COLOGNE, Germany — After five years of June shows, European outdoor market Spoga+Gafa announced that the show will be held in September in 2027. This year’s show will still be held June 22-24 at Koelnmesse in Cologne.
Spoga+Gafa organizers said the move came after “intensive discussions” with exhibitors, market partners and associations, as well as an industry survey and detailed market analysis of the market’s core segments.
“The move to September from 2027 onwards is a response to key feedback from the industry and supports a more reliable scheduling and product range planning,” said Sebastian Rosito, vice president of trade fair management at Koelnmesse GmbH. “The new date also creates better conditions for effectively presenting innovations and new products. Our aim is to create optimal framework conditions for successful business deals and well-founded market decisions as well to further strengthen the role of Spoga+Gafa as the leading international industry platform.”
The market said the move to September will orient the show better to business and seasonal trends for the outdoor and garden industry. With the season largely over by September, reliable market data, sales figures and demand trends are more likely to be available, assisting attendees in making buying decisions.
“Moving Spoga+Gafa to September is a strategically important step for the barbecue industry,” said Norbert L. Jedrau, chief operating officer of the Barbecue Industry Association Grill e. V. “After the end of the grilling season, manufacturers and retailers are able to evaluate market developments more accurately and make well-informed decisions for the next season. This strengthens the market relevance of the fair and reinforces its role as the key international platform for the BBQ sector.”
Spoga+Gafa also said, “The date falls outside the peak operational period for many retail and industry companies, creating as such better conditions for strategic discussions, well-founded purchasing decisions and international business initiation at the trade fair.”
“We see trade fairs as the central location where retailers and suppliers from the garden and DIY industry meet up and inspire each other,” said Frank van der Heide, managing director of the European Floral and Lifestyle Suppliers Association. “By staging Spoga+Gafa in September and deciding to schedule the fair on set days, we are aligning better with the market timing. At the same time, this creates more scope for topicality in the collections, which in turn offers new opportunities for both retailers and suppliers.”
For 2027, Spoga+Gafa will be held Sept. 7-9, in 2028 Sept. 5-7, and Sept. 4-6 in 2029. This positions the market shortly before Casual Market Atlanta, which will be held Sept. 14-17 in 2027. Koelnmesse said that exhibition space prices will remain the same in 2027 as this year’s rates.
