FSB & aquanale 2025: standing strong together for the future, innovation and sustainability

Approximately 28.000 trade visitors from over 125 countries and more than 865 exhibitors from 46 nations packed the halls, creating an inspiring atmosphere on the Cologne trade fair grounds. This corresponds to an increase in visitors of over 11 per cent compared to 2023.

The Trade fair duo impresses with visitor growth of over 11 per cent

"FSB and aquanale have once again highlighted the innovative strength and relevance inherent in these sectors. Both events have sustainability, energy efficiency and quality of life at their heart - issues that matter to people all around the world. With this trade fair duo, we provide a platform for these developments - proving that we're #bettertogether," commented Oliver Frese, managing director of Koelnmesse GmbH.

Under the joint motto #bettertogether, the two trade fairs presented themselves as a strong pairing and impressively demonstrated how closely the topics of exercise, leisure, health and well-being are interconnected. With the Privatoase and Stadtoase event areas, FSB and aquanale demonstrated, among other things, how individual retreats and communal meeting places can be combined to create a holistic concept of quality of life.

The trade fair duo once again attracted a high level of international visitors: around 62 percent of visitors came from abroad, mainly from the Benelux countries, Scandinavia, Italy, Spain, France, Eastern Europe, the USA, Israel and India. Key features of the dual event were the high calibre of the trade visitors and the intensive exchange of ideas between representatives from the manufacturing and retail sectors, the planning professions and local authorities.
The two trade fairs once again benefited from their similar content and the strong synergies between the target groups - including municipal decision-makers, architecture and landscape architecture firms, sports facility operators, sports clubs, landscaping companies, and players in the swimming pool, sauna and wellness construction sectors. From the audience perspective, solutions-oriented innovations for sustainable public space, sports, leisure and water environments were of particular interest.

aquanale 2025: spotlight on innovation, energy efficiency and well-being

This year's aquanale showcased the entire spectrum of modern swimming pool and wellness culture, hosting about 290 exhibitors from 33 countries. Key topics at the 2025 trade fair included energy efficiency, water and resource conservation, design trends and digital control systems. At the 11^th International Swimming Pool and Wellness Forum, experts discussed the latest challenges and solutions relating to energy saving, water quality and digital facility management.

"Energy efficiency, sustainability and well-being are the key themes at aquanale 2025 and Cologne is the place where these developments come together and generate impulses for the coming years," explained Ute Wanschura, Managing Director of the German Federal Association for Swimming Pools and Wellness (bsw e.V.).

conference aquanale 2025

Conference at aquanale 2025

FSB 2025: future-focused public spaces and leisure culture

With over 575 exhibitors from 44 countries, FSB once again offered a comprehensive overview of products and concepts from the fields of sports facilities, urban exercise areas, open space and playground design, play equipment, outdoor fitness, sports flooring, especially artificial turf and stadium infrastructure.
The trade fair focused on environmentally responsible construction, inclusive public space design and digital solutions that make the planning and operation of sports and recreation venues more efficient and sustainable.
"FSB is the international gathering place for all those involved in providing opportunities for sport and active leisure - in every sense. Here, sustainability isn't just discussed - it's actually put into practice," emphasised Klaus Meinel, Secretary General of IAKS (International Association for Sports and Recreation Facilities).
One of the highlights of FSB 2025 was the 29^th IAKS Congress with the motto 'Creating strong infrastructure for an active future' as well as the 3^rd German Sports Facility Day, the planerFORUM and the SPORTNETZWERK.FSB. Numerous panels and discussions provided discussion points for the sustainable development of urban sports and exercise spaces. In addition, 11 international projects for outstanding sports and leisure architecture were honoured by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) at a festive gala event on 28 October 2025.

Dr Bill Kent aquanale 2025

Dr Bill Kent (Team Horner): conference on "Every Child A Swimmer"

Positive conclusions and a look ahead to 2027 for next aquanale

Both events made a favourable impression thanks to their high quality, the high level of international participation and a real feeling of optimism across the various sectors. The exchange of ideas and information across borders, strong networking and the close thematic connections between the two trade fairs underlined what the #bettertogether motto is all about: creating synergies, promoting innovation and shaping the future.
The next editions of aquanale and FSB will be hosted in Cologne from 26 to 29 October 2027.

Dryden aquanale 2025