Top 15 Upcoming Exhibitions & Trade Fairs in the Netherlands (2026–2027)

‍RAI Amsterdam alone hosted more than 280 events in 2025. Those events drew close to 1.5 million visitors. A year earlier, over 17,000 exhibitors filled its halls, and more than 70% came from outside the Netherlands. Add Jaarbeurs Utrecht and Rotterdam Ahoy, and the Netherlands runs one of the densest trade fair calendars in Europe.

That density creates a real problem for exhibitors. Hundreds of shows compete for the same September to June window. It is easy to miss the one event that actually matters to your sector. It is just as easy to realize too late that stand space, hotels, and freight slots are already booked.

This guide lists the 15 fairs worth planning around now. We pulled every date from the organizer's own site as of September 7, 2026. We prioritized shows with confirmed 2026 to 2027 dates, real international exhibitor draw, and a track record of repeat editions.

Key takeaways

• The 15 fairs below run from September 2026 through June 2027, across seven venues in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Den Bosch, and Vijfhuizen.
• RAI Amsterdam hosts six of the 15, more than any other venue, followed by Jaarbeurs Utrecht, Expo Haarlemmermeer, and Brabanthallen Den Bosch with two each.
• Flagship shows like Horecava and IBC2026 need stand and hotel bookings 6 to 12 months out. Smaller sector fairs can often be secured 3 to 4 months ahead.
• 91% of exhibition organizers worldwide now report using AI in their operations, up from 87% six months earlier. Show floors are getting more tech heavy as a result.

Why the Netherlands draws international trade fairs

Three venues do most of the heavy lifting: RAI Amsterdam, Jaarbeurs Utrecht, and Rotterdam Ahoy. In 2024, Jaarbeurs Utrecht hosted 24 of its own trade and consumer exhibitions. It also hosted 49 large multi day congresses and exhibitions run by outside organizers. That is 73 major events in one year at a single venue.

For exhibitors, this specialization is the real appeal. A Dutch trade fair usually gathers the actual decision makers in a given industry. You get a focused buyer audience instead of a general business crowd.

Featured fairs by venue

The 15 upcoming fairs by date

1. IBC2026

Dates: September 11-14, 2026
Venue: RAI Amsterdam
Industry: Broadcast, media and entertainment technology

IBC2026 is the largest broadcast and media technology show in the world. It fills RAI Amsterdam's halls almost wall to wall every September. The 2026 edition expects over 45,000 attendees from more than 170 countries.

This year's exhibitor floor leans heavily into streaming, ad tech, cloud production, and AI assisted content workflows. IBC runs at RAI Amsterdam every mid September, so if this year's dates are too close for comfort, block out the same week in 2027 now.

Best for: Broadcasters, streaming platforms, AV and production equipment vendors, and media tech startups.

2. World Summit AI

Dates: October 7-8, 2026
Venue: Taets Art & Event Park, Amsterdam
Industry: Enterprise artificial intelligence

World Summit AI anchors Amsterdam's broader World AI Week from October 5-9, 2026. It brings together roughly 10,000 enterprise leaders, researchers, startups, and investors.

Unlike the sprawling RAI mega shows, it runs in a converted industrial venue. That tends to produce denser, higher intent foot traffic per square meter of stand space.

Best for: AI and machine learning vendors, enterprise software companies, and startups courting investors.

3. Metstrade

Dates: November 17-19, 2026
Venue: RAI Amsterdam
Industry: Leisure marine equipment

Metstrade is the world's leading trade show for leisure marine equipment. It gathers more than 1,700 exhibitors covering everything from marine electronics to superyacht refit services.

It runs alongside The Superyacht Forum, so exhibitors targeting the high end of the marine market reach two audiences in one trip.

Best for: Boat equipment manufacturers, marine electronics brands, and superyacht service providers.

4. Affordable Art Fair Amsterdam

Dates: November 25-29, 2026
Venue: Kromhouthal, Amsterdam
Industry: Contemporary art

Affordable Art Fair Amsterdam is a five day contemporary art fair that caps the fine art buying season before the December holidays. It runs in a converted industrial hall on the IJ waterfront.

It is smaller and more design conscious than the trade shows around it. That makes stand craftsmanship, not just size, the differentiator for participating galleries.

Best for: Galleries, independent artists, and art adjacent lifestyle brands.

5. Horecava

Dates: January 11-14, 2027
Venue: RAI Amsterdam
Industry: Hospitality, foodservice, and catering

Horecava is the Netherlands' largest hospitality trade fair. The 2027 edition marks its 70th anniversary. Organizers expect more than 60,000 entrepreneurs, chefs, and foodservice buyers across the four days.

It is a January show, so exhibitors need stand space and freight booked by autumn 2026 to avoid the pre holiday scramble.

Best for: Foodservice equipment brands, hospitality tech, F&B suppliers, and catering companies.

6. InfraTech

Dates: January 12-15, 2027
Venue: Rotterdam Ahoy
Industry: Infrastructure and construction technology

InfraTech runs the same week as Horecava, but in a different city and a different sector: road, rail, water, and utility infrastructure.

Rotterdam Ahoy's port city location, makes it a natural fit for civil engineering and heavy equipment exhibitors who would rather skip Amsterdam's more congested January calendar.

Best for: Civil engineering firms, infrastructure equipment manufacturers, and utility contractors.

7. Modefabriek

Dates: January 24-25, 2027
Venue: Expo Haarlemmermeer, Vijfhuizen
Industry: Fashion and apparel

Modefabriek is a twice yearly platform for fashion professionals. The January edition sets the tone for the coming autumn and winter buying season.

It draws retail buyers alongside independent labels, giving smaller fashion brands direct access to a curated retail audience instead of a general consumer crowd.

Best for: Independent fashion labels, footwear and accessories brands, and fashion tech startups.

8. BouwBeurs

Dates: February 1-5, 2027
Venue: Jaarbeurs Utrecht
Industry: Construction and building

BouwBeurs is the Netherlands' flagship construction trade fair. It covers everything from building materials to smart building technology across five days at Jaarbeurs Utrecht.

Utrecht's central location makes it the most logistically convenient major venue in the country, which matters when you are shipping heavy building material displays.

Best for: Building materials suppliers, construction tech companies, and architecture and engineering firms.

9. Aquatech Amsterdam

Dates: March 9-12, 2027
Venue: RAI Amsterdam
Industry: Water technology

Aquatech Amsterdam bills itself as the world's leading exhibition for process, drinking, and wastewater technology. It expects 900 exhibitors and 25,000 water professionals across the four day show.

It runs every two years, so exhibitors who skip the 2027 edition typically wait until 2029 for another shot at this exact audience.

Best for: Water treatment technology vendors, utilities, and environmental engineering firms.

10. Solar Solutions International

Dates: March 16-18, 2027
Venue: Expo Haarlemmermeer, Vijfhuizen
Industry: Renewable energy

Solar Solutions International bills itself as Europe's largest dedicated solar energy trade fair. It expects more than 270 exhibitors and upwards of 12,500 attendees, spanning installers, developers, and technology suppliers.

Running one week after Aquatech gives energy and sustainability vendors a tight two show circuit within the same region.

Best for: Solar panel and inverter manufacturers, installers, and energy storage companies.

11. Empack

Dates: April 14-15, 2027
Venue: Brabanthallen, 's-Hertogenbosch
Industry: Packaging technology

Empack alternates venues year to year, and the 2027 edition lands in Den Bosch. It is a compact, two day show covering packaging machinery, materials, and design.

That makes it efficient for vendors who do not need a five day commitment to reach a focused buyer audience.

Best for: Packaging machinery and materials suppliers, and contract packaging companies.

12. Precision Fair

Dates: May 12-13, 2027
Venue: Brabanthallen, 's-Hertogenbosch
Industry: Precision manufacturing

Precision Fair brings together the Netherlands' high tech manufacturing supply chain. That spans aerospace, semiconductor, medical device, and optics component makers, alongside a co located conference program.

It is one of the more technically dense shows on this list. Visitors tend to arrive with specific sourcing questions rather than browsing casually.

Best for: Precision component manufacturers, semiconductor supply chain vendors, and industrial automation companies.

13. PLMA's World of Private Label

Dates: May 25-26, 2027
Venue: RAI Amsterdam
Industry: Private label FMCG

PLMA's World of Private Label is the global meeting point for store brand and private label manufacturers. Organizers expect more than 3,200 exhibiting companies and 32,000 private label professionals from over 120 countries across the two day show.

Because it is compressed into two days, stand traffic runs dense and fast paced compared with week long shows.

Best for: Private label food, beverage, and consumer goods manufacturers.

14. Vakbeurs Facilitair & Gebouwbeheer

Dates: June 2-4, 2027
Venue: Jaarbeurs Utrecht
Industry: Facility management

Vakbeurs Facilitair & Gebouwbeheer is the Netherlands' main trade fair for facility and building management professionals. It covers cleaning, security, workplace tech, and sustainable building operations.

It is a strong fit for vendors whose buyers sit inside corporate facilities and real estate teams rather than manufacturing floors.

Best for: Facility services companies, building management software vendors, and commercial cleaning and security firms.

15. Provada

Dates: June 15-17, 2027
Venue: RAI Amsterdam
Industry: Commercial real estate

Provada closes out this list as the largest commercial real estate exhibition in the Netherlands. It brings together developers, investors, and municipalities over three days.

It is less about product demos and more about deal making, so stand design here typically prioritizes private meeting space over open product displays.

Best for: Property developers, real estate investment firms, and architecture and urban planning consultancies.

All 15 fairs at a glance

What's driving the 2026-2027 show floor

Two shifts are worth planning around before you design a stand for any of the fairs above.

AI is becoming part of the show experience

91% of companies surveyed globally now report using AI in their operations, up from 87% just six months earlier. 33% forecast operating profit growth above 10% for 2026. On the floor, that shows up as organizer run matchmaking apps, AI driven lead scoring at registration desks, and digital wayfinding.

Exhibitors who integrate with a show's official app have another route to visitors beyond walk up traffic.

Sustainability affects stand design

Sustainability has moved from a marketing talking point to a practical stand design constraint. Several shows on this list, including BouwBeurs and Provada, now score exhibitors partly on circularity.

That is pushing more brands toward modular, reusable stand systems instead of single use builds.

UFI 2026 outlook

How we compiled this list

We started from the official event calendars for RAI Amsterdam, Jaarbeurs Utrecht, Rotterdam Ahoy, and Expo Haarlemmermeer. We then cross checked every date directly against each fair's own organizer site as of September 7, 2026.

This is a research only compilation. We did not attend or exhibit at these shows ourselves.

A fair made the final list of 15 only if it met three criteria. It needed confirmed 2026 or 2027 dates at the time of writing. It needed a documented history of repeat editions, not a first time or pilot event. And it needed enough public attendee, exhibitor, or scale data to help a prospective exhibitor judge fit.

Event dates for multi year or biennial shows can shift, so always confirm directly with the organizer before booking stand space or travel.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I book an exhibition stand for these fairs?

Beyond reserving floor space, a custom stand build has its own clock. Design sign off, fabrication, freight to the venue, and onsite installation each take time, and rush fees can add 20-30% to a build budget.

For flagship shows like Horecava, IBC2026, or PLMA's World of Private Label, start that clock 6-12 months out. Prime floor positions and hotel blocks in Amsterdam sell out early.

For narrower sector fairs like Empack or the Precision Fair, 3-4 months is often workable if you are reusing a modular system rather than building from scratch.

Are these trade fairs open to the public, or trade only?

A trade only fair checks your business credentials at registration and does not sell tickets to the general public. Most on this list are trade only or require professional registration.

That includes Horecava, BouwBeurs, InfraTech, Aquatech Amsterdam, and the Precision Fair. The Affordable Art Fair Amsterdam is the clearest exception because it is built for consumer art buyers alongside trade visitors.

Always check the organizer's visitor policy before assuming general public access.

What does a custom exhibition stand cost at a Netherlands trade fair?

Costs vary widely by hall, stand size, and build complexity. A small modular booth might run a few thousand euros. A double decker structure at a flagship show like IBC or Horecava can run well into six figures.

Venue rigging rules and freight costs shift the number significantly, so get a quote for your specific stand size and venue rather than relying on a rule of thumb.

Do international exhibitors need anything special to exhibit in the Netherlands?

An EORI number is an EU wide identifier that customs authorities require for commercial shipments crossing the EU border. International exhibitors typically need one to freight stand materials and product samples into the Netherlands, plus any visas required for staff travel.

Individual show organizers, including RAI Amsterdam and Jaarbeurs Utrecht, publish exhibitor manuals covering local requirements for each hall.

Which of these 15 fairs is best for a first time exhibitor?

Sector specific shows with a two or three day footprint tend to be more manageable for a first exhibit. Empack, Solar Solutions International, and the Precision Fair are good examples compared with week long mega shows like Horecava or BouwBeurs.

They need a smaller stand investment while still delivering a focused, relevant buyer audience.

Planning your 2026-2027 exhibition calendar

Fifteen shows, seven venues, and a nine month window from September 2026 through June 2027 define the Netherlands' upcoming trade fair calendar.

IBC2026 and World Summit AI are the immediate priorities if you are in broadcast, media, or enterprise AI. Horecava and BouwBeurs anchor the January and February hospitality and construction rush. Aquatech, Solar Solutions, and Provada carry the calendar through spring into summer 2027.

Whichever show fits your sector, the planning sequence stays the same: confirm your dates directly with the organizer, book stand space and freight early for the flagship shows, and design your stand around the specific hall you will be in rather than a generic layout.

Ready to start? Get in touch and we will help you plan a stand for any fair on this list.