IFA 2024: Highlights and impact of the trade fair

IFA 2024 ended on Tuesday. It’s time to take a look at some of the highlights of the anniversary trade fair and what else the editorial team saw at the trade fair – for better or for worse.

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For IFA, the 100th birthday was supposed to be a new beginning after the turning point caused by the pandemic and two years of turmoil. The new management wants to give the trade fair new momentum and develop it further in the coming years.

It remains to be seen whether the restart has been a success. Some corners of the site seemed less crowded than usual and there were more open spaces. But at least the initial feedback from industry representatives and exhibitors is positive. And there were significantly more visitors than last year.

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Rangefinder camera in a new version: Leica M11-D for a more analog photo experience

At large trade fairs, the trend is that visitor numbers are gradually approaching the levels of the years before the coronavirus pandemic. IFA has not yet returned with 215,000 visitors (2019: 245,000 visitors), as has Gamescom, which recently ended with 335,000 visitors (2019: 373,000 visitors).

The industry is keenly watching to see if this trend will continue in the coming year. CES in Las Vegas will provide the first indicator in early January, with around 135,000 trade visitors expected in 2024. In 2020, shortly before the global pandemic, there were 171,000 visitors.

(vbr)