DE

digitalBAU 2026 - It's worth visiting

The future of construction is digital. Find out why digitalBAU is one of the must-visits of the construction industry. Visit the trade fair from March 24 to 26, 2026 in Cologne!

Experience the future of construction up close at digitalBAU in Cologne, and learn about the latest solutions for your industry. The trade fair presents forward-looking trends for the entire construction value chain: from project planning and implementation to the operation, refurbishment and deconstruction of buildings, and digital urban planning.

Make the most of your visit to digitalBAU to discover innovative digital products and services, and gain a knowledge edge. Talk with experts from software companies and start-ups, and make valuable contacts with various professional groups from the construction industry. Visitors to digitalBAU include architects, engineers, urban planners, investors, building contractors, processors from industry and trade, and building technicians. Find out here why a visit to digitalBAU is worthwhile for you and your specific needs.

Why you should visit digitalBAU in Cologne

  • Discover the entire range of digital solutions
    The top players from the fields of construction software and hardware, smart home, building automation, facility management, and the digital construction site will present themselves at digitalBAU. Discover exciting digital products, and digital services and functions relating to physical products for the construction industry.
  • Use the trade fair for joint networking
    Speak with the well-versed trade audience from planning and the construction industry at the trade fair, make valuable contacts, and win new customers.
  • Experience the future of construction up close
    The trade fair offers you as a visitor an interactive experience, allowing you to experience innovations for the digital future of construction up close. Find out in live demonstrations and a host of presentations what the digitalization of construction will look like in the future.
  • digitalBAU is a pool of ideas for the industry
    Numerous startups will be presenting new, construction-related products and services at the trade fair, offering visitors a comprehensive overview of the latest innovations. Get to know interesting startups at digitalBAU and make new contacts.
  • Get first-hand industry trends
    Look forward to the first-class supporting program for digitalBAU. Experience practical, informative presentations and exciting award ceremonies like the Innovation Challenge and the German Construction Award.

The trade fair for various professions from the construction industry

Whether architects, engineers, urban planners or craftsmen and building technicians, digitalBAU provides relevant solutions for different professional groups in the industry.

The trade fair for civil engineers, planners & architects
© Messe München GmbH

From initial concept to completion: Software solutions are part and parcel of the construction industry, because they simplify your work, bring cost savings, deliver a fast return on investment, and can be implemented at any time. That makes them a must for efficient projects, especially since digital submission of plans is becoming mandatory in more and more German states in bids for public contracts. Building Information Modeling (BIM) and the expansion of connectivity between different solutions have also long since evolved from a nice-to-have into a must-have. Your benefits: more planning reliability, cost transparency, time savings, and consistent error prevention. Or, in other words, minimized risks – and maximized efficiency. The role of digitalization is even clearer when it comes to smart buildings. As demands on user comfort, building security, sustainability and energy efficiency rise, the more crucial digital solutions and the issue of data security become. Are you looking for answers? Welcome to digitalBAU.

Extra tip for architects: Attending lectures is doubly rewarding!
Attending the lectures in the Forum Hall 1 powered by bauverlag will bring you up to date on current topics. You can also collect further training points for attending the lectures. The Chambers of Architects of North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse grant one continuing education point for every 45 minutes. You will receive one training point for attending 2 lectures of 30 minutes each. You will receive 2 continuing education points for attending 3 lectures of 30 minutes each. Certificates of attendance will be organised on site by bauverlag.

What awaits building trades & contractors (SMEs)
© Messe München GmbH

Digitalization sounds big and complex. But what it is primarily is an array of small and practical software solutions that support you in your day-to-day business processes, from arranging meetings and payroll accounting to statutory time recording, and reliable material planning. In short, useful tools that give you more time for your actual work, allowing you to not only successfully master additional projects but to also already prepare your company for tomorrow’s demands today. In addition, digital solutions can help close the skills gap and get young, tech-savvy people interested in construction professions.

By the way: Entries in BIM programs are advantageous when awarding contracts. And Building Information Modeling is also a useful planning and monitoring tool at the digital construction site, and not just during the planning phase. BIM also provides important advantages in building renovation, since all the information on the building, machinery and building components can be saved here, and consulted and updated at any time. Find out more at digitalBAU.

Solutions for public bodies & government authorities
© Messe München GmbH

In your day-to-day business you see that digital planning and construction are no longer a vision of the future but normal practice for public bodies and government authorities. In urban development and infrastructure planning toward the smart city, real-time programs and digital city maps are being used more and more frequently. The digitalization of administration is also a shared goal of central, regional and local government. For example, building approval procedures are handled completely digitally, with BIM set to be the standard for transport infrastructure projects from 2020. Archiving and data backup are also all the more important in this regard. How do municipalities additionally benefit from digital processes? Find out at digitalBAU.

Science, research, next generation: forward-looking trends
© Messe München GmbH

Whether you’re a trainee or a student, digitalization of the construction industry opens up whole new opportunities – also in career terms. The better you understand the digital world, the more fields of activity and career opportunities will be available to you. Whether it’s automated workflows or improved decision-making through data analyses, research in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence is continuously transforming the construction industry. Today, knowledge is no longer transferred just from old to young, but also the other way around, because the next generation is already proficient in digital tools. That means you can get involved successfully right from the start, support companies in the digitalization process, and, in the best case, create new jobs and business models as a result. For the industry in general, that means above all one thing: image change through technological change. Are you ready for the future? Then digitalBAU is your trade fair.

Learn more about the 2024 key topics

Expand your professional network and bring your knowledge of technical development up to date at digitalBAU in Cologne. Discover the key topics of the upcoming trade fair.