IAA TRANSPORTATION 2026, the International Motor Show for Commercial Vehicles, Transport and Logistics, brings the industry to Hannover, Germany from 15 September 2026 to 20 September 2026. Trade professionals treat it as essential groundwork: a single trip that replaces months of scattered supplier visits. Its biennial cadence means there is always a next date on the horizon to aim for. With an anticipated 145000 attendees, it offers strong scale and networking potential. German Association of the Automotive Industry organises the event, ensuring a polished experience from registration to closing day. Hannover Messe provides the backdrop, with the space and facilities to match the programme.
Location matters, and Hannover delivers. It brings together the infrastructure of a major event city with the warmth of a place used to hosting guests from abroad. Hannover is well connected by air and supported by an extensive local transport network, so travelling in from abroad or elsewhere in Germany is rarely a hassle. Book ahead and you will have your pick of Hannover's hotels, from the practical to the memorable. Hannover carries real weight on Germany's events map, and it shows in how smoothly it handles gatherings like this.
This edition puts the spotlight on Logistics, Logistic Industry, Commercial Vehicles, Transportation and Transportation Industry, with exhibitors presenting their latest collections, products and innovations across these areas. For buyers and sellers alike, it is a chance to do in a few days what would otherwise take months of separate meetings. With 1700+ exhibitors taking part, there is no shortage of partnerships to explore.
You arrive with a shortlist and leave with suppliers, samples and a plan for the season ahead. For industry professionals, buyers and suppliers weighing where to spend their time, IAA TRANSPORTATION 2026 makes a strong case for itself.
Because hotels near the venue can fill up around the event dates, visitors are advised to arrange travel and accommodation in Hannover early.
Getting to Messe Hannover
The exhibition grounds sit south-east of the city centre. Tram lines 8 and 18 connect the centre to the fairground stops in roughly twenty minutes, and during major fairs the Hannover Messe/Laatzen railway station gives direct access to the grounds. Hannover Hauptbahnhof is a national ICE hub, and Hannover Airport is around twenty minutes from the main station by S-Bahn.
Note on tickets: unlike trade fairs in Cologne or Frankfurt, a Hannover fair ticket does not include local public transport. Plan your stay accordingly and budget for GVH tickets, or use a Deutschlandticket if you already hold one. Confirm the current arrangement with the organiser before you travel.
Where to Stay in Hannover
Hannover is a city of roughly half a million people hosting an event that expects around 145,000 visitors across six days. Rooms near the fairground are the first to go, and rates across the city rise sharply during fair week. Book early.
- Closest to the grounds — Laatzen and Mittelfeld put you within walking distance or one tram stop of the entrances. Convenient, but the smallest pool of rooms and the fastest to sell out.
- City centre and around the main station — the best choice for evening dining and direct tram links to the fairground. This is where most visitors look first.
- Surrounding towns — Hildesheim, Celle and Braunschweig are all reachable by regional train and often cost considerably less during fair week. Worth comparing if the city centre is already full or priced beyond your budget.
Hotels near Messe Hannover can be compared below.
Coming from abroad? The Germany guide has entry requirements, travel tips and where to base yourself.
