Expertise of the highest standard

Expertise of the highest standard – Messe Düsseldorf excels as an organizer of leisure trade fairs

CARAVAN SALON and boot are the international flagship events for caravanning and water sports

Campervans are ideal for individualists and water sports enthusiasts

Twice a year, the Düsseldorf exhibition center is transformed into a hotspot for leisure activities, whether on land or on water. For many decades now, Düsseldorf has been home to the CARAVAN SALON and boot – the number one international trade fairs in their respective sectors.

The CARAVAN SALON, for instance, can look back on a long and successful history. It first saw the light of day 65 years ago in Düsseldorf’s neighboring city of Essen; after a few years, it had grown so large that it moved to the exhibition center in the north of North Rhine-Westphalia’s capital, where it has been setting up camp since 1994.

The boot trade fair also has a tradition stretching back decades in Düsseldorf; as early as 1969, its resourceful founding fathers launched this inland trade fair and probably did not even anticipate its resounding success at the time. After just a few years, boot became the world’s leading trade fair for all areas of water sports and continues to enjoy great popularity every January amongst its international audience of industry professionals and enthusiasts.

The two trade fairs complement each other perfectly. With its wide range of campervans, camping buses and panel vans – featuring the international market leaders – the CARAVAN SALON 2026, for example, will be showcasing many interesting vehicles for water sports enthusiasts in Halls 12, 15 and 17. After all, a campervan makes it easy to reach the hotspots of the surfing scene, amongst other things, and despite the vehicle’s cool factor, there’s no need to compromise on comfort. The entry-level models from the Stellantis Group (Hall 17, Citroën, Fiat and Peugeot), for instance, are particularly popular with younger people. With the Citroën Jumper, the Fiat Ducato and the Peugeot Boxer, they offer versatile yet affordable vehicles for young water sports enthusiasts. Campervans are also ideal for towing vehicles for boat trailers. In total, this year’s CARAVAN SALON features 93 exhibitors showcasing panel vans, including, of course, the iconic VW Bulli (Hall 16/E60), the practical Ford Nugget (17/B06) and the comfortable Mercedes Marco Polo (17/A09). Click here to view the campervans at the show.

And for campers who’d like to find out about the latest water sports and give them a go at the same time, boot Düsseldorf from 23 to 31 January 2027 is the perfect place to be. In Hall 12, the 60-meter Action Pool will host not only cool contests featuring professional surfers but also plenty of sessions where you can try out wing surfing, wing foiling, windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, wakeboarding, kitesurfing or skimboarding. For anyone looking to take it a bit easier and enjoy a leisurely canoe trip, the new canoe route – around the artificial island – is a must. What’s more, there are plenty of entry-level models to discover, both in the motorboat section (Hall 3) – where boats up to 15 HP can be driven without a license – and in the sailing boat section (Halls 15 and 16).

The figures for the trade fairs speak for themselves:

CARAVAN SALON always shines in Düsseldorf in late summer, turning the city on the Rhine into the secret capital of caravanning. Across more than 250,000 square meters, exhibitors at the world’s leading trade fair for mobile travel showcase the full range of motorhomes, caravans, campervans, vehicle technology, components and fittings, tents, mobile homes, caravanning and camping accessories, outdoor equipment, tourist destinations, as well as camping and pitch offers. Every year, over 250,000 international trade visitors and enthusiasts travel to the event to experience trade fair premieres and innovations first-hand. The upcoming CARAVAN SALON is just around the corner and kicks off on 28 August with the preview and trade visitor day (trade visitors may also be interested in the B2B conference program ‘Destination Future, running from 31 August to 2 September); from 29 August to 6 September, it will be open to all camping enthusiasts.

Tickets and the latest information are available at https://www.caravan-salon.com/.

Every January, around 1,500 companies from almost 70 countries head for their home port of Düsseldorf for the boot, showcasing their latest innovations in boating and water sports. These include more than 1,000 boats and yachts, many of which arrive under their own steam via Europe’s largest waterway, the Rhine. Also on board are exciting destinations and marinas from all over the world. Alongside motorboats and sailing boats, it is above all diving, surfing and canoeing that attract enthusiasts to Düsseldorf. Over 200,000 keen water prospective buyers and fans gather here every year to celebrate the highlight of their industry together. Next boot Düsseldorf will open its doors from 23 to 31 January 2027. All the latest information is available at www.boot.com.