Marking its 30th anniversary, InnoTrans set records in almost every category. It was not just the numbers that impressed, but also the high-quality of the participants.
InnoTrans 2026 set new records as it celebrated its 30th anniversary. A total of 175,591 trade visitors from 128 countries attended the event at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds from 22 to 25 September. 3,190 exhibitors from 59 countries presented their products and innovations across all 42 exhibition halls as well as on the Outdoor Display and Track area, covering a total net exhibition area of 119,767 square metres.
With 180 world premieres, the 15th edition of InnoTrans once again underlined its role as a key innovation platform for the international mobility industry. Artificial intelligence, digitalisation, automation and alternative drive technologies were among the defining topics of the four-day event.
“The anniversary edition was an InnoTrans of superlatives. For us, however, it is not size alone that matters, but above all the quality of the event. The fact that 94.8% of our exhibitors were very satisfied with their participation is a strong endorsement. When it comes to the important area of business deals, the rating also remains at an exceptionally high level at 88.6 per cent. InnoTrans does more than bring the global mobility industry together – it is where concrete business deals, partnerships and projects take shape,” has noted Dirk Hoffmann, Chief Operating Officer of Messe Berlin.
“We are particularly pleased with these figures, because ultimately the satisfaction of our exhibitors and trade visitors is what determines the success of InnoTrans. Over four days in Berlin, the industry demonstrated the innovative strength with which it is shaping the mobility of tomorrow. We will carry this momentum forward and are already looking forward to welcoming the international mobility industry back to Berlin in 2028,” has commented InnoTrans Director Kerstin Schulz.
The international reach of InnoTrans was reflected not only in the attendance of trade visitors from 128 countries. A total of 753 first-time and new exhibitors took part in the anniversary edition. In addition, 32 national and joint stands from 25 countries were represented, including Japan, Brazil and Zimbabwe.
International decision-makers also used the world’s leading trade fair for transport technology as an opportunity for direct dialogue. A total of 14 delegation tours took place, including delegations from Saudi Arabia, India and Canada. From the opening day onwards, the large number of international joint stands and delegations underlined the global reach of InnoTrans.
Key topics included artificial intelligence, autonomous public transport and robotics. Alternative drive technologies were particularly prominent among the 113 vehicles presented on the Outdoor Display and Track area. Manufacturers showcased, among other innovations, hybrid locomotives with fuel-cell technology, battery-powered multiple units and the world’s first hydrogen-powered narrow-gauge train.
“InnoTrans 2026 confirms that rail has never been more strategically important than it is today. As societies seek more sustainable, resilient and efficient mobility systems, rail must deliver more capacity, greater connectivity and more value than ever before. Our shared responsibility as an industry is to unlock and realise the full potential of rail for passengers, operators and society,” has stated Martin Sion, CEO of Alstom and Chairman of the UNIFE Presiding Board.
“InnoTrans 2026 demonstrated the tremendous momentum behind the digital transformation of rail transport. What began as a vision of connected rail systems and open platforms has now become reality, delivering significant value to our customers worldwide. By bringing together infrastructure, rolling stock, customer service, software, data and AI, we are helping operators achieve greater capacity, availability and efficiency across their networks. InnoTrans remains the place where these ideas turn into partnerships, projects and tangible results, decisively advancing the future of sustainable mobility,” has noted Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility.
“InnoTrans brought together the entire world of public transport, and for us it was an opportunity to demonstrate that the Škoda Group today offers far more than individual vehicles. We showed how we combine modern rail and road vehicles with digital technologies, signalling systems, drives and other key components. In Berlin, we presented solutions that are no longer merely a vision of the future – they have proven themselves in daily operation and are already helping our customers in various countries make public transport more attractive, safer and more efficient,” has commented Petr Novotný, CEO of Škoda Group.
“The anniversary edition of InnoTrans was extremely successful for us. We welcomed high-level delegations, the Federal Minister of Transport and many of his European counterparts to our stand, as well as representatives from a wide range of government departments at working level. The panels were excellently organised and featured outstanding participants. Our stand attracted consistently high visitor numbers. I am particularly pleased by the tremendous interest in our value creation and our long-standing technology heritage in Germany and Europe, as well as in our technological contributions to the digitalisation of rail in Germany, digital control and signalling technology, particularly Digital Interlocking in the Cloud and ATO, and especially our AI-supported asset management solution HMAX and existing use cases. We are very much looking forward to the next InnoTrans,” has added Isabel Vollers, Managing Director of Hitachi Rail Germany
“InnoTrans sets the pace for the rail industry. In 2026, it provided us with a valuable platform for dialogue with vehicle manufacturers, rail operators and signalling specialists. One thing became clear: everyone shares the same goal of making the rail industry even more digital, powerful and compact. Our discussions confirmed that we are on the right track with our connector and cable portfolio. Whether in digital signalling technology or where installation space is limited, HARTING supports modern rail infrastructure with solutions designed for greater power and data performance,” has concluded Jörg Scheer, Senior Vice-President Market, HARTING.