Consumer electronics and home appliances fair, IFA, is gearing up to celebrate its 100th birthday this year. IFA was first held in Berlin in December 1924 as the Great German Radio Exhibition, where 242 exhibitors presented innovations across 7,000 square meters, attracting 180,000 visitors.
“With its unique concept, IFA is traditionally the ideal meeting place and the best platform for trade, industry, start-ups, media and consumers. It is the only trade fair in the world for the home electronics industry with a combined B2B and B2C focus,” gfu Consumer & Home Electronics GmbH (owner of IFA trademark rights) managing director, Dr. Sara Warneke said.
Milestones in the history of IFA include the opening of the trade fair by Albert Einstein in 1930, world premieres of the first triple tubes and electronic television, launch of colour television in West Germany by then Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister, Willy Brandt, introduction of the CD, the mp3 music compression process and the European HD TV standard.
As a global trendsetter, IFA has continuously evolved over decades while retaining its core: presenting the latest, groundbreaking technologies and promoting exchange between industry, start-ups, retail partners and consumers. Visitors to IFA have the opportunity to experiment with the latest innovations directly at exhibitor stands.
“I am particularly looking forward to IFA 2024, not only because it is the world’s largest trade fair for consumer electronics and home appliances but also because we will once again be the platform for presenting innovations of all kinds for five days in Berlin,” IFA Management GmbH (organiser of IFA) CEO, Leif Lindner said.
“What’s more, we will be celebrating our 100th anniversary in style. IFA stands both for the future and for its rich history, and we are proud of that.”
At IFA 2024, visitors can expect clear distinctions between the individual theme areas and the halls will be clearly curated.
IFA is also about entertainment. In addition to an extensive program during IFA in the Sommergarten (Summer Garden) of the exhibition grounds, Berlin will also be staged more strongly for IFA with a series of brand activations called ‘100Moments’, which is slated to launch 100 days before IFA begins.
Before and during the trade fair in September, people throughout the city will be able to enjoy events in celebration of IFA’s anniversary. The worlds’ leading companies and minds from the technology sector as well as various cultural brands and institutions will also come together at special locations in Berlin.
“The 100th anniversary of IFA not only marks a historic milestone for us, but also the beginning of a new era of innovation and global networking,” Lindner added.
“As we look back on a century of groundbreaking technological advances and key moments, we are also looking forward to the future with excitement. IFA is evolving from a traditional trade fair into a global innovation platform that focuses even more strongly on the latest technological and market-relevant trends. Today, a modern trade fair can no longer be just a traditional exhibition but must also function as a cultural event that inspires consumers, retailers, exhibitors and the media alike and attracts key opinion leaders.”
IFA 2024 will be held from September 6 to 10 in Berlin.