Frankfurt, Germany is once again gearing up for the biennial Light + Building trade show, scheduled from March 3 – 8, 2024. The world’s largest trade show for lighting and building services technology is once again expected to attract exhibitors and visitors from around the world.
A brief look at past attendance figures paints a picture of the show’s evolution. In pre-pandemic 2018, Light + Building attracted approximately 2,714 exhibitors and around 220,000 attendees. In 2022, the event was billed as the “Autumn Edition” due to the pandemic postponement. Those numbers saw a decline with 1,531 exhibitors and 92,838 attendees. However, 2024 is looking to rebound. As of now, over 2,000 national and international exhibitors have registered, but some notable lighting companies are still on the sidelines.
Information gathered by Inside Lighting at last week’s virtual press conference conducted by Messe Frankfurt indicates a renewed focus on sustainability and supply chain challenges. Throughout the 70+ minute presentation, "sustainability" (or derivatives of the word) was mentioned 33 times. Meanwhile, the supply chain—particularly challenges associated with electrical and lighting exhibitors—was frequently highlighted. Historic supply chain challenges were cited, including references to the Panama Canal, China and the Korean War.
The upcoming event expects a diverse international audience. Approximately 65 to 70% of attendees are expected to be from outside of Germany. Per usual, Germany will lead the attendee numbers, followed by Italy, Turkey, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, Great Britain, France, Belgium, and Greece. The top ten will also include a strong demand from China, indicating its continued interest in the European market.
