The short answer
FSB Cologne 2027 — the world's leading trade fair for public spaces, sports and leisure facilities — runs in Cologne from 26 to 29 October 2027. The official themes, per organizer Koelnmesse: climate-resilient, water-wise public spaces, sustainable sports facility construction, the circular economy of materials, inclusive multifunctional movement zones, and water as the central design resource. Exact dates and the program can change, so confirm current status on the organizer's site before traveling.
Key takeaways
- FSB 2027 takes place in Cologne from 26 to 29 October 2027 in halls 9, 10.1 and 10.2, co-located with aquanale under the shared motto #bettertogether.
- The cross-cutting theme for 2027 is responsible water management: sponge-city concepts, urban cooling, and the storage, treatment and reuse of stormwater.
- Official priorities are climate-resilient public spaces, sustainable sports construction, inclusion, multifunctional use concepts and the circular economy.
- The supporting program includes the 30th IAKS Congress, German Sports Facilities Day, plannerFORUM and the SPORTNETZWERK.FSB network.
- Organizer is Koelnmesse GmbH with IAKS as conceptual partner; early-bird stand rates apply until 31 January 2027.
- Movement spaces are shifting from club-based structures toward free, inclusive, intergenerational zones woven into the urban fabric.
- Schedules and details may change — always verify the latest status on the official organizer website before you travel.
What FSB 2027 is and why it matters
FSB (International Trade Fair for Public Space, Sports and Leisure Facilities) is positioned by organizer Koelnmesse as the leading international platform for public space design, sports facility construction and active leisure. The next edition runs from 26 to 29 October 2027 at the Cologne Exhibition Centre in halls 9, 10.1 and 10.2, co-located with aquanale, the trade fair for saunas, pools and spa, together working under the motto #bettertogether.
The event is held every odd-numbered year, with IAKS — the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities — as conceptual partner. In 2027 FSB hosts the 30th IAKS Congress, the German Sports Facilities Day, the plannerFORUM forum and the SPORTNETZWERK.FSB network. It brings together municipal decision-makers, clubs and associations, architecture and landscape firms, stadium and arena operators, international investors and project developers.
- 26–29 October 2027, Cologne, halls 9, 10.1 and 10.2
- Organizer Koelnmesse GmbH; conceptual partner IAKS
- Co-located aquanale: water, pools, saunas and spa
Climate-resilient parks and water as the central resource
According to Koelnmesse's press materials, the central cross-cutting theme for FSB and aquanale 2027 is responsible water management. More frequent heavy rainfall, longer droughts and rising temperatures pose new problems for cities; water-wise planning combines ecological, technical and design solutions to store, treat and usefully reuse water.
Key directions are sponge-city concepts, urban cooling and blue-green infrastructure: retention ponds, drainage swales and green roofs. Such features make public spaces more resilient, support biodiversity and raise the quality of stay. Within the Public Space theme world, the focus lies on water-sensitive planning, sponge-city principles and a high-quality user experience in the public realm.
- Infiltration, storage, treatment and reuse of stormwater
- Blue-green infrastructure: retention areas, swales, green roofs
- Better microclimate and biodiversity in parks and courtyards
Sustainable sports construction: materials, circularity, ice
The Sport theme world concentrates on sustainable sports facility construction, sports flooring and surfaces, artificial turf, equipment and decarbonisation. The organizer emphasizes durable floors and surfacing, long-lived fit-outs, recyclable materials and energy-efficient operating models. Planners, builders and operators need facilities that are simultaneously climate-resilient, economically operable over the long term and safe.
Ice sports get special attention, including a technical program on carbon-neutral, economical, needs-based ice rinks. The SPORTNETZWERK.FSB area again serves as a meeting point for municipal decision-makers and club representatives. Visitors can judge how circular-economy principles, resource conservation and innovation combine in practice within sports construction.
- Flooring and surfaces with long service life
- Recyclable, resource-efficient materials
- Decarbonisation and energy-efficient ice-rink operation
Movement zones for everyone: inclusion and multifunctionality
The Leisure Facilities (Movement) theme world reflects the shift from club structures toward free exercise: people want to train flexibly, according to their own rhythm and lifestyle. Movement spaces must be multifunctional, accessible and suit both classic sports such as football and trend practices such as yoga and calisthenics.
Official material highlights inclusive and intergenerational concepts: barrier-free access, play and exercise offerings for different ages, and spaces that enable participation and strengthen social cohesion. The STADTundRAUM section within Public Space covers urban and district planning, inclusion and landscape architecture, while the plannerFORUM offers input on mobility, urban life, local interventions and multigenerational communities.
- Barrier-free play and exercise zones
- Intergenerational concepts and club-free formats
- Multifunctional courts for classic and trend sports
Making the most of the fair: program and preparation
Alongside the exhibition, FSB 2027's business program includes the 30th IAKS Congress, the German Sports Facilities Day, the plannerFORUM with its adjoining plannerLOUNGE, and the SPORTNETZWERK.FSB network. A roughly 200 m² modular special area on the trade fair boulevard will connect FSB and aquanale and make the water theme tangible, with a best-practice zone showing realized projects from Germany and Europe.
For exhibitors, early-bird rates apply to bookings made by 31 January 2027. For municipal and planning-office visitors, the key is to pre-select thematic sections (Public Space, Sport, Movement), halls and program events before arriving. Dates and program details may be refined, so always check the official organizer website for the current status.
Put it into practice
Municipal delegation checklist for FSB 2027
A practical preparation plan for municipality teams, operators and planning offices attending FSB 2027 in Cologne (26–29 October 2027), turning a visit into concrete project decisions rather than a passive tour of the exhibition.
- Lock in the dates 26–29 October 2027 and book travel early, confirming status on the organizer's website.
- Pick 2–3 priority themes: water and sponge-city design, flooring and materials, inclusive movement zones.
- Build a shortlist of 15–20 target exhibitors across halls 9, 10.1 and 10.2 before you fly.
- Weave in the business program: 30th IAKS Congress, German Sports Facilities Day, plannerFORUM, SPORTNETZWERK.FSB.
- Visit the best-practice zone on the trade fair boulevard to benchmark realized European projects.
- Prepare your own site brief with climate questions: drainage, retention, cooling, irrigation needs.
- Pre-book meetings with landscape architects and blue-green infrastructure suppliers.
- Collect barrier-free and intergenerational solutions applicable to your planned venues.
- Check aquanale synergy if pools, fountains or water leisure zones are part of your scope.
- Within two weeks after the fair, run a debrief mapping found solutions against budget, codes and site constraints.
Questions people ask
When and where does FSB 2027 take place?
According to organizer Koelnmesse, FSB 2027 runs from 26 to 29 October 2027 at the Cologne Exhibition Centre in halls 9, 10.1 and 10.2. It is co-located with aquanale (pools, saunas, spa), and the pair works under the motto #bettertogether. Schedules can be refined, so always verify the latest status on the official event website before you travel.
What are the main FSB 2027 themes for parks and public spaces?
The official cross-cutting theme for 2027 is responsible water management: sponge-city concepts, urban cooling, and the storage, treatment and reuse of stormwater, supported by blue-green infrastructure. The Public Space theme world emphasizes water-sensitive planning, forward-looking urban and neighborhood development, and high user experience, together with inclusion and barrier-free, intergenerational design.
What is new at FSB 2027 in sports facility construction?
The Sport theme world centers on sustainable construction: durable flooring and surfaces, recyclable and resource-efficient materials, decarbonisation and energy-efficient operating models. Ice sports receive particular attention, with a focus on carbon-neutral, economical, needs-based ice rinks. Related discussions are taken up by the 30th IAKS Congress, the German Sports Facilities Day and SPORTNETZWERK.FSB.
Who should attend FSB 2027?
FSB targets decision-makers in municipal offices (sport, real estate, schools, green areas, urban planning), architects and landscape architects, operators of municipal and private sports and leisure facilities, investors, clubs and associations, and senior-citizen representatives. It is a venue to compare technologies, find partners and move concrete municipal projects forward in one concentrated visit.
What stand rates apply at FSB 2027?
Per FSB's facts-and-figures page, the early-bird rate is EUR 230 per m² up to 31 January 2027, the regular rate is EUR 255 per m² from 1 February to 13 September 2027, and the last-call rate is EUR 298 per m² from 14 September 2027. Energy costs, an AUMA fee and a media package are charged additionally, and the minimum stand space is 12 m².
Sources and further reading
Sources were checked when this page was generated. Confirm changing dates, rules and prices with the original publisher.
- FSB Facts and figures 2027 (date, venue, halls, organizer)Koelnmesse GmbH
- The theme worlds of FSB Cologne: Public Space, Sport & MovementKoelnmesse GmbH
- Public Spaces theme world — bringing movement to the cityKoelnmesse GmbH
- The Sport theme world — tomorrow's sports facilitiesKoelnmesse GmbH
- The Movement theme world — spaces for movement for everyoneKoelnmesse GmbH
- FSB 2027 is open for bookings: secure your stand area nowKoelnmesse GmbH
- #bettertogether: FSB and aquanale to focus on responsible water management in 2027Koelnmesse GmbH / aquanale