Spiel Essen 2026

Spiel Essen 2026 runs from Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 October at Messe Essen. Doors open at 10:00 every day and close at 19:00 from Thursday to Saturday, and at 18:00 on Sunday. One ticket covers every hall and every booth for the whole day, and trying out games costs nothing extra.

The scale is worth knowing before you arrive. The 2025 edition drew 220,000 visitors from more than 80 nations, with 948 exhibitors from 50 countries and 1,716 new releases, spread across seven halls and roughly 77,500 square metres. Large publishers take the big halls, while smaller studios, prototypes and importers fill the rest. Explainers at the booths teach games on the spot, designers sign their work, and most titles can be bought there and then, often before they reach shops elsewhere.

Plan your route in advance. The free Spiel app carries the exhibitor and novelty lists, the hall maps, a navigation tool for the fastest way across the grounds, and your tickets. It switched from 2025 to 2026 content on 3 September.

There is also a full programme beyond the booths. Artist and illustrator Peter Mohrbacher is the ambassador for 2026, and the schedule includes Spiel.talks, Educators Day, Artist Alley, the German Games Award, Meet & Play, a Warhammer: Kill Team laser tag setup run with Games Workshop, and the Golden Demon painting contest. Laser tag costs 25 euros as an add-on and Golden Demon 12 euros. A city partner programme, Essen spielt, adds ticket-holder discounts and events around town.

Tickets are sold online only and there is no box office on site. Individual days sell out: Saturday was already 75% sold with just over five weeks to go. A day ticket is 25 euros, 22 reduced, 16 for children aged 4 to 12, 67 for a family of two adults plus up to three children, and 46 for business visitors with proof of industry work. Children under 4 enter free.

Getting there. The organisers recommend public transport. The U11 tram runs from Essen main station to the fairground in about five minutes. Drivers are asked to use car parks P2 and P10, where shuttle buses run every 10 to 15 minutes from 8:00 (P2) and 8:30 (P10), with a ride of 15 to 20 minutes. P1 and P6 are reserved for exhibitors, press and trade visitors, though any free P1 spaces are released to visitors at 12:00. Cars cannot stay in the car parks overnight.

Bring cash. There is no standard payment system across the stands, and each exhibitor decides whether to take cards. Many do, but the ATMs on the grounds can run out of cash during the fair. There are two ATMs at Messehaus Ost, two at Messehaus West and one at Messehaus Süd, plus several bank branches on Rüttenscheider Straße nearby.

Storage for your purchases. Bag storage at the end of the Galeria costs 3 euros, with 2 euros for each refill, so you can drop off games during the day and go back for more. It opens at 9:30. Cloakrooms at the East, South and West entrances also cost 3 euros and take jackets and small bags only. Lockers in the West and South foyers cost 1 euro.

Shipping. The MBE shipping service in Hall 8 at stand 8A110 sends games to any address worldwide. There is no limit on how many games you send, but each drop-off is treated as one shipment and nothing can be stored for later.

Re-entry. If you leave the grounds during the day, collect a re-entry wristband at the exit. Tickets cannot be scanned twice, so without a wristband you cannot get back in.

Facilities. There are first-aid rooms in Halls 3 and 7, seven nursing rooms across the grounds, and a unisex restroom area at the upper end of Hall 5 near the passage to Hall 6. Free Wi-Fi is available in the East, South and West entrance foyers, but not inside the halls.

FAQ

Can I buy a ticket at the door? No. Tickets are sold exclusively through the online shop, and single days can sell out before the fair starts. The shop language can be switched to English in the top-right corner of the page.

When do tickets go on sale? The ticket shop usually opens about three months before the fair.

Can I change my ticket to another day? No. Each day has its own quota and its own ticket type, so a purchased ticket cannot be moved.

Can I give my ticket to someone else? Yes, if you cannot use it yourself. Give the new holder a short written authorisation along with a copy of your ID. Reselling tickets is not allowed under the terms and conditions.

I lost my ticket. What now? Log in to the ticket shop with the email address used for the purchase and look under My Account, then Orders.

Does trying out games cost extra? No. Admission covers playing at the booths for the whole day.

What counts as a cosplay for the reduced ticket? A recognisable character from a board game, video game, film or series, and LARP outfits qualify too. A link to board games is not required, but it has to be a complete costume. Single accessories such as elf ears are not enough.

What does a business ticket include? Entry from 9:30 through fast lanes at the East, South and West entrances, access to the B2B lounge in the Parkrestaurant in Hall 7, and use of the matchmaking tool. Proof of professional work in the board game industry must be uploaded, and it has to be personalised, for example a business card or a letter from an employer. A version with a parking pass for P6 is available for 12 euros extra.

Do I need a separate ticket for Educators Day? No. The talks take place on the stage in Hall 4 and are open to everyone with an admission ticket. A certificate of attendance can be added for 5 euros and is sent out after the fair, provided your ticket was scanned at the entrance.

I have a severe disability and need an assistant. Does my companion need a ticket? Everyone on the grounds needs a ticket, but companions of visitors whose disability pass carries the relevant marking can attend free of charge. Email the organisers after buying the main ticket with the details and a photo or PDF of the pass.

Are there accessible parking spaces? Yes, near the East, South and West entrances, for holders of a disabled parking permit or a pass marked with the letter G. Traffic attendants on site can direct you.

Can I bring my own food and drink? Yes. There are also food and drink stands throughout the grounds.

Can I bring my dog? No, apart from medical assistance dogs. The organisers point out that the crowds would be stressful for animals.

Can I bring a handcart for carrying games? Handcarts are not banned, but the organisers advise against them because the aisles are crowded and carts cause injuries. Use the bag storage instead. For children, strollers are the better option.

Are there charging points for electric cars? Yes. There are charging stations next to P1 (two), P2 (six) and P3 (two), outside the car parks themselves and accessible at any time, plus roughly 15 to 20 public charging points in front of the e.on building on Norbertstraße.

Can I park a camper on site? P2 has camper spaces, but they must be booked in advance directly with Messe Essen. Messe Essen also lists two campsites in the area.

I lost something at the fair. Where do I ask? The lost and found office during the fair is in the Messe Essen exhibitor service office on the first floor above Hall 6, at the passage to Hall 5. Unclaimed items go to the City of Essen lost property office after seven days and appear in its online portal.

Facts at a glance

• First held in 1983 as "Deutsche Spielertage", with twelve exhibitors at Essen's adult education centre.
• Held at Messe Essen since the late 1980s, always in October, Thursday to Sunday.
• Organised by Friedhelm Merz Verlag for most of its history; the publisher passed to Spielwarenmesse eG on 1 January 2022.
• The Deutscher Spiele Preis has been announced at the fair since 1990, together with the Essen Feather for the best-written rulebook.
• Cancelled once, in 2020, and back the following year.
• 2025 figures: 220,000 visitors from over 80 nations, 948 exhibitors from 50 countries, 1,716 novelties, seven halls, about 77,500 square metres, four days.
• 2026 dates: 22 to 25 October, 10:00 to 19:00 Thursday to Saturday and 10:00 to 18:00 on Sunday.