COLOGNE, Germany — After reporting a strong show this June, European outdoor products fair Spoga+Gafa will remain in June going forward, rather than shifting to September for future shows.
“The feedback from our member companies and the numerous other market participants during Spoga+Gafa was clear: For the majority of the companies of the garden industry, the date in June is the right choice under the current framework conditions” said Anna Hackstein, managing director of the Industry Garden Association. “We explicitly welcome the fact that Koelnmesse has taken these opinions serious and after actively seeking a dialogue with the industry has demonstrated the necessary flexibility. Spoga+Gafa is an important meeting place for our industry and, as an association, it is an event we deeply value.”
The show, which was held June 22-24, previously announced intentions to move back to its pre-pandemic September cadence. But Spoga+Gafa reported strong numbers of both exhibitors and attendees in June, and that paired with feedback from outdoor industry stakeholders swayed the decision to stick to a summer show.
“Spoga+Gafa 2026 demonstrated how important the personal exchange and international contacts are, especially in a demanding market environment,” said Oliver Frese, chief operation officer of Koelnmesse, which puts on Spoga+Gafa. “Particularly in times of economic uncertainty, the industry’s desire for continuity and a trusted trade fair format grows. The success of this year’s Spoga+Gafa has reinforced us in our commitment to providing stability and offering the industry an internationally established meeting point in future with the date in June.”
The June edition of the show included a redeveloped structure with a variety of specialty areas created to showcase product categories. Outdoor Adventure and Grow Anywhere offered realistic living situations, from micro-balconies to spacious terraces, to demonstrate how urban outdoor spaces can be attractively designed. The Digital Garden Stage focused on digital solutions, retail concepts and future themes. Formats like the Flavour Market, the Pitmaster Stage and the outdoor Pit & Pitch area addressed outdoor cooking and food trends. And the Garden Sourcing Hub created a cross-category sourcing resource.
Spoga+Gafa reported that around 1,350 exhibitors from 50 countries showed at this June’s market. Of those exhibitors, 92% were from outside of Germany. The fair also saw some 23,500 attendees from 112 countries, with 66% of those coming from abroad. Outside of Germany, the largest groups of attendees were from France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland.
Next year’s Spoga+Gafa show will be June 15-17, 2027, at Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany.
