From March 3–5, 2026, ITB Berlin will celebrate its 60th anniversary with a series of special moments across the trade show grounds: from after-work events and a time-travel DeLorean, to community art installations and a 60-second applause activation—honoring the past while looking toward the future of the industry.

What began in 1966 as part of the Overseas Import Fair—with nine exhibitors from five countries and 250 visitors—has since evolved into the world’s leading travel industry trade show, now hosting more than 5,000 exhibitors. Six decades later, ITB Berlin stands stronger than ever as a symbol of exchange, innovation, and the unifying power of travel. Under the theme “60 Years of Legacy,” ITB Berlin combines business, networking, content, and cultural inspiration throughout the entire grounds, placing the spotlight on the central future themes of travel. At the same time, attendees will experience small but memorable moments over three days—surprising, emotional, and unforgettable. A full overview of all activations can be found online: 60 years – ITB Berlin.

Celebrating, Connecting, Shaping the Future Together
A particularly emotional moment awaits the community on the first day of the show, March 3, at 3:00 p.m.:
“60 Seconds Cheer to the Travel Industry.”
ITB Berlin invites everyone to join a 60-second, show-wide applause—expressing appreciation for colleagues, booth neighbors, service teams, and all who shape the travel industry. A powerful symbol of unity and passion in one of the world’s most dynamic sectors.
In the new ITB Späti in Hall 7.2c, Berlin’s neighborhood culture meets international networking. Inspired by the city’s iconic late-night corner shops (“Spätis”), this space will serve as a central hub throughout all show days—featuring guided tours, presentations, happy hours, and daily bingo rounds. On opening day, a unique tape-art piece will be created live on site—one of the creative highlights of the anniversary.
To close the first show day in style, ITB Berlin hosts the official after-work party “Cheers to 60 Years of Legacy” on March 3, from 17:30 to 19:00, at the South Entrance. Attendees are invited to enjoy a complimentary ITB Signature Drink and raise a toast to six decades of industry evolution. Berlin DJ Chris Bekker will set the atmosphere. The party is open to all ITB participants and marks the perfect transition into Berlin’s vibrant after-ITB evening.

Time Travel, Art & Interactive Experiences
With “Back to the Future – Travel Through Time,” an iconic film highlight arrives at the show: the legendary DeLorean from the cult classic will be displayed in Hall 21e for photos and memories. Visitors can symbolically travel through six decades of ITB history—while looking ahead to the future of travel.
Also in Hall 21e, the installation “Launch the Future – The ITB Rocket” invites participants to share their visions. Under the guiding question “What will the travel experience of tomorrow look like?” attendees can contribute their ideas. Selected submissions will be shared later this year through ITB Berlin’s social media channels, illustrating where the industry is heading.
Creativity continues in Hall 19 (North Entrance, indoor):
“Community Painting – One Community, One Canvas” invites attendees to co-create a Berlin-inspired mural in a “paint-by-numbers” style. Individual brushstrokes come together to form a collective artwork—symbolizing 60 years of collaboration.
Nostalgic moments await in Hall 23, Stand 116, where a vintage VW Bulli offers a mobile photo spot titled “60 Years on the Road – Vintage Photo Memories.” Visitors can take home a personal souvenir inspired by a vehicle that has accompanied generations of travelers.
At the North Entrance, the installation “Say ITB – Iconic Polaroid Moment” brings the anniversary campaign to life in an oversized Polaroid frame. Complementing this, “Faces of ITB – 60 Years, One Community” features a roaming photo team capturing authentic Polaroid portraits of the people who shape ITB Berlin. Selected images will appear on screens throughout the venue.
Another community favorite: the ITB Berlin Goodie Bag Hunt. Each day, the social media team hides a surprise-filled orange goodie bag somewhere on the grounds. A clue posted on ITB’s official Instagram account leads the way—whoever finds it first gets to keep it.

Inspiration, Insights & Industry History
With the premiere of the ITB Global Travel Collection, ITB Berlin 2026 introduces a high-quality publication highlighting historical developments, current trends, innovations, and influential leaders and visionaries of global tourism. Free copies are available at all entrances; a digital edition includes videos and additional content.
The Travel & Tourism Report 2026/2027, a comprehensive industry analysis featuring key global KPIs, is available at a special anniversary price of €60. Starting February 23, 2026, the report can be purchased online. The offer is valid only until March 5, 2026.
Also in Hub27, the exhibition “Destination Europe: A Journey in Posters”—created in partnership with the Museum of Tourism and the European Travel Commission—presents around 30 iconic European tourism campaigns from past decades, illustrating the evolving aspirations of travelers through visual communication.

Energy, Sound & Services for the Community
To keep attendees energized, “Powered by ITB – Energy Balls” will be distributed at all entrances throughout the show (while supplies last).
A specially curated “Weltenbummler” playlist on Spotify accompanies the anniversary—perfect for the way to the fair, during the show, or afterward.

Online Accreditation for Press & Creators
Press representatives and bloggers/creators can now apply for accreditation online. Please review the accreditation guidelines. After successful registration and verification, you will receive your accreditation and badge as a PDF via email, including your personal QR code for entry. Tickets are non-transferable. Accreditation is available online 24/7 throughout the entire duration of the show.
Note: For readability, the masculine form is used in some areas of this text, but all information applies equally to individuals of all genders.

About ITB Berlin, ITB Berlin Convention & ITB 360°
ITB Berlin 2026 takes place Tuesday to Thursday, March 3–5, exclusively for trade visitors. Founded in 1966, ITB Berlin is the world’s leading travel industry trade show and celebrates its 60th anniversary under the theme “Discover the stories behind 60 years of legacy.”
The ITB Berlin Convention runs in parallel with the theme “Leading Tourism into Balance,” featuring 400 top speakers from business, academia, and politics on four stages across 17 topic tracks addressing current and future challenges of the industry.
At ITB Berlin 2025, 5,800 exhibitors from more than 170 countries and regions presented their products and services to nearly 100,000 participants.
As a year-round global innovation hub, ITB Berlin offers the international tourism community continuous insights via ITB 360°—including expert articles, podcast episodes, and additional formats.
More information: www.itb.com
, ITB News & Insights, and ITB social media channels.
Press releases available at itb.com → Press → Press Releases.
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