InnoTrans returns to Berlin from 19 to 22 September 2028. For companies working in rail, public transport and mobility, it is an opportunity to put products in front of operators, suppliers, public authorities and potential partners from around the world.
Exhibiting takes more than booking floor space. How will you make a complicated product easy to understand? Which visitors do you want to meet, and what should happen after the conversation? This guide covers the essential event information and the decisions that will help you make the most of your stand.
What is InnoTrans?
InnoTrans is an international trade show for transport technology, held every two years at Messe Berlin. Its five official segments are Railway Technology, Railway Infrastructure, Public Transport, Interiors and Tunnel Construction. Full-size vehicles are also displayed outside the exhibition halls.
The show brings together manufacturers, specialist suppliers, operators, consultants and public-sector organisations. In 2024, it attracted 2,946 exhibitors from 59 countries and 169,214 trade visitors. The organiser announced 3,170 exhibitors for the 2026 edition.
Is InnoTrans right for your company?
InnoTrans is a strong fit if you supply rolling stock, railway infrastructure, components, passenger systems or solutions for public transport. You do not have to build a complete vehicle to have something worth showing. A specialist component can be highly relevant if the right buyers can see where it fits and what it improves.
If your primary market is commercial road transport, IAA Transportation may be a closer match. For freight and logistics across multiple modes of transport, consider transport logistic. The choice depends on the people your team needs to meet, not simply the size of the event.
InnoTrans 2028 dates, venue and registration
- Dates: 19–22 September 2028
- Venue: Messe Berlin, Messedamm 22, 14055 Berlin, Germany
- Opening hours: Not yet announced for 2028
- Official website: InnoTrans
Exhibitor registration for InnoTrans 2028 is open. The organiser currently lists 10 January 2027 as the early-bird registration deadline and 17 September 2027 as the general registration deadline. Review the current participation terms, stand options and prices before committing to a space or setting your budget.
Visitor ticket prices and conditions for 2028 have not yet been announced. Check the official ticket shop when tickets go on sale. If colleagues or invited customers will attend, plan their travel around your hall location and meeting schedule. The organiser’s arrival and departure guide and Download Center can help with entrances, transport and floor plans once the 2028 information is available.
Build your stand around a clear objective
What would make the show worth it for your company? You might want to demonstrate a launch, reconnect with existing customers, meet rail operators, find a distributor or enter a new market. Choose the primary objective before deciding how the stand should look.
The objective affects the space you need, the products you present, the people you bring and the way you follow up. A stand built for live technical demonstrations needs a different layout from one built around scheduled discussions. If you need both, plan where each activity will happen so visitors and staff can move between them.
Show where your technology fits
At InnoTrans, a complete train may be on display a short walk from a company showing a single component. For a specialist supplier, the challenge is to show what that component does within the larger system.
A physical part, scale model, concise animation or live demonstration can give visitors a useful starting point. Choose a format that makes the application and benefit clear, then let your team handle the detail. In a first-hand account of InnoTrans 2024, an exhibitor described how a working machine demonstration drew attention to the stand. It is one example of how showing a product in action can start a conversation, rather than a benchmark for visitor numbers.
Make the message easy to understand
Visitors will pass many exhibitors during the day. From a short distance, your stand should make it clear what you do, who it is for and why someone in the industry should stop, otherwise it’ll blend in and be forgotten.
Use the most visible graphics for that message. Detailed specifications can sit on a screen, in a product sheet or in the conversation itself. At an international show, make sure your core message and sales materials work in English – add other languages where they serve your audience.
Allow for conversations as well as demonstrations
Think about where people will stand to watch a product, where they can ask questions and where a longer technical discussion can happen. A demonstration that blocks access to the rest of the stand can make those follow-up conversations harder.
The layout should reflect your actual equipment and team: screen positions, power requirements, physical products, seating and storage all compete for space. If you are still deciding what the stand needs to include, explore Wieben Design’s exhibition stand solutions.
Arrange meetings before the show
Contact priority customers and partners before their calendars fill up. Give them a specific reason to visit: a new product, a working demonstration or a discussion with a particular specialist from your team.
Agree on a simple way to record what was discussed, who owns the next step and when to follow up. Sensonic’s reflection on InnoTrans 2024 highlights the value of conversations and relationships that continue beyond the event itself. Your process should make it easy for those conversations to continue.
Coordinate the stand and logistics early
Large models, heavy components and working equipment can affect delivery, access, installation and power. Requirements also depend on your stand location and the organiser’s rules. Consult the official trade fair planning information when the 2028 documents are released rather than relying on arrangements from a previous edition.
Wieben Design can bring design, production, graphics, logistics, installation and dismantling into one coordinated project. That gives your team a clear plan and more time to focus on the products and people at the show. See how our process works.
What can visitors see at InnoTrans?
The five segments cover everything from rolling stock and infrastructure to passenger interiors, public transport and tunnel construction. The Outdoor Display adds more than 3,500 metres of track where manufacturers can present full-size rail vehicles. Previous editions have also included a Bus Display with vehicle demonstrations.
Digital mobility and emerging technology have featured in earlier editions, including the AI Mobility Lab. The official programme will show which presentations, guided tours and specialist areas are planned for 2028.
If your team will also explore the show as visitors, select the people and exhibitors you most want to meet. Group appointments by hall where possible, but leave time for unexpected conversations. You can find other upcoming events in our trade show calendar.
Other transport trade shows to consider
InnoTrans has a strong rail focus. IAA Transportation serves commercial vehicles and road transport, while transport logistic focuses on freight, supply chains and logistics. If your solution is closely tied to urban mobility and digital infrastructure, Smart City Expo World Congress may also be worth considering.
Planning to exhibit at InnoTrans 2028?
Start with the people you want to meet and the product or idea you want them to remember. Those decisions will help define the right space for demonstrations, meetings and a clear presentation of your company.
Wieben Design designs and builds exhibition stands and coordinates the practical work through to installation. Tell us about your InnoTrans plans, and we can discuss what your stand needs to achieve.