BERLIN — The numbers tell the story: 1,800 exhibitors, more than 215,000 total visitors from 138 countries and 133,000 trade visitors.
The 100th anniversary edition of IFA, which bills itself as the biggest consumer electronics show in the world, wrapped up this week in Berlin. (IFA stands for “Internationale Funkausstellung,” German for “International Radio Exhibition,” the show’s original name.) The main show, encompassing IFA Next for startups, took place at Messe Berlin, and IFA Global Markets, Europe’s leading B2B show, was held concurrently at STATION Berlin.
The industry looks to IFA as the showcase for the latest tech — and this year did not disappoint. The entire show was reimagined, from new corporate branding to ramped-up entertainment in the Sommergarten, featuring rocker Bryan Adams and the comeback of the dance music band Faithless. A “100Moments” campaign of 20 events was launched designed to create excitement across the city, including networking, masterclasses and interactive experiences. Media attendance was up 43%, while the number of tech bloggers and influencers grew 300%.
“IFA has always been and will always be at the forefront of change and disruption,” said Leif Lindner, CEO of IFA Berlin. “However, to remain relevant and pioneering, IFA must evolve beyond a traditional trade show.”
Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz took the stage to welcome guests at the opening event and more than 150 speakers followed over the four days, including industry leaders like Dr. Reinhard Zinkann, Executive Director and Co-Proprietor of the Miele Group, and Mark Barrocas, CEO of SharkNinja.
Visitor numbers were up 18% over last year, with a surge in people from the U.S., Italy, France, Poland, Korea and the United Kingdom.
On the exhibit floor, there was a strong showing from the Chinese contingent. Among the Chinese innovations, Hisense teamed up with “Black Myth: Wukong” to unveil a new ULED TV designed to elevate the gaming experience. Huawe introduced its tri-Fold phone, the Mate XT, which already has more than 3 million reservations in China, and TCL introduced its A300 Series NXTFRAME TV in the new “lifestyle TV” category. Honor had several new devices, including the MagicBook Art 14 and the MagicBook Art 14 Snapdragon PC.
In addition to these major Chinese players, the trade show attracted many smaller Chinese companies. In fact, more than 200 start-ups showcased their new products in the innovation hub, IFA NEXT—everything from a flying car to AI-powered drones. A large number of start-ups also came from South Korea, IFA NEXT’s Innovation Partner Country for 2024.
IFA 2025 will take place Sept. 5–9 in Berlin.
Reach Leif Lindner at info@ifa-management.com
