DMEXCO 2026
DMEXCO 2026 is over. The next in the series is DMEXCO 2027 in Cologne.
View DMEXCO 2027Next up in Marketing Conferences & Events
- Phoenix Small Business Expo 2026 Nov 18, 2026 · Phoenix
- Houston Small Business Expo 2026 Dec 2, 2026 · Houston
- Digital Summit 2026 Dec 8–9, 2026 · Dallas
About DMEXCO
Major digital marketing expo and conference focusing on digital business, marketing technology, and innovation. A European marketing trade show with global attendance.
DMEXCO 2026
DMEXCO 2026 took place September 23–24, 2026 at Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany, under the motto "Scaling Intelligence." The next DMEXCO is set for September 22–23, 2027 in Cologne.
What it is
DMEXCO (Digital Marketing Exposition & Conference) is a two-day trade fair and conference for the digital economy: marketing, media, advertising, commerce and marketing technology. The organizer calls it "Europe's leading digital marketing & tech event." It is organized by Koelnmesse; the German Association for the Digital Economy (BVDW), with the participation of the Circle of Online Marketers (OVK), owns the DMEXCO brand and is its professional partner. It brings together industry leaders, marketing and media professionals and tech companies, and the exhibition is organized into four areas:
- World of Agencies
- World of Commerce
- World of Media
- World of Tech
A Start-up Area sits alongside them. The conference runs on stages across the halls, with keynotes, debates, masterclasses and a set of topic summits.
For 2026, Koelnmesse's closing release reported over 40,000 attendees, 700 partners including 100 agencies, about 1,000 speakers and more than 230 hours of content on 17 stages, with eleven summits covering areas such as commerce, new media models, brand management, creativity and the creator economy. The same release said roughly one in three visitors held a C-suite role.
Hours and tickets in 2026
Visitor and exhibitor hours differed. For visitors:
- Wednesday, September 23: 9am–6:30pm
- Thursday, September 24: 9am–5:30pm (a shorter last day)
Exhibitors had access from 7:30am both days. One ticket covered both days, and the admission ticket doubled as a public transport ticket for travel to and from Koelnmesse on the VRS (Rhine-Sieg) network during the fair, excluding Deutsche Bahn IC/EC and ICE trains, with photo ID. Tickets were held in the DMEXCO app, which attendees also used to plan their visit.
Other DMEXCO events
DMEXCO ASIA, launched in 2025, is held in Singapore as part of Tech Week Singapore, in partnership with eCommerce Expo. Side events around the Cologne fair are listed on the organizer's site.
Key Topics
- Digital marketing
- AI and martech
- Ecommerce
- Adtech and data
Upcoming Marketing Conferences & Events
All marketing conferences & events →Frequently asked questions
When was DMEXCO 2026?
Where was DMEXCO 2026 held?
What is the next DMEXCO event?
Planning your next show
First-Time Trade Show Exhibitor Checklist
A 90-day countdown, on-site survival, and 30-day post-show follow-up — the things first-time exhibitors forget until it's expensive.
Trade Show vs Convention vs Conference vs Expo
What actually separates a trade show from a convention, conference, or expo — and how to figure out which one you're attending.
Top Trade Shows by Industry: The 2026 Guide
The biggest trade shows of 2026 across 10 major industries — what each is known for and who actually shows up.