Music trade shows in Germany – The Top 5 at a glance
Music fairs are, alongside festivals, major highlights of the music industry and unique places where musicians, producers, manufacturers, and music lovers come together. Here, new trends, products, and technologies in the music scene are presented and discovered, and valuable connections are made. They serve as important meeting points for the industry, acting as showcases for innovation, talent development, and networking. In addition, a large number of workshops, lectures, and discussions with professional and well-known guests take place, where knowledge is shared, and participants receive further training. In the following blog post, we give you an overview of the top 5 German music fairs – from jazzahead! to Superbooth – and introduce them to you.
Guitar Summit
In 2017, the editorial team of the magazine "Gitarre&Bass" decided to organize an event focusing exclusively on guitars, basses, and related accessories. The goal was to bring together workshops, live concerts, and exhibitions of well-known brands – resulting in a music fair with unparalleled variety under the name Guitar Summit. Today, the three-day fair features over 100 workshops and concerts on 7 stages, as well as in-depth masterclasses led by renowned instructors with a limited number of participants in separate rooms. Numerous manufacturers of guitars, basses, and matching accessories set up their booths to showcase their latest products and technologies, leaving visitors amazed. There is also a Guitar Summit flea market, where you can leisurely browse through private sales stands.
Location: Mannheim – Congress Center Rosengarten
Date: 26.09 – 28.09.2025
Ticket price: 3-day pass: €79.00, 1-day pass: from €33.00
Superbooth
In Berlin, the non-profit children's, youth, and family center FEZ transforms for a few days each year into a pilgrimage site for fans of electronic dance music. The Superbooth music fair is Europe’s largest trade fair for electronic musical instruments, with synthesizers taking center stage. Every year, music enthusiasts travel to Superbooth to attend workshops, listen to concerts and DJ sets, and discover the latest news on synthesizers. Over 280 exhibitors, including major industry players, present their new products and showcase trends shaping the future of the music scene. The organizers of Superbooth place great emphasis on inclusion, ensuring that almost all areas are accessible, an awareness team is on site, and workshops are offered specifically for FLINTA participants. Unlike other fairs, no products can be purchased at Superbooth.
Location: Berlin – FEZ
jazzahead!
For the international jazz industry, jazzahead! is a must-attend event: a meeting place for contemporary jazz from Germany and around the world. At jazzahead!, leading musicians, labels, agencies, and bookers of the jazz music scene come together in one place, earning it the nickname "family gathering of jazz." Visitors can attend workshops, conferences, discussions, and panels. But it’s not just for professionals; the general public is also welcome to enjoy exciting programs and great music. Simultaneously with the trade fair, the jazzahead! Festival takes place, adding a citywide music program to the world’s largest jazz gathering, featuring artists from over 20 countries. This turns the Hanseatic city of Bremen into a true jazz metropolis for one weekend.
Location: Messe Bremen
Date: every year in April
Soundtrack Cologne
Once a year, Cologne becomes a cultural center for sound and music in audiovisual media such as films or video games – a place where composers, sound designers, directors, and other industry professionals meet to discuss trends and developments. In more than 60 panel discussions, workshops, lectures, and live performances, both artistic and technical, as well as legal aspects, are highlighted. Several awards are also presented to honor outstanding works and emerging talents. A special feature of this music fair is the matchmaking events. Participants from different fields have the opportunity to meet in one-on-one sessions or small groups to potentially find new project partners and plan collaborations. These sessions follow structured procedures, ensuring participants connect with people relevant to their work. There is also "Matchmaking for Women" to specifically promote women and their visibility in the music industry.
Location: various venues in Cologne
Date: 08.07 – 11.07.2025
Ticket price: €155.00
Classical: NEXT
Classical:NEXT is the world’s largest industry gathering for classical and art music – bringing together organizers, artists, labels, and other stakeholders of the classical music scene. The music fair consists of four main components: showcases (short concerts by artists), conferences including lectures, seminars, and discussions, exhibitions featuring labels, festivals, or agencies, and networking opportunities among guests. This allows artists to initiate new projects, discover trends, and further develop the future of the scene. Every year, the fair unites the global classical and art music community in one place, creating an unforgettable experience.
Music fairs as a source of inspiration for music fans
The music fairs presented here cover different music genres and serve as true sources of inspiration for anyone who makes music or is interested in audio technology. If you leave a music fair feeling inspired to get active yourself, improve your setup, or purchase new equipment, Zoundhouse.de is the right place for you. In our online shop, you’ll find string instruments, wind instruments, bowed instruments, and many other instruments, as well as recording equipment that you can easily order online. Browse our assortment now and discover the variety of musical instruments. Do you have questions about our products? Feel free to contact us!