In a Nutshell:
✓ Date & Location: March 24–26, 2026, Koelnmesse Hall 8 (Cologne)
✓ Focus: Digitalization across all construction phases – from planning to operation.
✓ Key Topics: Circular economy, process optimization, AI & digital transformation in existing buildings.
✓ ~300 Exhibitors: From construction software, smart building, automation & robotics sectors.
✓ Professional Audience: 10,000+ visitors expected — architects, planners, engineers & manufacturers.
✓ Highlights: Expert forums & lectures, startup pitches (March 25), German Construction Award (March 24).
✓ Tip for Exhibitors: Careful preparation, targeted networking & the right giveaways.
Table of Contents:
- 1. What is digitalBAU?
- 2. When and where will digitalBAU 2026 take place?
- 3. Topics and Trends – How digital construction will be in 2026
- 4. Major Exhibitors and Highlights of digitalBAU
- 5. Visitor Tips – How to make the most of your trade fair visit
- 6. Exhibitor Tips – How to increase your visibility at the trade fair
- 7. Conclusion – When Digital Meets Craftsmanship
- 8. FAQ zur digitalBAU 2026
Understanding digitalization in construction, identifying developments, and building connections:
digitalBAU 2026 in Cologne is one of the leading trade fairs for the digital transformation of the construction industry — covering everything from software solutions and automation to sustainable concepts for planning, execution, and operation.
In this guide, you’ll find all relevant information about the trade fair, its key themes, exhibitors, visitor tips, and concrete insights on how companies from architecture, construction planning, skilled trades, or building technology can benefit from it.
1. What is digitalBAU?
digitalBAU is a trade fair dedicated to digital construction — covering all aspects of digitalization in the building industry. Since its debut in 2020, it has quickly established itself as a key industry event. Organized by Messe München in cooperation with the German Construction Software Association (BVBS), digitalBAU brings together all sectors of the construction industry that benefit from digital transformation.
The goal: To connect planners, architects, engineers, contractors, and tradespeople with providers of digital solutions.
Unlike traditional construction fairs (such as bauma in Munich), digitalBAU focuses not on construction machinery but on software, IT hardware, digital tools, and smart solutions for the planning, execution, and operation of buildings. Top topics include Building Information Modeling (BIM), cloud platforms for construction projects, smart city concepts, connected construction sites, and artificial intelligence.
💡 In short: digitalBAU is the meeting point for everyone who wants to shape the digital transformation of the construction industry.
2. When and where will digitalBAU 2026 take place?
The digitalBAU 2026 will take place from Tuesday, March 24, to Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Cologne. The venue is the Koelnmesse, Hall 8.
For the first time, the fair, which previously took place in February, is moving to a March date in 2026 and will be held in the modern, spacious Hall 8 directly at the north entrance of the Cologne exhibition grounds.
Site plan:
The digitalBAU 2026 will be held from Tuesday, March 24 to Thursday, March 26, 2026, at the
Opening hours:
- Tuesday, 24.03.2026: 09:00 – 18:00
- Wednesday, 25.03.2026: 09:00 – 18:00
- Thursday, 26.03.2026: 09:00 – 16:00
Location: Messeplatz 1, 50679 Köln ([translate:Koelnmesse]
Accessibility:
- Just a few minutes’ walk from the Köln Messe/Deutz train station.
- Conveniently reachable by car (Köln motorway ring, exit Koelnmesse) and via Cologne/Bonn airport.
Tickets:
- Online: A one-day ticket costs €49, a three-day ticket €109. It is recommended to buy online for faster entry and digital tickets on your smartphone.
- On-site: A one-day ticket costs €65, and a three-day ticket €165.
- Discounts are available for students, trainees, and apprentices. Many exhibitors and associations also offer coupons for free tickets. Ask your business partners if applicable.
💡Tip: Early Bird discounts are available until
Review 2024: “Industry-specific visitors”
Target audience: The
Private visitors without industry connection play a minor role but are not excluded. Unlike large construction machinery fairs, children and families are expected to be seen less frequently, as the focus is clearly on business networking and professional exchange.
3. Topics and Trends – How digital construction will be in 2026
Digitalization is the central driver of the construction industry, and digitalBAU 2026 showcases the latest developments. Four key themes officially take center stage:
Circular Economy in Construction:
How can the construction industry become more sustainable by reusing materials and minimizing waste? Digital solutions support, for example, the planning of circular construction (reuse of building materials), such as software-enabled material passports, recycling databases, or marketplaces for used building components.
Digital Optimization of Construction Processes:
This includes all tools that make construction sites more efficient and cost-effective, from the digital construction site with IoT sensors and machine telematics to cloud-based project management platforms. Construction processes are virtually planned and monitored to avoid errors and meet deadlines. BIM plays a key role, as construction projects can be fully planned as a digital twin on the computer.
Gamechanger AI in Construction:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is conquering the construction industry. Whether it’s AI-based analysis of construction site videos, automatic quantity determination from construction plans, or machine learning to optimize construction workflows—the possibilities are rapidly growing. Initial projects demonstrate how AI generates fully automatic 3D building models from 2D plans. AI is also used for predictive maintenance of buildings and machines. Many AI applications in construction will be presented and discussed at digitalBAU 2026.
Digitalization for Existing Buildings:
Many existing buildings lag behind in digitalization. This theme covers technologies to digitally upgrade existing buildings. Examples include 3D laser scanning of old buildings to obtain digital measurement data for renovations or smart building retrofits (sensors for energy consumption, digital controls in historic buildings). Building Information Modeling increasingly plays a role in asset management to support maintenance and conversions.
The four main themes of digitalBAU 2026 at a glance:
| Circular Economy in Construction | Digital Construction Process Optimization | Gamechanger AI – Building for the Future | Digitalization for Existing Building Stock |
|---|---|---|---|
|
• Reuse of materials • Cradle to Cradle • Deconstruction & Recycling • Upcycling in construction |
• Modular & serial construction • Digital approvals • Efficiency & cost reduction • Digital research of funding programs |
• AI-assisted planning • Automation & Robotics • Generative Design • Smart Cities |
• BIM in existing buildings • Repurposing & renovation • Data-driven modernization |
Another Trands in digital Bauwesen 2026
- Sustainability: Digital tools help build more sustainably, whether through energy management systems, CO₂ calculation software for projects, or material databases for ecological building materials.
- Robotics and Automation: At the last digitalBAU, visitors could encounter a four-legged construction robot (similar to “Spot” by Boston Dynamics) that scans the construction site, showcasing innovations of the construction site of the future.
- Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): For example, virtual site tours in the planning stage or AR glasses that display assembly instructions to craftsmen on site.
- Networking: From smart homes in private construction to smart cities at the municipal level, digital networking, data platforms and the integration of craftwork and high-tech run as a common thread through the exhibition.
Visitors gain a comprehensive impression of how digital the construction industry already is in 2026 and where things are heading: namely, towards more efficient, sustainable and networked construction processes, where software and skilled trades work hand in hand digitally.
4. Major Exhibitors and Highlights of digitalBAU
Around 300 exhibitors from Germany and abroad are expected at digitalBAU 2026 to present their products and services. The “who’s who” of building technology will be represented, ranging from established industry leaders to innovative newcomers. An overview is provided by the official exhibitor directory, but some major names stand out.
Review 2024: “Exhibitor ratings are rising”
Software & BIM Solutions:
In the area of BIM and construction software, providers such as Nemetschek, RIB Software, and buildingSMART Germany are represented. They showcase solutions for digital planning, data management, and open interfaces in construction. The focus is on efficient processes, connected collaboration, and integration of various planning tools.
Construction Suppliers & Hardware Innovations:
Companies from the tool and fastening technology sector, including Hilti and Würth, present digital systems for device management, construction site organization, and material logistics. Topics such as RFID tracking and cloud-based management increasingly move into the spotlight of construction equipment.
Robotics & IoT Start-ups:
Numerous start-ups and technology providers present developments in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT). Applications including automated surveying, drone monitoring, and on-site sensors provide insights into future work processes.
Construction IT & Project Platforms:
In the field of construction IT and project platforms, the focus is on digital project management, construction apps, and cloud solutions. Visitors can explore software for centrally controlling and exchanging planning data, construction progress, and documentation. The goal is improved networking and transparency among all project participants.
Trade Fair Highlights:
Besides the booths, there is an extensive supporting program. Experts share their knowledge on current topics in specialist forums. In 2024, there were 6 forums with around 180 renowned speakers; a similar program is expected in 2026. Associations like BVBS, World-Architects, and the Bauverlag organize lectures, panel discussions, and guided tours that delve into specific questions. This conference program is included with the visitor ticket, and no registration is required.
💡 Tip: The detailed 2026 program will be published by the trade fair. The 2024 review offers orientation.
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More InformationA Special Highlight at digitalBAU 2026:
The German Construction Award 2026 will be presented during digitalBAU in Cologne. This industry award honors innovative construction projects and companies and is handed over as part of the trade fair, a highlight for the construction industry. Awards for startups or BIM awards could also be presented on stage.
Overall, digitalBAU 2026 promises a wealth of impressions. From large booths of well-known providers to live demos and networking events, there is no room for boredom. Those familiar with bauma (the large construction machinery trade fair) will notice the difference: in Cologne, there may be no giant cranes rumbling, but servers buzz and VR glasses flash. The atmosphere is highly innovative yet practical, with links to real construction activities everywhere. This blend of trade fair and conference is what makes digitalBAU so appealing.
5. Visitor Tips – How to make the most of your trade fair visit
A trade fair visit requires good preparation, especially when the range of offerings is so diverse. Here are tips for visitors to digitalBAU 2026 so that you can make the most of your day (or days) in Cologne:
- ✓ Plan your visit in advance: Check the trade fair website beforehand for the exhibitor directory, hall map, and program. Mark exhibitors and lectures important to you. With around 300 exhibitors, it makes sense to have a personal must-see list to avoid missing anything.
- ✓ Organize tickets and travel: Buy your ticket online in advance to save waiting time at the entrance. Book travel and accommodation early, especially if you plan to stay multiple days or come with a team. Cologne offers many hotels, but trade fairs can book the city well.
- ✓ Orient yourself on-site: Pick up a site plan at the entrance. digitalBAU 2026 takes place entirely in Hall 8, which makes orientation easier. Pay attention to signage by topic areas or guided tours. Plan enough breaks; there are catering areas in the hall where you can recharge.
- ✓ Use professional forums and programs: Check out the supporting program. If a lecture or discussion fits your field, schedule it firmly. Forums are usually freely accessible to all visitors, a great chance to learn from industry experts and experience current discussions. Lectures often provide inspiration or even concrete solutions for your own projects.
- ✓ Network: A trade fair is the ideal place to make contacts. Talk to exhibitors, ask questions about products, exchange business cards. Take advantage of networking events at the exhibition booth (many exhibitors offer promotional gifts, raffles, or coffee bars).
💡 Tip: Keep your LinkedIn app ready to add new contacts directly digitally.
Review 2024: “Top marks in the visitor survey”
- ✓ Comfortable clothing & gear: Wear comfortable shoes, even if it’s “only” one hall, you will walk several kilometers. The venue is large, and you will stand and walk a lot. Take a light bag to carry documents and any giveaways. Many exhibitors distribute small promotional items, from pens to folding rulers.
- ✓ Follow-up is important: After the trade fair visit, it’s worthwhile to review the collected information. Contact your new connections promptly, thank them for conversations, follow up on discussed topics. This keeps you positively remembered. And last but not least: share your new knowledge within your own team, so the visit brings maximum benefit.
Plan the essentials in advance, but leave enough room for spontaneous discoveries! With these tips, you are well prepared to successfully visit digitalBAU 2026.
6. Exhibitor Tips – How to increase your visibility at the trade fair
You plan to exhibit at digitalBAU 2026? Take the opportunity to present your company and your digital solutions to a professional audience! Here are some strategies to increase your visibility and trade fair success:
- ✓ Design an attractive exhibition stand: Your stand design is your flagship. Focus on open layouts, clear messages, and interactive elements. Modern stand architecture with digital displays, live demos, or VR stations attracts visitors. Think from the visitor’s perspective: What sparks curiosity? An eye-catcher can make all the difference.
- ✓ Clear message & demo: Communicate at a glance which problem you solve. Visitors must immediately recognize: This is about BIM software / smart home solutions / etc. Use short, concise texts and graphics. Live demonstrations are worth gold; show your software or product in action, ideally with use cases that appeal to the professional audience.
- ✓ Pre-marketing & invitations: Increase traffic at your stand by drumming up interest before the fair. Inform existing customers and leads that you will be exhibiting at digitalBAU, for example, via newsletters or LinkedIn posts. Send voucher codes for free tickets to important customers. Use official fair hashtags on social media (e.g., #digitalBAU2026) to generate attention. The more relevant visitors come deliberately to you, the better for your trade fair ROI.
- ✓ Sponsoring & presentations: Check if there are opportunities to appear as a sponsor or speaker. A logo on the trade fair website or hall plan, an advertising banner on-site, or sponsoring a lounge can bring additional visibility. Even better: Apply as a speaker in a professional forum if your topic fits. As a speaker, you position yourself as a thought leader!
- ✓ Trade fair gifts with added value: Small giveaways attract visitors to the stand and remain memorable. Focus on useful promotional items that suit the construction industry, e.g., folding rulers with logo or high-quality tape measures with your branding as practical souvenirs.
💡 Tipp: Bei der Bauer Maßstabfabrik finden Sie z.B. nachhaltige, individuell bedruckbare Zollstöcke und andere Werbemittel, die Ihre Botschaft bei den Besuchern langfristig präsent halten. Achten Sie darauf, Qualität vor Quantität zu stellen: Ein durchdachtes Geschenk (mit Nutzen für den Empfänger) wirkt professioneller als ein billiges Massenprodukt.
- ✓ Trained booth staff: Your on-site team should not only be friendly but also technically proficient. Train your staff on the most common questions about your products. Ensure enough representatives are present at all times to handle multiple visitors simultaneously. A good mix of sales personnel, technical experts, and possibly management at the booth creates a professional impression and covers all communication needs.
- ✓ Lead capture & follow-up: Plan how to capture contacts, e.g., using badge scanners, tablet forms, or traditional business card bowls. Important: Record what was discussed (e.g., a brief note on the business card or digitally). After the fair, leads must be promptly followed up. Prepare pre-written emails before the fair to thank visitors and send additional information. The speed of follow-up can determine whether a contact converts to a business opportunity.
With these approaches, you significantly increase your visibility at digitalBAU.
💡 Remember: A trade fair is not just a showcase but the starting point for new business relationships. Use the platform to position your company as a competent partner for digital construction. Then the investment in the exhibition will pay off in contacts, image, and orders.
👉 Curious? Discover our individual promotional items for the construction industry.
7. Conclusion – When Digital Meets Craftsmanship
The digitalBAU 2026 shows: Digitalization and craftsmanship are not a contradiction. Digital solutions make construction processes more efficient, sustainable, and future-proof – they complement craftsmanship rather than replace it. Especially in Germany, the fair brings together two worlds: traditional construction craftsmanship and modern technologies. Those planning or building today should be familiar with digital tools, and those developing software should understand the practice. The digitalBAU enables this exchange.
We at Bauer Maßstabfabrik also live this connection: For over 75 years, we have been manufacturing precise measuring tools with craftsmanship expertise, the latest manufacturing technology, and a commitment to sustainability. For us, innovation means developing the tried and true further with the aspiration for the highest quality. Visit our About Us page to learn more.
8. FAQ about digitalBAU 2026
The digitalBAU is a trade fair for digital construction. It shows how software, hardware, and AI are transforming the planning, building, and operating of buildings.
digitalBAU 2026 will take place from March 24 to March 26, 2026, at the Koelnmesse grounds (Hall 8, North Entrance). Opening hours: Tuesday and Wednesday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Thursday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
For 2026, around 300 exhibitors and more than 10,000 professional visitors are expected (similar to 2024). digitalBAU attracts software companies, construction corporations, startups, and specialized providers.
- Circular economy in construction (circular building & resource conservation)
- Digital construction process optimization (BIM, efficiency, networking)
- Artificial intelligence (AI) in construction (automation & data analysis)
- Digitalization in existing buildings (renovation, smart buildings & material passports)
Additional focus includes smart city, AR/VR, robotics, and IoT.
digitalBAU 2026 is a trade fair for architects, engineers, construction companies, craft enterprises, and planners. Anyone can buy a ticket, but the focus is on professional visitors.
Tickets are available online at the Messe München ticket shop on digital-bau.com. Prices (as of October 2025): Day ticket €49, three-day ticket €109, on-site €65/€165. Discounts for students and trainees. Early-bird discounts (€25) until Nov 30, 2025. Optional “GoGreen” ticket (+€5 for climate protection projects).
digitalBAU 2026 is worthwhile for those who want to stay at the pulse of the digital construction and planning industry. Visitors gain insights into trends like BIM, AI, sustainability, and robotics, meet industry experts, and make valuable contacts for future projects.
Promotional items are common marketing tools at trade fairs like digitalBAU. High-quality, industry-relevant giveaways (e.g., folding rulers or tape measures with logos) create lasting impressions and support exhibitor branding.
All information about digitalBAU 2026 in Cologne is available on the official website digital-bau.com. Exhibitor lists, hall plans, and program updates are provided there.
Do you want to have promotional products companies such as yardsticks, utility knives, tape measures, or spirit levels printed with your logo?
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We’d be happy to offer you free, no-obligation advice – use our contact form or call us at +49(0)868289850.
- Messe München GmbH: Leitthemen der digitalBAU 2026 – Überblick (Last accessed October 28, 2025)
- Messe München GmbH: Warum sich der Besuch der digitalBAU lohnt (Last accessed October 28, 2025)
- Messe München GmbH: Ausstellerverzeichnis digitalBAU 2026 (Last accessed October 28, 2025)
- Messe München GmbH: Hallen- und Geländeplan digitalBAU 2026 (Last accessed October 28, 2025)
- Messe München GmbH: Rahmenprogramm und Fachforen digitalBAU 2026 (Last accessed October 28, 2025)
- Messe München GmbH: Informationen für Aussteller – Übersicht (Last accessed October 28, 2025)
- Messe München GmbH: Zahlen & Fakten zur digitalBAU 2026 (Last accessed October 28, 2025)
- Messe München GmbH: Öffnungszeiten digitalBAU 2026 (Last accessed October 28, 2025)
- Messe München GmbH: Anreiseinformationen digitalBAU 2026 (Last accessed October 28, 2025)
- Messe München GmbH: Tickets & Preise digitalBAU 2026 (Last accessed October 28, 2025)
- Handwerksblatt: Digitale Innovationen im Bauwesen – Einblick in die digitalBAU 2026 (Last accessed October 28, 2025)
- Bauverlag BV GmbH: Deutscher Baupreis | digitalBAU 2024 – Rückblick & Highlights (Last accessed October 28, 2025)
- Infographics 1–6: © Messe München / digitalBAU 2026 – Source digital-bau.com, Stand Oktober 2025 (All image rights belong to Messe München GmbH. Usage within editorial reporting on digitalBAU 2026.)
- Image 1: Unsplash – Luftaufnahme von Hochhäusern
- Image 2: Unsplash – Menschen auf Bodenfliesen
- Image 3: Unsplash – Brücke und Kathedrale
- Image 4: Unsplash – VR-Headset vor Laptop
- Image 5: Unsplash – Person mit Laptop
- Image 6: Unsplash – Drohne am Himmel
- Image 7: Unsplash – Menschen im Gespräch
- Image 9: Unsplash – Weißer Roboterarm
Video: Have You Heard of Bauer Maßstabfabrik?
The Bauer Maßstabfabrik manufactures high-quality, custom-designed measuring tools under the motto “Made in Germany.” Our product range includes, among others, image prints on brightly painted yardsticks, tape measures, utility knives, and spirit levels.
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