Earlier start for the education sector: LEARNTEC returns to its traditional slot from 2027
The leading trade fair for digital education will take place next year from February 2-4
From 2027, LEARNTEC will once again take place at its traditional time at the start of the year. Switching from its recent spring slot, Europe’s leading trade fair and convention for digital education will open its doors at Messe Karlsruhe from February 2-4, 2027. This year’s event will take place as planned from May 5-7.
LEARNTEC was traditionally held in January but was pushed back to early summer for several years following the coronavirus pandemic. Now the trade fair is returning to its original slot, with feedback from exhibitors and visitors, as well as strategic analysis, all decisive factors in the rescheduling. The decision was made in close consultation with the advisory board and steering committee of school@LEARNTEC.
“The return of LEARNTEC to the start of the year is a real benefit for us as exhibitors,” says Joshua Kirkland, Principal Manager at simpleclub. “The February date coincides with companies finalising their training plans for the summer and gives us the time to work with them to implement the right solutions.”
The start of the year also sees companies, educational establishments and public institutions discussing budgets and strategic visions. The February date therefore enables exhibitors and visitors to integrate innovations and solutions into planning and decision-making processes at an early stage.
Rescheduling the event also aligns with the investment cycles of school authorities in the school@LEARNTEC sector. Micha Pallesche, a member of the convention committee and a headteacher himself, welcomes its return to the start of the year: “I am delighted that LEARNTEC is returning to its traditional slot. This gives school management and school authorities guidance earlier in the year, allowing them to find out about current developments and take away important ideas for their planning.”
New features for the 2026 edition
The change of date is part of LEARNTEC’s ongoing strategic development. The hall layout has already been optimised for this year: the school@LEARNTEC theme area has moved into Hall 2, reflecting what many exhibitors showcase in their portfolios, with the digitalisation of school education and vocational training becoming increasingly intertwined. A new hall and stage layout, along with an adapted visitor flow, will ensure greater interaction and a more focused programme in 2026.
“By returning to February, we are establishing a clear, long-term framework for LEARNTEC. The spring date worked extremely well in recent years and was indispensable for the event during the pandemic years. That said, market analysis and numerous discussions with our partners have shown that the start of the year is an even better time to prepare investment decisions and launch innovations that are particularly effective. We intend to make consistent use of this strength and thereby offer the EdTech community a reliable platform early in the year, making it the first industry gathering in the DACH region,” concludes Britta Wirtz, Managing Director of Messe Karlsruhe.
In addition to the in-person event, LEARNTEC xChange will continue to provide online formats throughout the year as information platforms for the industry. The next xChange will take place this autumn.
