FIBO 2024 takes place in Cologne, Germany, from Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 April 2023. It’s the biggest fitness and wellbeing event of its kind. Here’s our guide to this blockbuster fitness industry event.
See Xplor Gym in action at FIBO 2024
See the gym management software that makes running your gym easier. Book a meeting with the Xplor Gym team at FIBO.
What is FIBO?
FIBO is the biggest fitness exhibition in the world and has been taking place for almost 40 years. The FIBO Global Fitness event has something for everyone with 10 halls. Plus a congress education area.
As an international fitness industry event, FIBO attracts operators, industry professionals, decisionmakers, entrepreneurs, trainers, and healthcare practitioners. Plus, fitness enthusiasts looking to meet their idols and try out the latest trends.
It’s a unique destination for professionals and consumers alike. And the place to get ahead of the upcoming trends and innovations.
At FIBO 2024, you can expect 3 things:
- Expo – see the latest products and innovations across 10 halls from suppliers of all shapes, sizes, and kinds
- Education – get insights and learn best practices from industry experts, innovators, and scientists
- Experience – take part in memorable experiences and challenges
How many people attend FIBO?
For 2024, around 120,000 people are expected to attend FIBO from +100 countries are expected. FIBO 2023 was attended by 106,146 people from 116 countries.
In 2023, FIBO also attracted 867 exhibitor and partners from 51 nations. And there were 500+ panels and education sessions. That makes for a busy 4 days!
When is FIBO 2024?
FIBO 2024 takes place from Thursday 11 April to Sunday 14 April 2024. The opening hours are:
- Thursday 11 April 2024 – 9am to 6pm
- Friday 12 April 2024 – 9am to 6pm
- Saturday 13 April 2024 – 9am to 6pm
- Sunday 14 April 2024 – 9am to 6pm
There’s no official after party for FIBO 2024.
Access on Thursday and Friday is exclusively for trade visitors. On Saturday and Sunday, FIBO is open to both trade and public visitors.
Where is FIBO 2024 taking place?
FIBO 2024 takes place at Exhibition Center Cologne. It’s also known as Cologne Trade Fair / Koelnmesse. And the venue is an international trade fair and exhibition centre – one of the largest in Germany.
Getting to Exhibition Center Cologne / Koelnmesse
The venue address is:
Exhibition Center Cologne / Koelnmesse, Messeplatz 1, 50679 Cologne, Germany
The exhibition centre is central. And convenient to reach from many locations by train, car, local public transport, taxi and airplane.
Arriving by air
The three closest airports are:
- Cologne-Bonn Airport – approx. 16km / 10 miles from Koelnmesse
- Düsseldorf Airport – approx. 65 km / 40 miles from Koelnmesse
- Frankfurt am Main Airport – approx. 180km / 112 miles from Koelnmesse
It’s possible to travel from these airports to Koelnmesse by public transport:
- From Cologne-Bonn Airport – take the No. 13 suburban railway in the Horrem direction, or the Regional Express in the Mönchengladbach direction, to the Köln Messe/Deutz station. The trip only takes 12 mins!
- From Düsseldorf Airport – follow the signs in the airport to the Sky Train which will take you to Düsseldorf Flughafen station. Onwards from there take the Regional Express train in the Aachen or Koblenz direction to the Köln Messe/Deutz station
- From Frankfurt am Main Airport – from the station at the airport (Frankfurt(M) Flughafen Fernbahnhof) take the Inter City Express (ICE) train to the Köln Messe/Deutz station
Arriving by train (Deutsche Bahn)
The nearest stations are:
- Köln Messe/Deutz station – located around 3 minutes’ walk away from the South Entrance of Koelnmesse
- Cologne Main/Central station – located 15 to 45 minutes away by taxi/car, train, ferry or foot
Arriving by underground
To get to Koelnmesse by underground take:
- Line 1 or 9 to Bahnhof Deutz station (approx. 3 mins walk from the South Entrance)
- Line 3 or 4 to Koelnmesse station (at the East Entrance)
Arriving by taxi
TAXI-RUF Cologne can be contacted by calling +49 221 2882 and you can also book using the ‘taxi.eu’ or ‘mytaxi’ apps. There are also taxi ranks at the entrances to Koelnmesse.
How to attend FIBO – tickets
There are three types of tickets available for FIBO 2024: Trade, Public, and Campus. The best for gym and fitness club operators are the trade tickets. Trade tickets are available for all 4 days of FIBO.
You can buy tickets online. As a trade visitor, you’ll need to verify and provide documents to show you qualify for a trade ticket. This document explains the proof required to buy tickets.
Trade tickets cost:
- 1 day ticket for your day of choice – €40
- 2 day ticket for two days of your choice – €66
- 4 day ticket for the whole event – €88
Thursday and Friday are only for trade visitors. So, they’re a must for gym owners and operators.
You should also be able to buy tickets at the venue. But, we recommend securing your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment and queues.
Accommodation for FIBO
FIBO is massive, so you’ll want somewhere comfortable to rest up during your visit! There are plenty of hotel options in Cologne to choose from. Book fast to secure your accommodation at the lowest rate available.
There are a variety of hotels to suit different budgets within a 15 mins walk or drive from FIBO:
- The Deutz, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel – 8 mins walk
- Leonardo Hotel Köln – 4 mins drive
- Mercure Hotel Koeln Belfortstrasse – 6 mins drive
- TRYP by Wyndham Koeln City Centre – 6 mins drive
- Cologne Marriott Hotel – 7 mins drive
- Hilton Cologne – 7 mins drive
- Excelsior Hotel Ernst – 7 mins drive
- NH Collection Köln Mediapark – 9 mins drive
- ibis Koeln Centrum – 9 mins drive
- Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg – 13 mins drive
Food & drink during FIBO
With all there is to do and see at FIBO 2024, you’ll need to keep well fuelled! And there will be a selection of restaurants and cafes to choose from. Plus, as it’s a health & fitness event, there will be plenty of healthy options.
You can also take your own food and drinks with you. And that’s a great option if you follow a nutrition plan or have specific dietary requirements.
If you’re seeking dinner (or even a working lunch!) near to FIBO, highly rated restaurants include:
- Kamasutra – Indian restaurant, open from 11:30am-3pm and from 5pm, located at Weyerstraße 114, 50676 Köln
- Bangkok Thai Restaurant – Thai restaurant, open from 12-3pm Thursday & Friday and from 5pm each day, located at Lindenstraße 81, 50674 Köln
- Il Valentino – Italian restaurant, open from 11:30am-9pm (closed Sunday), located at Herzogstrasse 14, 50667 Köln
- Restaurant Hanse Stube – Michelin star French restaurant, open from 12-2.30pm and from 6pm, located at Excelsior Hotel Ernst, Trankgasse 1-5 / Domplatz, 50667 Cologne
- El Gaucho – Steakhouse, open from 5pm, located at Hohenstaufenring 29-37, 50674 Köln
And if you’re looking to try some traditional dishes, these restaurants and bars are highly rated for a more authentic experience:
- Restaurant Brücken – German/European restaurant, open from 5:30pm (closed Sunday), located at Johannisstraße 79, 50668 Köln
- Lommerzheim – German bar/pub, open from 11am-2:30pm and from 4:30pm, located at Siegesstraße 18, 50679 Köln
- Brauhaus Sünner im Walfisch – German beer hall/pub, open from 5pm Thursday/3pm Friday/12pm Saturday & Sunday, located at Salzgasse 13, 50667 Köln
- Haxenhaus – German/European restaurant, open from 11:30am, located at Frankenwerft 19, 50667 Köln
Cologne is a city and it will be busy with lots of visitor in town for FIBO. So, where you can, book ahead to avoid disappointment! Cologne has a vibrant restaurant scene with 1,000+ restaurants, 100+ bars, and 700+ pubs. There’s something for everyone!
Highlights for gym operators
FIBO is a key event for gym owners, operators and fitness professionals. It’s unparalleled size means you’ll have the opportunity to see and meet so many industry colleagues in one place.
Whether you want to make new connections, or catch up with industry friends and colleagues, you’ll want to wear your most comfortable shoes. There’s a LOT to see!
At FIBO, you’ll get:
- Access to an extensive exhibition
- The opportunity to see equipment, services, and solutions in one place
- An overview of new developments and innovations
- And more
Must-visits at FIBO 2024
Hopefully you’ll get time to take in all the halls at FIBO 2024 in detail. If you’re only able to attend for a day or two, these are our top picks for you:
- Hall 6 – ok, so we’re a bit bias here! This is where you’ll find the Xplor team ready and waiting to welcome you at stand 6D79. After you’ve stopped by, take a look at the training equipment in this hall, as well as EMS & vibration tech that’s growing in popularity
- Hall 7 – Here you’ll find even more training equip, EMS & vibration tech, cardio & strength training, and digital solutions to kit your clubs out. It’s also home to the Future Forum
- Hall 8 – Home to many health and wellness focused exhibitors ready to inspire you with ways to help your members embrace wellbeing
- Hall 9 – Cardio & strength training solutions extend to this hall, along with functional training opportunities, and trading and sourcing specialists. So, it’s a great visit for training inspiration
Image credit: FIBO Global Fitness
If you’re at FIBO on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 April 2024, HYROX Cologne will be taking place in Hall 10.1.
The 2-days of racing look set to be action packed. It’s one of the two Last Chance Qualifier Events with Pro athletes able to fight for the remaining qualification slots for the World Championships Races of the Elite 15 Series.
Meet the Xplor Gym team
FIBO 2024 is going to be action-packed with loads to see and do. So, we’re inviting you to head to the Xplor stand, catch up with our team and enjoy a coffee.
You’ll find the Xplor Gym team in Hall 6 at stand 6D79.
Hang tough & represent #TeamGym!
We’ll be joined at FIBO by our colleagues from Xplor Mariana Tek – the boutique fitness software solution for studios. And to celebrate, we’ll be running a very special competition!
On Thursday and Friday, you can take part in our Hang Tough competition. We’ll be pitting #TeamGym against #TeamStudio in an epic show of strength. And there’ll be prizes on offer for those who hang on the longest, with a female and male category.
We’ve partnered with Myzone to offer each winner an MZ-Switch heart rate monitor – the first-of-its-kind interchangeable exercise tracker for the gym, outdoors, and in water. Worn on the chest or wrist, this monitor offers two sensor options for unparalleled versatility.
We hope you’ll have a go and represent #TeamGym!
See Xplor Gym in action at FIBO 2024
We can’t wait to welcome you. Stop by Hall 6 and head to stand 6D79. So, you can see why the most innovative gym and fitness club operators are making the switch to all-in-one gym management software from Xplor Gym.
It’s going to be busy. So, book a meeting with us to make sure we’re ready and waiting for you at your preferred time.
Contact our team today to arrange a meeting at FIBO.
See you at FIBO Germany this April 🚀
Article by Xplor Gym
First published: 03 April 2024
Last updated: 12 April 2024