MICE news Cologne

Hans de Waart took over management of the art hotel on the Rhine riverbank, part of Arena Hospitality Group, at the end of the year. Philip Skitch, who had led the property since August 1, 2012, has entered his well-deserved retirement.

The airport is investing €33.25 million in five major projects and has secured record EU funding of €9.75 million under the “Connecting Europe Facility Transport” programme.

In 2026, Köln-Düsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt GmbH (KD) marks its 200th anniversary. The celebrations include a major anniversary weekend in Cologne alongside new formats and impulses for the MICE sector.

The German Television Award 2026 will celebrate its premiere at the Confex of Koelnmesse on September 8 and 9, 2026.

With spoga dog powered by ZZF, Koelnmesse is expanding its trade fair portfolio with a new B2B event dedicated to dog supplies. The premiere will take place from 30 January to 1 February 2027 in Cologne, parallel to spoga horse. The new format is scheduled to be held biennially.

Koelnmesse reports a highly successful financial year 2025. Strong figures, international growth and strategic investments underline Cologne’s importance as a leading global trade fair and congress destination.

To mark the anniversary, Executive Chef Lars Wolf revives selected classics from the restaurant’s historic recipe archive.