Zukunft Handwerk 2026 brought together 57 exhibiting companies from 5 countries. The countries with the most exhibitors were Germany (50), Austria (2), Spain (2) and Switzerland (1). By sector, the largest groups were Digital Transformation (12) and Education & Training (6).
Workforce planning and digital adoption define priorities for craft businesses in 2026. Against that backdrop Zukunft Handwerk 2026 takes place March 4 to 5, 2026 in Munich at the ICM – Internationales Congress Center. The forum gathers content focused on skills, company development and digital tools for trades.
Event scope and themes
Communications for the forum highlight topics such as digitalization and artificial intelligence, securing skilled staff, business development, founding and succession. These themes shape the types of suppliers and organizations that participate, from training providers to HR solution vendors and consultancies focused on shop-floor transformation.
Who attends and what they represent
Attendees tend to include HR managers from craft companies, SME owners, vocational trainers and vendors of software or services aimed at production and personnel management. The mix is useful for suppliers that need to prove applicability of their solutions in small and medium craft operations.
Formats and program notes
The available information indicates a mix of thematic sessions and exchange formats around career and company development. From 2027 some content will be integrated into the Internationalen Handwerksmesse in Halle C1, while the 2026 forum is located in the ICM. For concrete session times consult the event schedule.
Practical prospecting tactics for exhibitors and suppliers
- Segment prospects by decision role and craft trade beforehand and assign meeting windows across the two days.
- Prepare short, productized use cases that show impact on daily shop tasks rather than long demos.
- Lead conversations with three operational questions about training, retention and process automation to quickly qualify needs.
- Schedule clear follow-up actions with deadlines for the week after the event to convert initial contacts into pilots.
Logistics at the ICM
The ICM – Internationales Congress Center is the venue listed for the forum. Teams bringing demo equipment should confirm loading times and access rules with the venue. Given the two-day length of the forum, prioritize concise touchpoints that leave room for one-to-one meetings.
Final recommendation and next step
For vendors and consultancies focused on vocational training and workforce solutions, Zukunft Handwerk 2026 offers a concentrated environment to test messages and gather operational insights. Check registration and the full program at https://www.zukunfthandwerk.com and align your agenda with sessions on digitalization and workforce planning.
