Hamburg becomes the “place to be” for the international maritime community

 The countdown is on: In one week, SMM 2026 will open its doors. What the industry has developed over the past two years is now coming to Hamburg. Around 2,300 exhibitors, 50,000 participants and more than 90,000 m² of exhibition space across twelve halls will once again turn Hamburg into an international meeting place for the maritime industry. The entire exhibition grounds are fully booked.

SMM means world premieres, international market leaders, exciting newcomers and the key players of the maritime industry – all in one place for four days. Many of the innovations at SMM will be on public display for the first time. SMM is far more than a trade fair: it is the meeting place for the international maritime community. The entire maritime world comes together here – shipyards and shipping companies, suppliers and classification societies, start-ups and research, as well as policymakers and international organisations.

“SMM is where the global maritime industry meets in person every two years. It is a showcase for technological and innovation leadership across the entire maritime value chain. And SMM is great fun, too. You simply meet everyone here!”, says Claus Ulrich Selbach, Vice President Exhibitions Maritime & Energy at Hamburg Messe und Congress.

The world comes to Hamburg

Companies from 70 countries and participants from 120 nations make SMM one of the most international meeting places for the maritime industry. Twenty-six official national pavilions, strong participation from the world’s leading shipbuilding nations and high-ranking delegations from politics, business and navies will be there. China, Japan, South Korea and India are among the maritime markets with a particularly strong presence. At the same time, international participation continues to grow: Cyprus, Vietnam and Brazil, among others, will have their own national pavilions for the first time.

Maritime expertise concentrated in one place

Five stages and five international specialist conferences make SMM a key knowledge forum for the maritime industry. Nowhere else do so many international experts come together to shape the future of the industry. The conference programme includes the Maritime Future Summit, the global maritime environmental congress (gmec), the MS&D – International Conference on Maritime Security & Defence, the Offshore Dialogue and the TradeWinds Shipowners Forum.

And that is far from all: numerous sessions, panels and Innovation Talks bring additional expertise directly into the exhibition halls, with the programme on the Transition Stages free of charge for SMM visitors. The new Exhibitor Innovation Stage is the fifth stage, giving exhibitors a platform to present their innovations in compact talks. Running alongside SMM, two new event formats will make their debut at the CCH – Congress Center Hamburg: ALL ABOUT PORTS and LogiNext Germany, expanding the programme to include the port industry and digital logistics.

New focus areas, more space

The new Energy Efficiency Hub gives the key topic of energy efficiency its own dedicated exhibition area for the first time, complemented by a specialist programme on the Energy Efficiency Stage. Maritime Security & Defence is also gaining more space: the established MS&D Conference is joined by the new MS&D Expo in Naval Hall B8and the Naval Stage. The Dual-Use Tech Newcomer Zone will also provide young companies developing technologies for both civilian and military applications with a dedicated platform for the first time.

The next generation in focus

SMM brings the skilled professionals of tomorrow together with the industry. The Maritime Career Market will once again take place over two full exhibition days and is aimed at students, young professionals and school pupils. Admission is free on Thursday and Friday for school pupils, students and accompanying teachers. Young companies will also provide fresh impetus: Start-ups@SMM and Young Innovatorsbring new ideas, technologies and business models to SMM.

More than a trade fair – an event

SMM 2026 starts with a first: for the first time, the SMM 2026 – Official Opening Conference will be open to all participants and will also be streamed live to the stages in the exhibition halls. Beyond the specialist programme, SMM is all about meeting people in person. From Tuesday to Thursday, each exhibition day winds down with Wine o’clock at the Transition Stages. International receptions, exhibitor events and stand parties keep the atmosphere going in the halls after the specialist programme ends. The Welcome Reception, Maritime Start-up Night, Career Happy Hour and MS&D Reception are just some of the networking events.

Six Theme Routes guide visitors across the exhibition grounds. In 2026, the former Green Route becomes the new Energy Efficiency Route. SMM TV by TradeWinds will report live from the event. SMM is also expanding outdoors, with more exhibition space available in the outdoor area in 2026.

Easy to get there, easier to connect

From finding a hotel to getting to the exhibition grounds, visiting SMM 2026 will be even more convenient. HotelMap makes it easier to find suitable accommodation in Hamburg. For the first time, public transport within the Hamburg Transport Association (HVV) network is included in visitor and exhibitor tickets. The SMM ticket also provides access to two events taking place in parallel: ALL ABOUT PORTS and LogiNext Germany, offering additional expertise in ports, logistics and digitalisation. Charging Lounges, drinking-water dispensers and air-conditioned B halls provide additional comfort on the exhibition grounds. The enhanced, AI-powered SMM Connect platform supports planning and matchmaking before, during and after the event.

After two years of preparation, the time has come: the maritime community is coming together in Hamburg once again. For four days, the Hanseatic city belongs to the maritime world. Welcome to SMM – The world’s leading maritime industry event.