Gathering Space for Over 5,000 People: The Newly Built Convention Center - Constructing a new convention center accommodating up to 5,000 attendees, as per Messe's plans.
In the heart of Berlin, the city's iconic Congress Center is set for a significant expansion, aiming to bolster its status as a leading conference destination. The project, which has garnered the support of the supervisory board, the Senate, and the finance administration, is expected to cost around 100 million euros and commence construction in the fall of 2026, with completion slated for the fall of 2028.
The new congress center will span 7,000 square meters, featuring an event area, conference, and exhibition rooms, primarily designed to cater to medium-sized events with participant numbers between 1,500 and 5,000. This expansion is expected to meet the growing demand for larger events, positioning Berlin alongside other major European cities like Vienna and Barcelona, which are also planning to expand their fair locations in the coming years.
Berlin Fair Chief, Mario Tobias, emphasised the importance of this development, stating, "Berlin must continue to develop to remain at the top." The city has been actively positioning itself as a hub for gaming and interactive tech, with initiatives such as the House of Games Berlin, scheduled to launch in 2026, and the recent 6G Conference held in July 2025.
The expansion of the Berlin Congress Center could potentially attract more events like the 6G Conference or gaming-related gatherings, further cementing Berlin's role in advanced technology and networking events. However, specific details about the competitive analysis and potential impact of the expansion are not yet available.
To gather more precise information about the expansion, it would be necessary to consult official announcements or media releases from the city or the center itself. As of now, Berlin's focus on event safety and its strategic positioning in the tech and gaming sectors suggest a favorable environment for large-scale conference expansions.
The new congress center will replace Hall 9 and is expected to accommodate up to 5,000 visitors. An analysis commissioned by the fair and tourism society, Visit Berlin, shows potential for around 76 additional congresses each year, with approximately 215,000 additional participant days.
With approximately 13 million fair visitors recorded last year, the expansion of the Berlin Congress Center is a strategic move to keep up with other cities in expanding their fair locations and maintain Berlin's position as a significant event hub.
The expansion of the Berlin Congress Center will be guided by robust community and employment policies, ensuring the project's integrity and the well-being of its workforce. This endeavor aligns with the city's broader goals of strengthening its status as an influential industrial and business powerhouse in the finance sector, comparable to other European cities like Vienna and Barcelona. The pursuit of this expansion, consequently, is anticipated to foster job opportunities within the industry, particularly in the tech and gaming sectors, further solidifying Berlin's standing as a pivotal hub for advanced technology and networking events.
