Healthcare events in Germany in 2026–27: MEDICA, IDS, DMEA and how to choose

Germany's healthcare calendar runs from October to June and is split between two kinds of events: large trade fairs organised by the exhibition companies, and annual congresses run by the national medical societies. The trade fairs cluster in Düsseldorf, Cologne, Munich, Frankfurt and Nuremberg. The congresses sit mostly in Berlin, with Hamburg, Frankfurt, Wiesbaden and Nuremberg close behind.

November is the busiest month, built around MEDICA 2026. Spring brings the dental, digital health and fitness fairs. Early summer belongs to the European congresses in Berlin. July and August are almost empty, and September restarts with rehabilitation and pharmacy.

The full, live list is on atndr's healthcare events in Germany page.

The four events with the widest international pull are MEDICA, COMPAMED, IDS and DMEA. Around them sit specialist trade fairs and the society congresses, which matter most to practising clinicians.

Medical technology and supply chain

MEDICA 2026 runs 16–19 November 2026 at Messe Düsseldorf. It is the reference fair for hospital, clinical, laboratory and medtech buyers. COMPAMED 2026 runs on the same dates in the same grounds and covers the supply chain behind the devices: components, materials, microtechnology and contract manufacturing. One ticket trip covers both. For pharmaceutical ingredients, CDMOs, equipment and packaging, CPHI Frankfurt 2027 follows on 9–11 November 2027.

Dental, optics and practice equipment

IDS 2027 is held 16–20 March 2027 in Cologne. The 2025 edition, according to the organiser, had 2,010 exhibitors from 61 countries and 135,267 visitors from 156 countries. Smaller regional dental fairs, such as infotage FACHDENTAL Frankfurt 2026, suit practice teams who want a day out rather than a week. opti 2027 in Munich covers eyewear and lenses.

Digital health

DMEA 2027 moves to Munich for 13–15 April 2027. Its organiser reported about 22,000 visitors, 900 exhibitors and 550 speakers in 2026. Messe Berlin launches Smart Health Europe 2027 on 26–28 October 2027 for scaling digital products into European health systems.

Biotech and investment

BIO-Europe 2026 (Cologne, 9–11 November 2026) is a partnering conference built on pre-booked one-to-one meetings between pharma, biotech and investors. bio:cap 2027 in Berlin (29–30 June 2027) connects life science founders with capital.

Care, rehabilitation and therapy

REHACARE INTERNATIONAL 2027 (Düsseldorf, 15–18 September 2027), care:xpo 2027 (Nuremberg, 20–22 April 2027), therapro 2027 (Stuttgart) and therapie HAMBURG 2026 (6–7 November 2026) serve care providers, therapists and their suppliers. Pharmacists meet at expopharm 2027 in Düsseldorf on 28–30 September 2027.

Attend a trade fair if you buy, sell or source equipment; attend a society congress if you are a clinician who needs science, guidelines and certified continuing education.

A trade fair (Messe) is organised by an exhibition company and built around the show floor. Visitors walk halls of exhibitors, see products demonstrated and meet suppliers. MEDICA, IDS and FIBO work this way. A congress (Kongress or Tagung) is run by a medical society, such as the German Society of Internal Medicine for DGIM 2027 (Wiesbaden, 10–13 April 2027) or the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine for DIVI26 (Hamburg, 2–4 December 2026). The programme is scientific, an industry exhibition runs alongside, and much of it is in German.

International visitors who do not speak German get the most from the trade fairs and the European congresses held in Berlin, such as EULAR 2027 (9–12 June 2027) and ESPID 2027 (31 May–4 June 2027).

Germany's healthcare events use a handful of large venues, each with good rail links, so you can plan a trip around the city rather than the event.

Book hotels near Messe Düsseldorf well before MEDICA week; nearby cities on the regional rail network are a fallback when Düsseldorf is full. MEDICA's organiser notes that the new U80 and U81 light rail lines improve the link from Düsseldorf airport to the grounds.

Visitors whose nationality needs a visa for the Schengen area need a Schengen business visa for a short trip. Apply through the German mission in your country or the Federal Foreign Office's consular portal, and ask the event for an invitation letter once you are registered.

Trade fair tickets are sold online in advance, and exhibitors often give free voucher codes to their customers. Congress fees are higher and are usually tiered by profession, society membership and booking date.

1. Check whether you qualify as a trade visitor. The large medical fairs are for professionals. Register with your company or clinic details.
2. Ask your suppliers for a voucher. MEDICA's organiser says exhibitors can order voucher codes for business partners. The same applies at most fairs run by Messe Düsseldorf and Koelnmesse.
3. Book congress passes early. Society congresses publish early-bird rates; for example, Hauptstadtkongress 2027 sells super early-bird tickets until 31 October 2026.
4. Check CME credits. German congresses are usually certified by the regional medical chamber; European congresses carry EACCME credits.
5. Book the hotel before the ticket. In November and March, rooms near the fairgrounds go first.

Prices change by edition, so check the official ticket shop linked from each atndr listing rather than relying on last year's figure.

Pick by what you need to come home with: orders, partners, knowledge or certification.

• You buy hospital or clinical equipment: MEDICA in November; add COMPAMED if you also source components.
• You run a dental practice or lab: IDS in March 2027, or a regional Fachdental day for a shorter visit.
• You sell or buy health IT: DMEA in April 2027 and Smart Health Europe in October 2027.
• You raise money or license assets in biotech: BIO-Europe in November and bio:cap in June.
• You are a clinician who needs CME: the society congress of your specialty, such as DGPPN, DKOU, DIVI or DGIM.
• You manage a hospital or care service: Hauptstadtkongress in Berlin and care:xpo in Nuremberg.
• You work in occupational health and safety: A+A 2027 in Düsseldorf (19–22 October 2027) and Arbeitsschutz Aktuell 2026 in Stuttgart.

If you can attend only one event a year and work across medical technology, MEDICA is the default choice. Its four days cover the widest range of products, and COMPAMED next door adds the supplier side.