COLOGNE, GERMANY — Following the successful conclusion of its three-day run in Nuremberg on Sunday, October 4, organizers have announced a monumental shift for the European photography and content creation calendar. Beginning next year, Imaging World is officially moving to Cologne—the historic home of the legendary Photokina trade show.
The upcoming event, formally rebranded as "Imaging World inspired by Photokina," is scheduled to take place from September 24 through 26, 2027. The festival will be jointly managed by Koelnmesse—the former organizer behind Photokina—and Ringfoto, marking a collaborative effort to bridge decades of industry heritage with the modern, rapidly evolving needs of contemporary creators.
This strategic relocation signals a major homecoming for the global imaging community, breathing new life into an exhibition space that defined the photography world for generations.
Main Facts
The transition of Imaging World to Cologne represents one of the most significant developments in the photography trade show landscape in nearly a decade.
The Event: "Imaging World inspired by Photokina" will run from September 24 to September 26, 2027.
The Organizers: The event will be co-produced by Koelnmesse and Ringfoto. Ringfoto has successfully managed the event for the past two years in Nuremberg, while Koelnmesse brings its decades of international exhibition expertise and its historic association with Photokina.
The Scope: The festival will cater to a broader demographic than traditional camera expos, expanding beyond core photography to encompass video, audio, specialized lighting, workflow software, printing technologies, mobile applications, and holistic content creation tools.
The Core Philosophy: The event prioritizes hands-on product interaction, live workshops, educational seminars, and direct community engagement over passive displays.
Chronology: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of German Imaging Expos
To understand the weight of this announcement, one must look back at the tumultuous history of trade shows in the imaging sector over the last ten years.
The Era of Photokina (1950–2020)
For 70 years, Photokina stood uncontested as the premier international trade fair for the photographic and imaging industries. Held biennially (and later annually) in Cologne, it was the definitive stage where major manufacturers—including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, and Panasonic—unveiled their flagship cameras, groundbreaking lenses, and futuristic prototypes. It was a pilgrimage site for professional photographers, journalists, and enthusiasts alike.
The Pandemic and Industry Downturn
However, a combination of shifting market dynamics, the rise of digital-first product launches, and the devastating impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic brought an abrupt end to the giant expo. Photokina held its final physical edition in 2020. Shortly thereafter, Koelnmesse officially pulled the plug on the brand, leaving a massive void in the European exhibition market that many industry observers feared would never be filled.
The Nuremberg Interlude (2024–2025)
As the camera industry began to find its footing again, retail giant Ringfoto stepped into the breach. Recognizing a desperate hunger for physical, tactile retail and community experiences, Ringfoto launched Imaging World in Nuremberg. Over two consecutive years, the compact event proved that consumer appetite for hands-on gear testing was not only alive but thriving.
The Road to Cologne (2027)
Following the conclusion of the Nuremberg showcase on October 4, leadership from Koelnmesse and Ringfoto finalized a partnership agreement. By merging Ringfoto’s grassroots retail and community insight with Koelnmesse’s massive international infrastructure, the event is set to return to its spiritual home in Cologne, infused with a modern identity tailored for the digital content creator era.
Supporting Data: A Stabilizing and Growing Industry
The resurrection of a major German imaging expo does not happen in a vacuum. It is supported by a broader, highly encouraging macroeconomic turnaround within the global photography and videography hardware market.
For nearly two decades following the widespread adoption of smartphone cameras in the late 2000s, the dedicated camera market experienced a steady, painful contraction. Traditional manufacturers consolidated their product lines, shifting focus exclusively toward high-end mirrorless systems and professional cinema gear.
However, recent data demonstrates a dramatic and unexpected reversal:
Consecutive Years of Growth: Industry reports highlight that global camera shipments have increased for consecutive years for the first time in nearly 20 years.
The Creator Economy Boom: The explosion of independent content creation, vlogging, streaming, and mobile journalism has injected a younger, highly engaged demographic into the consumer base. Younger demographics are buying dedicated hardware—not just for traditional photography, but for hybrid multimedia production.
Global Trade Show Resilience: Far from being obsolete, physical events have proven vital for brand loyalty. The overwhelming popularity of Japan’s CP+ show and B&H’s BILD Expo in New York City demonstrates that consumers and professionals alike deeply value the ability to touch, test, and compare gear in person before making significant financial investments.
Official Responses and Leadership Vision
The partnership between Koelnmesse and Ringfoto marries institutional trade fair prowess with direct, frontline retail experience. Executives from both organizations have expressed immense enthusiasm for the 2027 relaunch.
Oliver Frese, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse, emphasized the unique advantages that Cologne brings to the table.
"With Imaging World inspired by photokina, we are bringing a well-established event format with a clear profile and a highly engaged community to Cologne," stated Frese. "Together with Ringfoto, we aim to preserve these strengths while developing them further in a targeted way. We will also draw on Koelnmesse’s extensive expertise in imaging and the international industry contacts it has built up over decades through photokina. Cologne offers excellent conditions for this, with its trade fair infrastructure, international accessibility and strong media and creative environment."
Thilo Röhrig, Managing Director of Ringfoto GmbH & Co. KG, reflected on the organic growth of the event during its tenure in Nuremberg and the opportunities that lie ahead.
"Over the past two years, Imaging World has shown just how great the interest is in a place where products are not only presented, but can be experienced and tried out directly," Röhrig noted. "After two successful editions in Nuremberg, Imaging World is ready for the next step. We want to continue this combination of technology, practical experience, inspiration and personal exchange in Cologne. In particular, we intend to further develop our concept, which combines a traditional trade fair exhibition with modern, interactive play areas and an extensive programme of workshops and seminars. Ringfoto will remain an active partner for industry, specialist retail and the community."
Implications for the Future of Imaging
The return of a major international imaging festival to Cologne carries profound implications for manufacturers, retailers, and creators across Europe and beyond.
1. A Unified Stage for Autumn Announcements
Traditionally, the autumn season—leading into the year-end holiday shopping rush—has been a fiercely contested window for hardware and software releases. By anchoring "Imaging World inspired by Photokina" in late September (September 24–26, 2027), organizers are providing camera manufacturers with a predictable, high-visibility platform to showcase their latest innovations directly to European buyers, journalists, and retailers.
2. Redefining the Trade Show Experience
Unlike the monolithic, often corporate-heavy trade shows of the past, modern expos must cater to a fragmented ecosystem. The organizers have explicitly designed Imaging World to merge traditional industrial booths with interactive "play areas," live shooting stages, and deep-dive educational workshops. This hybrid approach acknowledges that today’s creator is often a hybrid shooter who requires expertise not only in camera bodies and optics, but also in continuous lighting, high-speed audio recording, video editing suites, and automated workflow software.
3. Strengthening Specialized Retail
Through Ringfoto’s continued involvement, the event maintains a vital bridge to independent specialist retailers. In an era dominated by faceless online e-commerce, face-to-face interaction between brands, local camera shops, and end-users reinforces the value of specialized brick-and-mortar retail and expert advice.
Looking Ahead
As preparations begin for the September 2027 debut in Cologne, the global imaging community watches with bated breath. While the grand halls along the Rhine will no longer host the exact Photokina of the 20th century, the soul of that legendary event—fueled by a modernized, hands-on philosophy—is poised to write an exciting new chapter for visual storytelling. Further details regarding participating manufacturers, ticket sales, and specialized programming are expected to be released in the coming months.
