AI trade fairs and data events in Germany: An overview

data:unplugged – biggest Data & AI movement in Germany

When it comes to data and AI in Germany, there is no way around data:unplugged, or d:u for short. What began three years ago as a festival in Münster has become one of Europe's largest movements for data, AI and digital transformation. Two formats are relevant for 2026 and 2027: the d:u Deep Dive in Berlin and the major d:u27 Festival in Münster.

d:u Deep Dive Berlin – 11 June 2026

With the d:u Deep Dive, data:unplugged is bringing its first-ever satellite event to Berlin on 11 June 2026. The one-day event takes place at Kraftwerk Berlin. Under the guiding theme "AI meets Business," around 1,500 decision-makers, experts as well as data and AI leads come together. The day is structured around three thematic stages:

• Business Value & Transformation: where AI is already delivering measurable value today – for C-level, business leads and data/AI leadership.
• Architecture, Platforms & Build: what companies are building AI on and how they put it into practice – for IT leadership, architects and developers.
• Governance, Trust & Scale: how to manage, safeguard and scale AI responsibly – for C-level as well as security and governance leads.

Instead of a big-stage focus, the format is built around dense exchange formats: 50 speakers, four masterclasses, twelve round tables (moderated peer-to-peer dialogue), experience corners, up to 15 guided tours and a special act in the evening. The Deep Dive is deliberately not a copy of the festival – it is designed for maximum depth, discussion, exchange and direct execution.

Content-wise, the day goes deep into four fields:

• AI Use Cases in Companies with concrete real-world examples that deliver measurable value
• Agentic AI with AI agents, foundation models, MCP and new automation logics
• From Data to AI with open data architectures and platforms (such as Delta Share or Object Store) as the foundation for scalable AI
• Scaling AI as the path from pilot project to enterprise-wide application.

What attendees take home is, above all, robust hands-on knowledge from real projects, peer exchange with decision-makers and concrete impulses for their own data and AI roadmap.

If you are looking for concrete answers and fresh approaches for your own data and AI projects, Kraftwerk Berlin is the right place to be. Secure your ticket now for yourself and your business team for the d:u Deep Dive Berlin – you will find all the details on the Deep Dive programme page.

d:u27 Festival – 13 & 14 April 2027 (Münster)

d:u26 in Münster is behind us, the largest edition to date with more than 11,000 participants. But it is already worth looking ahead: on 13 and 14 April 2027, d:u returns to Münster for its fourth edition – bigger and with more depth, with around 17,000 participants, six stages, more than 350 speakers, over 80 masterclasses and more than 250 exhibitors at the expo.

Alongside the Main Stage for powerful impulses and major names such as Philipp Klöckner, Herbert Diess, Markus Lanz and Wladimir Klitschko, there will once again be an SME Stage – by and for the German Mittelstand – where concrete data and AI use cases, learning curves and best practices are shared. The Data & Analytics Stage with deep tech topics remains a central part of d:u. New are themed stages on Finance and Health.

The festival has grown across three sold-out editions to more than ten thousand participants. d:u27 continues that path and deliberately stays a festival rather than a conference: stage programme, hands-on formats and experience interlock, with content and networking standing side by side as equals.

Münster therefore remains the central meeting point of the German data and AI scene – from SMEs and family businesses through start-ups and tech corporations to research, politics and society. For teams, an early look is worth it: with the d:u27 Group Pass ("Buy 4, get 5"), you bring your colleagues along directly. Get your ticket for d:u27 early and bring your team up to speed on data and AI applications.

The d:u Deep Dive is the event focused on maximum exchange, condensed into one day in Berlin: more depth, direct execution, designed for decision-makers and data/AI leads. The d:u27 Festival is its counterpart in breadth: two days in Münster, the entire data and AI community, family businesses and Mittelstand. Experience and networking on a large scale.

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BIG BANG AI Festival (Berlin)

On September 16 and 17, 2026, the BIG BANG AI Festival takes place in Berlin. Across six stages, more than 350 speakers from business, tech, healthcare and politics share their knowledge on current AI trends.

A special highlight: all participants receive an official AI certificate as proof of continuing education. In addition to the extensive stage programme, the venue — the historic Alte Münze in Berlin — also offers street food stands and a wide range of networking opportunities. In 2025, British pop legends Right Said Fred brought a real festival atmosphere to the event — visitors in 2026 can also look forward to live entertainment.

The BIG BANG AI Festival is aimed at anyone, across all industries, who wants to understand and apply AI — from startup founders to C-level executives.

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AI Festival Heilbronn (Wohlgelegen)

On July 25 and 26, 2026, the AI Festival Heilbronn once again opens its doors — free of charge. Zukunftspark Wohlgelegen becomes a public platform for AI education and experience. In 2025, visitors of all ages made their way to the site — from specialists to families with children.

The concept: making AI accessible and engaging in a low-barrier, hands-on way. In addition to keynotes, workshops and talks, there are interactive exhibitions, live demos of innovative applications, art installations and even a sports and children's programme. Robots invite conversation, yoga sessions and live music round off the event.

The AI Festival Heilbronn makes a compelling case that technology can be accessible to everyone — without entry barriers, without buzzword overload. A genuine opportunity to experience and understand AI first-hand.

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Rise of AI Conference (Berlin)

On May 5 and 6, 2026, the AI community gathers in Berlin for the Rise of AI Conference. The event is considered the annual meeting place for AI pioneers, decision-makers and visionaries from over 30 countries. Under the motto "The annual gathering of Europe's AI ecosystem," the focus is on sharing perspectives on the current state of AI in 2026.

The Rise of AI Conference offers top-level keynotes and panels on industrial use cases, trustworthy AI, AI governance and societal implications. The emphasis is on a curated networking atmosphere in which leading AI experts come together in a personal setting.

For those who cannot attend in person, there is also an online participation option. Anyone wanting to understand where AI in Europe is heading will find a comprehensive overview of the latest trends and initiatives here.

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AI Conference: Science x Business (Heidelberg)

The AI Conference: Science x Business takes place on April 14 and 15, 2026 in Heidelberg. It is aimed specifically at decision-makers, founders and tech enthusiasts from SMEs who want to put data-driven technologies into practice.

With over 1,000 participants, more than 100 speakers and over 50 partners, the conference offers a hands-on programme with a focus on generative AI in marketing and HR, AI infrastructure, automation, cybersecurity and robotics. Particularly worth highlighting are the interactive formats such as masterclasses, round tables and business speed dating, as well as an evening networking event.

The event combines scientific expertise with practical business application and offers an inspiring business festival atmosphere. The focus is on concrete use cases and real-world implementation examples — ideal for anyone who not only wants to understand AI, but wants to implement it straight away.

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Bitkom AI & Data Summit (Berlin)

On September 22 and 23, 2026, bcc Berlin hosts the AI & Data Summit by the digital association Bitkom. With around 2,200 expected participants, over 220 speakers and 140 sessions, the event ranks among Europe's leading B2B conferences on AI and data analytics in business.

The AI & Data Summit is aimed at senior decision-makers from industry, tech and research as well as policy representatives. The focus is on hands-on examples of how companies can concretely benefit from AI and data — well beyond initial pilot projects.

In 2026, the conference takes place in parallel with the Quantum Summit, giving attendees the opportunity to also gain insights into quantum computing topics. In addition to the extensive stage programme, there are exhibition areas and plenty of space for networking. A must-attend for anyone who wants to strategically anchor data and AI in their business.

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DATA festival (Munich)

The DATA festival on June 16 and 17, 2026 in Munich is a meeting place for those who want to make a real difference with data and AI. The organisers — including BARC and Alexander Thamm GmbH — describe the event as a format for those who are ready to build something.

This is where the core community of data and AI professionals gathers — people who don't just talk about data, but actually deliver projects. The festival offers a mix of specialist conference and community event in a relaxed atmosphere. The focus is on tried-and-tested solutions and honest exchange about what really works — in data analytics, AI applications and building a data culture within organisations.

Sessions and panels cover the trending topics of the moment — from generative AI and cloud data architectures to data governance. Anyone who wants to be well connected in the German data and AI community will find like-minded people in Munich.

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TDWI Conference (Munich)

From June 23 to 25, 2026, MOC Munich hosts the TDWI Conference — for over 20 years the largest gathering for data, analytics and AI in the German-speaking world. This independent, vendor-neutral conference attracts around 1,000 data experts every year — from business analysts and data scientists to BI project managers.

Across more than 100 sessions and workshops, around 150 specialists share practical knowledge on every aspect of data value creation. The range of topics is both uniquely broad and genuinely deep: data strategy, data governance, modern data architectures, business intelligence, analytics and, of course, AI.

Many in the community describe TDWI as the "reunion" of the data industry — a place where you meet familiar faces and new ones from across the entire data universe every year. Anyone looking to take away solid know-how and real project experience is in exactly the right place at TDWI Munich.

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ML Conference (Berlin & Munich)

The ML Conference is aimed specifically at machine learning developers, data scientists and AI engineers. This conference series — with annual editions in Munich (early summer) and Berlin (late autumn) — is known as "The Event for Machine Learning Technologies & Innovations."

The programme is technically driven and offers hands-on workshops, live coding sessions and in-depth talks on topics such as generative AI, MLOps and LLMOps, deep learning, AI strategy and AI governance. Leading ML engineers and AI researchers discuss concrete use cases and solution architectures.

The ML Conference also stands out for its training day format: there are often additional tutorial days or bootcamps on topics like LLM development that provide a direct entry point into the subject matter. Whether in person or via remote ticket, MLCon enables developers to expand their expertise and connect with the ML community.

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Big Data & AI World (Frankfurt am Main)

On May 6 and 7, 2026, the DACH community of data and AI professionals meets at Frankfurt Exhibition Centre for Big Data & AI World. The event is part of Tech Show Frankfurt and combines an extensive expo with a conference stage where industry experts present the latest developments.

IT decision-makers, data scientists and innovators come together to exchange views on the latest technologies, case studies and strategies. Whether the topic is scalable data architectures, real-time analytics or successful AI projects — the presentations deliver hands-on, relevant insights.

At the same time, visitors can make contacts at the booths of leading data and AI solution providers in the exhibition halls and have solutions demonstrated live. Big Data & AI World offers a comprehensive marketplace for data topics and is particularly interesting for those looking for an overview of technology providers and trends.

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The 2026 AI and Data event calendar

2026 offers Germany an impressive variety of AI and data events — from accessible festival formats to hands-on conferences and established trade fairs. Whether you are interested in strategic AI implementation, technical deep dives or community exchange: there is the right format for every need, and space to discuss, experience and shape things together.

AI expertise and data readiness affect every area of a business. For effective implementation, it is crucial to bring the key people in your organisation along, develop their skills and prepare them positively for what lies ahead.

The next d:u date is already set: on June 11, 2026, the d:u Deep Dive in Berlin takes decision-makers and data experts into the business reality of AI for a full day. In 2027, the big d:u Festival returns to Münster — secure your d:u27 ticket now.