ALTENPFLEGE

Event Update

The 2026 edition of ALTENPFLEGE will be hosted as a live trade fair in Messe Essen. The event will take place between 21.04.2026 and 23.04.2026.

A Brief Overview of ALTENPFLEGE

ALTENPFLEGE remains the top trade fair aimed at the elderly care sector. The international event is the central meeting place for professionals in the nursing and care fields in Europe and has even opened doors for faraway exhibitors to participate. The trade fair is a mix of an exhibition portion, a congress and an education resource for skilled workers who want to further their career.

Book a hotel for ALTENPFLEGE early so that you have first pick from top hotel rates. GETA ltd knows all the best deals in town whether the trade fair takes you Essen or Nuremberg respectively. We are veterans when it comes to accommodation for trade shows and work with groups of all sizes. Are you travelling with a large entourage of twenty people or more? Our team will select the perfect deal. We know what our clients want out of their hotel booking for ALTENPFLEGE – low prices, high quality and a good location. Reach the exhibition centre on foot in a couple of minutes or enjoy a short commute to your destination. 

Why Your Visit Is Worth It 

It makes perfect sense to attend ALTENPFLEGE as an exhibitor. Not only do you meet with all the relevant professionals in the field, but you also meet a new segment of visitors each year. The switch between Nuremberg and Essen keeps your interactions with visitors fresh and the trade fair is now steadily becoming more international: 

• 28,000+ international trade visitors
• 650+ international exhibitors 
• 18 countries total

Industry Relevance 

Held for the first time in 1990, ALTENPFLEGE is the main platform for new products, equipment and services in elderly care. The trade fair allows buyers to survey the overall market and place their orders directly, which makes ALTENPFLEGE quite appealing for exhibitors. The trade fair has traditionally been held in Nuremberg and Hanover with editions rotating cities every year in April. Most recently, ALTENPFLEGE will now be held in Essen instead of Hanover as a way to help the trade fair evolve. 

The products and equipment are arranged in thematic zones – care & therapy, space & technology, IT & management, nutrition & housekeeping, and a special area for start-ups and innovations. You really have everything across the product value chain from nursing devices, every-day and mobility aids and ergotherapy technology to catering and housekeeping. 

ALTENPFLEGE promises education and training opportunities, as well as numerous product, reveals in the following fields: nursing, therapy, textiles and clothing, kitchen and utility, building, space equipment and information technology

A highly popular feature at ALTENPFLEGE is AVENEO – the special area that curates the best new innovations in a single room. Exhibitors looking to make a bigger wave and come away with prized contacts should look to have a station here. AVENEO has been the central contact point for investors, operators, innovators and players in inpatient and outpatient care for the elderly from Germany and abroad for many years.

Who Are You Going to Meet? 

ALTENPFLEGE is predominantly centred around the German market, but the trade is slowly but surely opening up to exhibitors from all over the world. Companies come from the UK, Finland, China, South Korea, Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and even the Faroe Islands. 

As far as brands go, you can discover Academy Cardiovascular GmbH, KODRA GmbH & Co. KG, MEDIFOX DAN GmbH, ECO IMPACT ironing devices GmbH at ALTENPFLEGE. The majority of the audience are some kind of skilled workers, who come not just to keep up with the market, but also learn at the congress and receive further training.

Additional Value of Attending

The congress at ALTENPFLEGE is a vital part of the trade fair's supporting program, offering a three-day program in three parallel rooms with over 60 lecture blocks. The congress provides attendees with a comprehensive insight into the latest topics and trends in the care industry, as well as valuable know-how and an opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues, decision-makers, and experts. 

Organised by Vincentz Network, in collaboration with leading care associations, the congress addresses current challenges and offers forward-looking solutions, enabling attendees to design their program according to their specific focal points and interests.

Of course, no edition is complete without the highly competitive Start-Up Challenge, which pits the new generation of manufacturers and industry disruptors against each other. The Challenge is really where some of the truly industry-changing technology first sees the light of day like voice-controlled documentation systems, and service and interaction robots. Companies can enter one of four categories;

• Concept & Strategy
• Living & Entertainment
• Smart Solutions & Smart Technology
• Documentation & Communication

Winners walk away with fantastic prizes, but there are no real losers in this competition as entrants are able to talk to investors and potential buyers, and extract valuable feedback.

FOCUS fleet is the dedicated area at ALTENPFLEGE for vehicles and mobility solutions for the care industry. You experience a vast assortment of options like automobiles, e-bikes, car-sharing, charging infrastructure, financial services, additional equipment, tour planning software, or legal protection. The FOCUS fleet area provides a platform to convince visitors of the optimization offers that can enhance their fleet management operations.

One interesting fact is that over 80% of trade visitors at ALTENPFLEGE have a say in the procurement decisions of their companies. Therefore, FOCUS fleet presents an excellent opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their innovative solutions and impress the decision-makers in the industry.

Finally, we have to mention FOCUS Quarter, which continues to reimagine the look, function and feel of age-appropriate and livable quarters for the elderly. It’s been a great success right from its introduction in 2022 and is of exceptional importance for sponsors, employees of municipalities, the real estate industry, operators and urban planners.