International Momentum: What the 2024 trade fair numbers reveal

The trade fair figures for 2024 have been released, offering valuable insights into the year’s performance — with a particular focus on international visitor trends. 

Even-numbered years in Nuremberg are traditionally strong trade fair years.
2024 was no exception, and 2026—particularly the winter season of 2025/26—is expected to follow suit. In 2024, the Nuremberg exhibition grounds welcomed approximately 920,000 participants. Compared to 2023, this represents a growth of 32% in the number of trade fair attendees traveling to Nuremberg. On an international scale, the increase was even more significant, with a rise of 54%.

This upward trend is especially promising for Nuremberg Airport, as the growing number of international participants is likely to drive increased air traffic.

In 2024, 30% of all trade fair participants came from abroad. Looking at the long-term development, the share of international attendees in 2018—the last even-numbered year before the COVID-19 pandemic—stood at 27%. This indicates a strong resurgence and growing international appeal. According to overnight stay statistics from the local tourism board, Nuremberg is consistently attracting a rising share of international visitors overall.

For airlines, the most crucial factor is the origin of exhibitors and visitors—knowing where they come from helps shape route planning. The ranking below shows what countries are increasing in presence during the exhibition period. Outperformer here is Turkey, but the Netherlands and Poland are increasing in participant figures as well.