February 18-22: Travel and Leisure Fair in Munich 2026

Travel and Leisure Fair "Free"

A major leisure fair in Munich will showcase how the desire for travel has changed, starting February 18th – Crete will be the partner country in 2026

From February 18th to 22nd, 2026, at the Munich Trade Fair Center in Riem, Travel and Leisure Fair Motorcycle Exhibition and Auto days  (Español, Deutsch, English, Italiano, Français)

Munich. The major travel and leisure fair "Free" has been held for 55 years and will launch on February 18th, 2026, concurrently with IMOT (motorcycle show) and the Munich Auto Days at the Munich Trade Fair Center. Over 900 exhibitors from 50 countries will present the latest innovations from all areas of leisure, including camping, cycling, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), climbing, and diving. The fair will also address the desire for new forms of travel, helping with vacation planning. As surveys – a representative YouGov survey commissioned by the travel and leisure fair – show, the desire for "nature and tranquility when choosing a vacation" is a central theme this year. The beautiful island of Crete will be highlighted as the partner region of the travel fair this year. From February 18th to 22nd, 2026, the inspiration and orientation platform for relaxed, exciting, and individual leisure and vacation planning will attract many visitors to Munich-Riem. Homepage: free-muenchen.de

 

Lake Starnberg – View from Ammerland towards Seeshaupt and the Alps, Photo: February 11, 2026, A. Waess – Press Photo Archive

A closer look at the survey

• Wellness and relaxation trips have seen particularly strong growth. 22 percent of those who wouldn't have booked such a trip 10 years ago now appreciate them.
• Cruises (18 percent), camping and van life (17 percent), as well as solo trips and city breaks (15 percent each) are also now popular with many who would have ruled out such trips previously.
• For almost 40 percent of respondents, budget and price trends are the most important factors influencing their future travel and leisure activities.
• Around a quarter cite the desire for more nature and tranquility as a key driver.

"The results clearly show that travel behavior is becoming more individualized and is no longer a fixed ritual," say Stefan Rummel and Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, Managing Directors of Messe München. "Depending on one's life circumstances, needs change. f.re.e offers precisely the guidance and comparison that people are looking for today. As the leading travel and leisure fair, it has been delivering genuine experiences and new ideas for 55 years."

 

Art and Culture Blog Cover: Lake Starnberg with its Alpine panorama – Bavaria offers everything from water sports to alpine climbing and cycling tours, Photo: A. Waess (February 11, 2026) – Press Photo Archive

Partner Region Crete

Half of those surveyed know that Crete is the largest island in Greece. However, its diverse landscapes and climates are often underestimated.

While around a third associate Crete with one of the oldest and healthiest cuisines in Europe, only 29 percent are aware of its different climate zones – from the high mountains to the Mediterranean coast.

The 2026 Leisure Fair will specifically highlight this multifaceted nature.

It will present Crete as a travel destination that combines active holidays, nature experiences, and culinary delights – making it an ideal fit for the fair's thematic areas.

Lake Starnberg with its Alpine panorama – Bavaria offers everything from water sports to alpine climbing and cycling tours. Photo: A. Waess (February 11, 2026) – Press Photo Archive

Travel and Leisure Fair "Free"

Location: Messe München, Messestadt East/West

Dates 2026: February 18–22 (Wed–Sun)

Getting there: U2 subway to "Messestadt Ost" or "Messestadt West".

Highlights 2026: The IMOT(motorcycle exhibition) and Munich Auto Days will take place concurrently.

Munich: World's Leading Trade Fair Laser World of Photonics 2025

Munich: Laser World of Photonics 2025, the world's leading trade fair,

The Laser World of Photonics 2025 trade fair closed with record numbers and provided a boost for the industry with strong innovations. The following trade fairs took place in parallel: Laser World of Photonics, World of Quantum, Automatica, and the World of Photonics Congress (with 3,000 scientific presentations)

June 27, 2025: Enthusiastic exhibitors welcomed 44,000 visitors to Munich in just four days (Source: Press release from Messe München dated June 27, 2025) (French, Italian, German) ( Français, Italiano, Deutsch, English)

Munich. Laser World of Photonics 2025 is just one of the world's leading trade fairs at the Munich Exhibition Center. Held in Munich from June 24 to 27, 1,398 exhibitors from 41 countries presented the entire spectrum of photonic technologies at the world's leading trade fair. According to Messe München's press release, over 44,000 visitors were inspired by trending topics in the supporting program and talks: secondary sources, integrated photonics, biophotonics, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The parallel World of Photonics Congress brought the international research elite, including Nobel laureates Prof. Anne L'Huillier and Prof. Ferenc Krausz, to Munich for six days. In this blog, we're sharing our contribution to:  automatica - Die Weltleitmesse für intelligente Automation und Robotik = automatica - The World's Leading Trade Fair for Intelligent Automation and Robotics
 

View of the Alps – visible on the horizon from Munich in good weather! - Photo: Helga Waess, Munich (press photo archive)

 Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, Managing Director of Messe München, is satisfied:

"Laser World of Photonics was once again a complete success this year. It demonstrated once again how innovative the photonics industry is. Together with World of Quantum and automatica, it provided pioneering impetus for research and industry. The trade fair trio has once again proven: Munich is a hotspot for innovation..."

And during his visit to the three trade fairs, Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs Huber Aiwanger emphasized the strategic importance of the industry:

"Photonics is a key technology without which many other high-tech industries would be inconceivable."

Dr. Wilhelm Kaenders, Chairman of the Exhibitor Advisory Board and CEO of TOPTICA Photonics AG, emphasized:

"An industry that has always experienced strong growth is once again seeing an upward trend at the largest LASER trade fair of all time, fueled by customer interest and technological innovations..." 

 

A conclusion that Exhibition Director Anke Odouli can confirm from discussions with exhibitors:

"We have spoken with many companies from all over the world in recent days. They have all signaled to us that they are in a positive mood and will return from Munich with renewed vigor."

The figures suggest an optimistic outlook

Despite a challenging economic environment, experts expect the global photonics market to grow by at least six percent annually in the coming years.

"Although companies are operating in difficult economic times, the expectation that the trade fair can also contribute to improving business is palpable. A trade fair at its best!" Spectaris Managing Director Jörg Mayer summarizes the mood in the industry.

Synergies between photonics, quantum, and robotics

The two parallel trade fairs, World of Quantum and automatica, provided added value and new impetus.

"The joint organization of the three trade fairs impressively demonstrated how photonics, quantum technologies, and automation complement each other in practice," says Dr. Sven Breitung, Managing Director of the VDMA Working Group for Lasers and Laser Systems for Material Processing, adding: "Cross-trade fair formats such as showcases, guided tours, and a special exhibition ensured a powerful experience – with high added value for exhibitors and visitors."

 

 Top Meeting of Photonics Research

Europe's largest photonics congress accompanied the trade fair and offered a scientific platform of the highest caliber.

Among the scientific luminaries present were, for example, 

• the two Nobel Prize winners Prof. Anne L'Huillier and Prof. Ferenc Krausz,
• Herbert Walther Award winner Prof. Michael Fleischhauer
• and Prof. Christine Silberhorn.

"With its diverse program and distinguished speakers, the congress brought together international experts from science and industry, encouraged networking, and provided inspiring impulses. A globally groundbreaking event for photonics!" says Prof. Carlo Holly from Fraunhofer ILT and TOS RWTH Aachen, in his role as Chair of the World of Photonics Congress Steering Committee.

In five specialist conferences with around 3,000 scientific presentations and poster sessions, the congress covered all aspects of photonics over six days – from basic research to application-oriented development.

 

Laser World of Photonics in Numbers

1,398 exhibitors (2023: 1,220 exhibitors) traveled from 41 countries and regions, representing a 68 percent share of international visitors.

Approximately 44,000 visitors came from 74 countries and regions (2023: over 40,000 visitors), with 57 percent coming from abroad.

The top ten visitor countries after Germany were (in this order): Great Britain and Northern Ireland, France, Italy, China, Switzerland, the USA, Japan, Austria, Spain, and the Netherlands.

The next three trade fairs:

Laser World of Photonics - World of Quantum - Automatica

• June 22-25, 2027 in Munich

The next World of Photonics Congress

• June 20-25, 2027