Lots of tech, some politics and plenty of entertainment: IFA is celebrating its 100th anniversary as the world stage for consumer electronics. Here’s what to expect.
IFA, Europe’s largest consumer electronics trade show, will open its doors again next week at Messe Berlin. Taking place for the 100th time this year, IFA has had to battle with keeping its relevance among the other emerging tech events and trade shows in the past years. With former Samsung manager Leif Lindner as the new CEO and Clarion as a new joint venture partner, IFA has worked to transform the show into a future-proof format which will be revealed starting Friday, September 6. Here’s what visitors can expect.
Exhibitors & Areas
In terms of the number of exhibitors, IFA is roughly in line with the 2023 edition: 2,000 exhibitors have been announced, some of which are key brands like Sony that were absent last year and are now returning. Besides traditional consumer electronics, IFA 2024 will emphasize growth areas like beauty tech and digital health. The Hi-Fi section is also expected to be larger this year.
Other exhibition areas are:
- Home & Entertainment
- Home Appliances
- Smart Home
- Communications & Connectivity
- Audio
- Computing & Gaming
- Photo, Video & Content Creation
- Robotics
- Mobility
Tickets & Opening Hours
The show runs from Friday, September 6, to Tuesday, September 10. With this schedule, IFA is sticking to its concept of catering to both B2C and B2B audiences. Ticket prices are set at 17 euros for a one-day pass for consumers. However, those who already have a ticket for an event at the Summer Garden, IFA’s event stage, can enter the show for free.
Trade visitors pay 55 euros for a day ticket, which includes access to all keynotes, the Trade Visitor Lounge, the IFA App for Trade, guided tours of the exhibition grounds, and a shuttle to the B2B area, “IFA Global Markets,” at Station Berlin. Details on multi-day ticket rates are available on the IFA website.
What New Products Will Be Showcased?
According to IFA’s new CEO, Leif Lindner, in an interview with Heise Online, several globally significant product launches are promised on the very first day. Visitors, he says, can look forward to major innovations, particularly in the areas of household appliances, beauty tech, and digital health.
100 Years of IFA – the Supporting Program
For its 100th anniversary, IFA is planning an strong supporting program, featuring 100 highlights. This aligns with the new management’s goal of transforming the trade fair into more of a cultural event rather than just a consumer show, drawing inspiration from events like Gamescom and OMR.
Many events in the program, from keynotes to concerts, therefore have little to do with electronics. With speakers like singer Nicole Scherzinger and shows featuring the famous German podcast hosts Jan Böhmermann and Olli Schulz, the event aims to attract a younger audience. The guest of honor at IFA 2024 is German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who will open the anniversary gala and lead a tour on the first day of the trade fair.
There will be six stages for the supporting program:
Summer Garden Stage
In the Summer Garden, a 10,000 square meter green area on the exhibition grounds, visitors can enjoy street food and drinks during the day. In the afternoons and evenings, the garden will transform into a stage for top international acts. Bryan Adams will kick off the performances on Friday at 7 pm, with more acts scheduled in the following days:
- 6PM Festival (Sep. 6 – 4 p.m.) with artists such as Luciano, Reezy, Ski Aggu
- Kelvyn Colt (Sep. 7 – 12:00 noon) – free for IFA ticket holders
- Faithless & Co (Sep. 7 – 16:30)
- Lie Ning (Sep. 8 – 1:00 pm) – free for IFA ticket holders
- Moore (Sep. 8 – 14:00) – free for IFA ticket holders
- Fest & Fluschig Live (Sep. 8 – 7:00 pm)
Innovation Stage (City Cube)
he Innovation Stage will host talks and keynotes by thought leaders on cross-industry trends. Among others, Karsten Wildberger, CEO of Mediamarktsaturn, will discuss “From Walkman to AI – How Mediamarktsaturn is Shaping the Retail of the Future.” Additionally, the German business newspaper Handelsblatt is organizing an AI Summit on September 9, starting at 13:30.
Dream Stage (IFA Next, Hub 27)
The Dream Stage is all about visions of the future – from flying cars to cognitive robots. Start-up pitch battles will also take place here.
Inspiration Stage (Hall 6.2)
Press conferences and major product launches are to take place on the Inspiration Stage.
Audio Stage (Hall 13)
On the Audio Stage, visitors will find lectures and master classes on the subject of audio as well as performances by techno DJs and hip-hop artists.
Creators Stage (Hall 16)
The Creators Stage is all about content creation: guests include photographers, influencers and tech bloggers who will explain how they produce content using the latest devices and platforms.
B2B Area: IFA Global Markets
The IFA Global Markets area is aimed exclusively at the B2B audience. This is where OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and ODMs (Original Design Manufacturers) exhibit their products. This year, IFA is relocating the area to Station Berlin, with a free shuttle service available for trade visitors.
