ Hall between BBQ technology, culinary offers and cross-selling potentials from 2026 onwards.
The next edition is scheduled to take place in Cologne from Monday, 22 June to Wednesday, 24 June 2026. This will be the standard schedule in even years in future. In uneven years the trade fair will continue to start on a Tuesday. This flexibility in the schedule guarantees a high international participation, optimal travel planning and the best possible scheduling with regards to rival trade fairs.
