AI trade fairs and data events in Germany: An overview

d:u — data:unplugged — Germany's largest and most important Data and AI Festival (Münster)

On March 26 and 27, 2026, MCC Halle Münsterland will once again be transformed into a massive gathering place for the German data and AI scene. In just 2.5 years, d:u has grown into Europe's leading event for data and AI. What started in 2024 with 1,000 attendees and drew over 6,500 visitors in 2025 will be even bigger, deeper, broader and more relevant in 2026: over 10,000 participants are expected.

What makes d:u special is the unique combination of real substance and emotional experience. On five stages, visitors can look forward to more than 200 speakers — from experts to C-level decision-makers, from innovation leaders to scientists and politicians. Over 40 masterclasses offer the opportunity to dive directly into specific topics, apply them in practice and take home concrete skills.

New in 2026 is the Data and Analytics Stage, embedded in a dedicated data area — a reunion of the data community with deep tech and analytics talks on everything that moves the data scene. The second-largest stage with 1,000 seats, the former Green Stage, becomes the SME Stage with a completely new direction: a dedicated stage by and for small and medium-sized businesses. Curated together with Maschinenraum Berlin, the network for family businesses, the stage focuses on the topics that matter most to SMEs — from "data readiness" and "make or buy" to "leadership in the age of AI" and "AI maturity check for your company." Use cases from a wide variety of industries and departments are presented by entrepreneurs and specialists and discussed in panels. The focus is on practical transfer, exchange on equal footing and concrete applications across different areas.

There is also an interactive exhibition area with 150 exhibitors from both the user and provider side. Beyond the two-day content programme on 5 stages, the exchange and the shared experience deliver real added value. data:unplugged combines expert input, learning and dialogue with a strong collective experience.

In the evening, a true festival atmosphere takes hold: relaxed socialising, celebrating together and a live show programme with acts like Sido — a perfect close to the day that connects teams and releases energy.

One clear advantage: at d:u, food and soft drinks are included in the ticket price so that everyone can focus on content and networking.

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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.

It is already worth looking ahead to 2027. d:u is back — and we can't wait to welcome your team on April 13 & 14, 2027 in Münster, where 15,000 AI experts, decision-makers and innovators will come together. Get your ticket for d:u27 now.