From September 4 to 8, 2026, Berlin will once again become the world epicenter of consumer electronics with the celebration of IFA, one of the most influential technology fairs on the international calendar. A few months after its opening, the organization presented in Madrid some of the keys of this edition to the main Spanish media, advancing the trends and developments that will feature in the meeting.
Leif Lindner, CEO of IFA Management GmbH, led the presentation. Under the concept of “Building Bridges”, Lindner wanted to underline the role of the fair as a strategic meeting point for the B2C market where meetings and business opportunities between professionals within the B2B area also take place. “IFA is the place where innovation becomes real experience and real business,” said the CEO during his speech. The fair combines the B2C world combined with B2B in a large space, with the aim of connecting the launch of products with the distribution market and with the fact of offering solutions that transform the lives of end consumers.
This philosophy is articulated around four strategic pillars: the innovation showcase, the meeting between business and influence, thought leadership with product launches, and experience and culture. A comprehensive proposal that, according to Lindner, turns IFA into something more than a fair: a global communication platform.
The data from the last edition support this vision. IFA 2025 brought together 220,000 attendees from 140 countries, with 1,900 exhibitors from 49 nations and a media presence of more than 3,200 registered media outlets from 80 countries. In addition, more than 4,400 accredited creators and influencers helped amplify the reach of the fair.
The big news from IFA 2026
For the next edition, the organization has designed an expansion strategy both in content and physical spaces. In the field of exhibition areas, IFA 2026 incorporates four new B2C areas: the Creative Hub, designed for the creative ecosystem; the Beauty Hub, focused on the intersection between technology and beauty; the Outdoor & Cooking space, which brings together innovation around the home and the outdoors; and the Indie Games area (Games Ground), which will give visibility to the independent video game sector.
In the B2B area, highlights include the creation of the Retail Innovation Zone, an exclusive space designed for large global distributors participating in the fair, and the celebration of the Retail Leaders Summit, a high-level forum for leaders in the sector.
But without a doubt the most striking announcement was the opening of the ICC Berlin as part of the exhibition center. This iconic building, a protected architectural heritage built in 1979 and closed for more than a decade, reopens its doors for the first time to host part of the fair. With an aluminum facade of more than 300 meters and capacity for 20,000 people, the ICC was once a symbol of West Berlin’s innovative spirit. Its incorporation into IFA 2026 adds a symbolic load and extraordinary appeal to the edition.
In terms of content, the fair launches five thematic tracks to attract new audiences: The world of AI and the future of technology; Retail and future of commerce; Marketing and creativity; Culture and lifestyle; and Smart and sustainable living
From September 4 to 8, Berlin will once again become the world epicenter of consumer electronics
Sustainability will have a special weight in the programming, with panels dedicated to this transversal axis. Integration with the city of Berlin will also be reinforced through initiatives such as IFA Moments, in collaboration with Berlin Partner and VisitBerlin.
The Spanish technology market is growing above the global average
The presentation also included the results of a market study prepared by NIQ (NielsenIQ), which offered an x-ray of the technology sector in Spain and globally.
At the international level, the global technology and durable goods market recorded a growth in value of 8.9% in dollars during the first quarter of 2026, reaching $216 billion in global turnover (excluding North America and Russia). This growth is mainly driven by the exchange rate effect and a more favorable product mix, despite more moderate demand in volume. All regions of the world experienced growth in value, with Eastern Europe leading the ranking with +14%, followed by Latin America and the Middle East and Africa, both with +11%.
In Spain, the data are equally positive. The technology and durable goods market closed 2025 with a growth of 3.6% in value, reaching 13.2 billion euros, above the global average in terms of local currency and in line with Western Europe. The start of 2026 is also encouraging: in the first quarter, the market grew by 3.1%, to 3.2 billion euros.
By category, the 2025 data highlights the performance of air conditioning (+16%) and computing (+10.5%) as the main drivers of growth. Photography also experienced a notable rebound in the first quarter of 2026, with +20.7%.
Omnichannel in the Spanish market
Regarding seasonality, the study highlights the enormous concentration of sales in the fourth quarter of the year, which accumulates more than 30% of annual sales. Black Friday alone represents more than 5% of total sales for the year. For the coming months, the report anticipates a positive impact of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the television market during June and July, although historical data suggests that this effect tends to moderate compared to previous editions.
The Spanish consumer, according to the study, increasingly moves in an omnichannel environment and shows a growing interest in purchases through marketplaces. Artificial intelligence emerges as the great vector of innovation, both in the search and purchase of products, consolidating itself as a differential attribute for consumers and as the most disruptive technological element of the moment.
With this panorama, IFA 2026 arrives at a time of full effervescence in the sector. Berlin, from September 4 to 8, will once again be the place where the future is present.
