If you thought Spiel Essen could not get any bigger, think again. The world's largest board game fair has expanded for the fourth year running, filling all eight main halls at Messe Essen for a total of 81,200 square metres of exhibition space. That is roughly 30% larger than the 62,500 square metres used in 2023.
"The fact that we can already plan the opening of a new hall and the full occupancy of the grounds is fantastic," said managing director Carol Rapp. Exhibitor demand has been described as "exceptionally high," with a mix of existing exhibitors expanding their booths and a record number of first-time exhibitors signing up. Registration was still open with eight weeks to go when the expansion was announced.
This year's show runs from Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 October 2026. A new north entrance via Hall 5 will open for the first time, and the underground Hall 1A will serve as a waiting area for the crowds queuing each morning. The organisers considered using Hall 1A for exhibitors too, but ruled it out as unsuitable for that purpose.
For context, last year's Spiel attracted a record 220,000 visitors across 77,500 square metres. When asked whether the show might eventually outgrow Essen entirely, a Merz Verlag spokesperson was emphatic: "We love Essen, as a venue and the city, and have no intention of leaving."
If you are planning a trip, start booking hotels now. Essen fills up fast during Spiel week, and with the show bigger than ever, demand for accommodation is only going to increase.
Sources: BoardGameWire | Spiel Essen | Fair-Point