HANNOVER MESSE 2026 – The HANNOVER Booth

Day 1, April 20, 2026:

Already on the first day of the fair, the HANNOVER booth in Hall 16 (F09) became a meeting place for intensive networking and numerous business discussions, where regional startups and companies presented their visions for the technical and digital future. Following the official opening, numerous high-ranking guests were welcomed, including Lower Saxony’s Minister President Olaf Lies, the Mayor of the state capital Hanover, Belit Onay, as well as the Committee for Economy and Employment with Claudia Görtzen, Head of the Economic Affairs Department Ulf-Birger Franz, and Alexander Skubowius ( Hanover Region). Also in attendance were Sinja Münzberg from the Lower Saxony Ministry of Culture and a Green Party candidate for the election of Regional President, Phuong Dang Thanh, Trade Counselor at the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany, and a Chinese delegation from the Zhengzhou Municipal People’s Government led by Deputy Director-General Liu Yatao.

Day 2, April 21, 2026:

On the second day, numerous regional and international guests were welcomed, including Eva Bender, Head of the Department of Education and Culture for the State Capital of Hanover and SPD candidate for the office of Regional President, as well as State Secretary Matthias Wunderling-Weilbier(Lower Saxony Ministry of Economics, Transport, and Construction). Delegations from China, India (Tamil Nadu), and Finland were also present, including Ulrich Petersen, board memberof the Finnish-German Trade Guild in Hanover, and Hannele Zilm-Schulz (FinDeConnect). A key focus was the “Café Brasil” hosted by Herfurth & Partner, where Renato Pacheco Neto and Andreas Sanden (Alliuris Group, São Paulo) as well as attorney Ulrich Herfurth (Hanover/Brussels) provided practical insights into international market topics. The event concluded with “Vietnam Night” in the presence of the Vietnamese ambassador, which focused on expanding economic and technological cooperation between Vietnam and Germany.

Day 3, April 22, 2026

The third day of the fair was all about exchange, inspiration, and community.  The Gründerinnen-Consult meetup for female founders also provided a space for networking and exchange. In the evening, Hall 25 became a lively gathering place during the 22nd International STARTUP MEETUP, with over 500 founders, entrepreneurs, investors, and visionaries—marked by open discussions, new perspectives, and lasting connections. Guests of the day included Anja Ritschel (Head of the Department of Economic Affairs and the Environment for the State Capital of Hanover), Olaf Kruse (Mayor of the City of Sehnde), and Helge Zychlinski (Mayor of the Municipality of Wedemark).

Day 4, April 23, 2026

The fourth day of the trade show also offered numerous high-profile encounters and strong impetus for networking. In addition to numerous conversations at the booth, Girls’ Day—a day dedicated to girls’ futures—was a special highlight: schoolgirls gained practical insights into starting a business and demonstrated great interest and potential. Guests included Grant Hendrik Tonne (SPD), Lower Saxony’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Alexander Masthoff (Mayor of Seelze), Jan Dingeldey (Mayor of Hemmingen), and Sabine Tegtmeyer-Dette ( State Secretary in the Lower Saxony Ministry of Finance). A special highlight was the HANNOVR Meetup, which offered exciting insights into the virtual reality scene and many new contacts. At the same time, the FEMWORX Career Congress set important trends around female empowerment, in which Gründerinnen-Consult was also actively involved.

Day 5, April 24, 2026

On the final day of HANNOVER MESSE 2026, numerous discussions, new contacts, and great interest in the projects ensured a successful conclusion to an intensive week. Carsten Maschmeyer, an investor from “Die Höhle der Löwen,” was a prominent guest on site who learned about the startups presented. Further highlights included a visit by DIE RECKEN – TSV Hannover-Burgdorf Handball GmbH with their network partners, as well as a delegation from the CDU/FDP Working Group on Economy and Employment, featuring Bernward Schlossarek ( CDU Regional Group Chair for the Hannover Region), Prof. Dr. Oliver Junk (candidate for the office of Regional President), and Ulrike Krause (CDU spokesperson on economic policy and member of the supervisory board at hannoverimpuls). 

Overall, the trade fair draws a very positive conclusion—marked by innovation, intensive exchange, and strong momentum for the future.