InnoTrans 2026 concluded its 15th edition with record participation, reaffirming its position as a leading global platform for rail and transport technology. Held at Messe Berlin, the anniversary edition welcomed approximately 175,000 trade visitors from more than 120 countries across 42 fully booked halls.
A total of 3,190 exhibitors from 59 countries, including 750 first-time exhibitors, showcased their technologies and solutions across 200,000 square metres of exhibition space. The event featured around 180 world premieres, with approximately 200 more exhibitors participating compared with the 2024 edition.
The outdoor and track areas featured 113 vehicles from 17 countries. Highlights included CRRC’s hybrid locomotive, Stadler’s hydrogen-powered narrow-gauge train and Siemens Mobility’s software-defined locomotive platform.
Artificial intelligence emerged as one of the defining themes of the exhibition, alongside digitalisation, automation and cybersecurity. New initiatives such as the “AI on Track” hackathon and AI Mobility Lab explored emerging applications of AI in transportation. Alstom, for instance, presented “Talk to my train”, an AI assistant designed to support faster identification and resolution of train maintenance issues.
The InnoTrans Convention brought together senior representatives from business, government and industry associations through platforms including the Rail Leaders’ Summit, the European-African Industry Dialogue and the launch of the European infrastructure association ENIM.
With more than 90% participant satisfaction reported through a representative survey, InnoTrans 2026 demonstrated the continued importance of face-to-face engagement, innovation and international collaboration in shaping the future of global mobility.
Sarah Stark, CEO of the German Railway Industry Association: “Every two years, InnoTrans serves as a showcase for an industry that moves millions of people and creates economic growth and jobs with a future. Once again this year, it was the forum for numerous discussions, world premieres of new technologies, and the starting point for strong international partnerships. Here, the railway industry can show the way forward!”
Enno Wiebe, Director General of UNIFE: “This edition of InnoTrans shows how far we have come technologically—especially in the area of digitalization—to enable better rail transport services, and what benefits come from improving and implementing manufacturing innovations. Our journey continues—even faster and even further than before. That is why we are actively advocating for a successor to the “Europe’s Rail” Joint Undertaking and for the opportunity to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible in partnership with European decision-makers.”
Ingo Wortmann, President of the Association of German Transportation Companies: “Even after 30 years, InnoTrans remains the central meeting place for the international transportation industry and showcases the innovations that will shape the mobility of tomorrow. Especially in times of profound transformation within the industry, it offers a vital opportunity to bring people together to develop solutions and jointly set the course for efficient, sustainable, and reliable transportation.”
Wolfgang Weber, Chairman of the Executive Board of the German Electrical and Digital Industries Association: “On its 30th anniversary in 2026, InnoTrans has once again demonstrated just how technologically advanced the rail industry already is today. Manufacturers have the right solutions to key challenges facing the rail sector, such as the roll-out of ETCS and DAK, as well as autonomous driving. Now they need political backing to ensure that this translates into momentum for modernisation and implementation.”
Dr Heike van Hoorn, Managing Director of the German Transport Forum: “InnoTrans has once again demonstrated just how much is happening in the international rail industry. A sense of energy and enthusiasm for innovation was palpable everywhere. We can be proud of our domestic rail industry and of the trade show Messe Berlin, which once again went the extra mile to make this event truly unique.”
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Roland Leucker, Managing Director of the Studiengesellschaft für Tunnel und Verkehrsanlagen (STUVA) e. V.: “InnoTrans has once again impressively demonstrated that a high-performance infrastructure is the backbone of the rail industry’s future. Tunnels are indispensable for this. The STUVA Tunnel Forum provided the ideal platform to generate new momentum for the industry through in-depth discussions on key forward-looking topics such as sustainability and the use of artificial intelligence.”
Pedro Fortea, General Director of MAFEX (Spain): “I have attended every InnoTrans since 2002 and have seen firsthand how the trade show has grown alongside the rail industry to become its leading global gathering. For MAFEX, the association representing the Spanish rail industry and coordinator of the Spanish national pavilion, InnoTrans is a key platform for showcasing the strength and innovative power of our industry and further strengthening the international standing of Spanish rail companies.”
Source: InnoTrans