What exactly is the ILA?
ILA Berlin 2026—officially the International Aerospace Exhibition—is the big stage for the global aerospace industry in Germany. It combines a top-tier trade fair for aviation and space, defense, and suppliers with a spectacular air show for the general public. Founded in 1909, the ILA is considered the world’s oldest aviation trade fair and is now one of the most important aerospace events worldwide.
Every two years, the show turns the area around Berlin ExpoCenter Airport into an international showcase for innovation: from commercial aircraft and military jets to helicopters, space technologies, and drones—everything is there. In 2024, the ILA welcomed around 95,000 attendees, 600 exhibitors from 31 countries, 200 delegations, and about 100 aircraft—so expectations are high for ILA Berlin 2026.
When and where will ILA Berlin 2026 take place?
ILA Berlin 2026 runs from June 10–14, 2026 at Berlin ExpoCenter Airport, right next to Berlin Brandenburg Airport in Schönefeld.
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Trade visitor days: June 10–12, 2026
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Public days: June 13–14, 2026
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Opening hours: daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Address: Messestraße 1, 12529 Schönefeld (Selchow)
The 2026 motto is once again #PioneeringAerospace. The focus is on competitiveness, technological sovereignty, and how aviation can become climate-neutral—through Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), new propulsion systems, and lightweight construction, for example.
What makes the ILA so special?
The ILA isn’t a “nice air day,” but a top platform for decision-makers from industry, politics, research, and the armed forces. According to the organizer, it brings the key players in the global aerospace industry to Berlin-Brandenburg every two years.
The numbers from the last edition speak for themselves: 600+ exhibitors, 350 speakers across multiple stages, 200 delegations from around 60 countries, and thousands of planned business meetings.
At the same time, the ILA remains a show for fans: on public days, you can get up close to large airliners, military jets, helicopters, transport aircraft, and special-purpose planes in the static display—and experience what the technology can do in the air during the flight shows.
What can I expect at ILA 2026?
In terms of content, ILA Berlin covers the entire aerospace value chain: civil aviation, space, defense, suppliers, research, start-ups, and New Space.
A few focus areas that will be especially important in 2026:
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Climate-neutral flying: SAF, hydrogen, new engine concepts, lightweight design, and efficient flight routes—everything related to “defossilized” aviation.
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Security & defense: The role of aerospace in security and defense policy, including modern fighter aircraft, reconnaissance, and air defense systems.
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Space & New Space: Satellites, launch vehicles, Earth observation, space data—and applications we use in everyday life, from navigation to climate research.
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Digitalization & innovation: Autonomous systems, drones, urban air mobility, AI in development and operations, additive manufacturing.
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Talent Hub & young talent: A dedicated area brings students, young professionals, and companies together—perfect if you want to enter the industry.
Plus conferences, panels, and side events on-site and in the surrounding area, focusing on strategy, regulation, and new partnerships.
Who is a visit to the ILA worth it for?
The ILA is worth it for a wide range of audiences:
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Trade visitors from the aerospace industry, defense technology, supply chain, research, and politics use the first three days for business, networking, and contracts.
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Companies from adjacent industries (IT, materials engineering, energy, mobility) find cooperation partners and technology inspiration.
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Students, apprentices, and young professionals can network in the Talent Hub, discover career paths, and line up internships or jobs.
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Aviation fans and families get their money’s worth on public days—with flight shows, static displays, and plenty of “wow moments” on the apron.
In short: whether you want to close deals, compare technologies, explore career options, or simply love airplanes—ILA Berlin 2026 is the place to be.
What does a typical day at the ILA look like?
If you’re attending as a trade visitor, you’ll usually start your ILA day in one of the large halls or conference areas: keynote, panel, or industry update. Then you’ll head across the grounds to exhibitors, product demos, and scheduled meetings. Many companies plan their appointments tightly, often with their own meeting area at the booth or in the business lounges.
In between, you should definitely make time for the outdoor area: that’s where the aircraft are in the static display—from regional jets to military transporters. Especially in the morning or late afternoon, the light is great and the lines are a bit shorter.
On the public days, the focus shifts more outdoors: flight shows, aerobatics, demonstrations by rescue and firefighting aircraft, or flyovers by large airliners. Indoors, there’s action in parallel on stages, in experience areas, and in the space segment—perfect if you’re out with kids or aviation newcomers.
Stay at the Little Big Hotels for the ILA
The ILA exhibition grounds are south of Berlin at BER—but many visitors prefer to stay in the city, enjoy the evenings, and still have good connections. That’s exactly what our five little BIG hotels in Berlin are for, all of which make a convenient base for your ILA visit:
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The fjord hotel berlin is quietly located on a side street near Potsdamer Platz. From here, you can quickly reach the major city rail hubs (e.g., Potsdamer Platz/Südkreuz) and hop on a train to BER in no time. Perfect if you want to combine trade fair days with short distances into the city center.
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At LINDEMANN´S on Potsdamer Straße, you’ll stay right in the middle of the action—with direct connections toward City West and Südkreuz. Ideal if you’re doing business at the ILA during the day and want to try galleries, bars, and restaurants nearby in the evening.
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the YARD in Kreuzberg is your boutique retreat with a courtyard and spa within walking distance of the Landwehr Canal. Thanks to good U-Bahn connections, you can quickly reach the long-distance and regional stations where trains to BER depart—and unwind in the sauna and pool in the evening, or work out in the small fitness area.
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At CALMA Berlin Mitte, you’re right in the heart of Berlin-Mitte, with short distances to the trendy bars and restaurants between Oranienburger Straße and Torstraße. If you have ILA meetings during the day and business dinners or networking appointments in Mitte in the evening, it’s a great base.
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Anna 1908 in southwest Berlin (toward Steglitz) is especially appealing if you prefer things a bit quieter but still want great connections. With the S-Bahn and U-Bahn, you can easily get into the city and on to stations with direct BER links—while enjoying the charm of a classic Berlin period-building neighborhood.
That way, for ILA Berlin 2026 you can choose the little BIG hotel that best fits your travel style: central, quiet, urban, or with extra neighborhood charm—always with good public transport connections toward the airport and ExpoCenter Airport.
And the best part: For all stays between June 9–15, 2026, you’ll save 5% with our discount code LBH_ILA26.
How do I plan my ILA visit—tickets, getting there, tips?
You can buy tickets for ILA Berlin 2026 in the official online shop of the trade fair. There are separate categories for trade visitors (including multi-day passes) as well as cheaper tickets for the public days on the weekend.
To get there by public transport, travel from central Berlin to BER Airport first—e.g., on the FEX airport express or regional trains from Hauptbahnhof, Potsdamer Platz, or Südkreuz (around 20–30 minutes). From there, and from selected S-Bahn and U-Bahn stations (e.g., S9/S45 or U7 Rudow), shuttle buses take you directly to the exhibition grounds.
A few practical tips to wrap up:
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Book early—both your ticket and your hotel, as the ILA falls during a popular travel period.
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Pack comfortable shoes; the site is large and you’ll walk many kilometers.
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Check the program & hall plan in advance, otherwise you’ll quickly lose time between booths and the airfield.
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And definitely: bring a camera or at least enough phone storage—because when the next jet roars low over the grounds, you definitely don’t want to miss the shot.
This way, ILA Berlin 2026 becomes a mix of high-tech trade fair, international industry meetup, and spectacular air show experience for you—with Berlin as the perfect “basecamp” right next door.
