From Berlin to the world

IFA is the largest home and consumer electronics event in the world. We welcome professionals and consumers alike to discover the future of tech with us.

Be one of them.

What’s in a name?

IFA started as a radio exhibition, and this is the origin of our name.

As one of the world's longest-running industrial exhibitions, we have retained our initials as a nod to our roots and history.

Today, we are much more than a radio exhibition; we are the global leader in showcasing cutting-edge innovation and technology in home and consumer electronics.

What’s in a name?

IFA started as a radio exhibition, and this is the origin of our name.

As one of the world's longest-running industrial exhibitions, we have retained our initials as a nod to our roots and history.

Today, we are much more than a radio exhibition; we are the global leader in showcasing cutting-edge innovation and technology in home and consumer electronics.

A history of innovation

Since 1924, IFA has been at the forefront of technological breakthroughs. From the debut of color TV to the latest AI innovations, it has set trends that shaped the world. And the journey of innovation continues.

1924-1939

In the beginning was the radio

On December 4, 1924, the "Große Deutsche Funkausstellung" opened its doors for the first time at the Messedamm in Berlin Westend.
The beginning of the Funkausstellung was marked by detector devices and tube radio receivers. This was followed by superhet receivers, gramophones, the first sound recording processes and live broadcasts from the exhibition grounds, as well as the first European car radio. 
In 1924, construction of the famous Furnkturm began, which was inaugurated two years later, on 3 September, 1926. 
At the end of the 1920s, the first television sets were exhibited. In 1928, the most sensational world-wide technical innovation was presented at the trade show: one of the first television shows was broadcast live during the event. 
In 1930, Albert Einstein gave the opening speech of the seventh radio exhibition.

1950 - 1970

Loud, colourful and in stereo

IFA could not take place between 1940 and 1949 because of World War II. It was not until 1950 that the show was able to return. Via Düsseldorf, Frankfurt/Main and Stuttgart, it returned to Berlin in 1971.
A historic moment in the life of the Funkausstellung was in 1967, when German Vice-Chancellor and Secretary of State Willy Brandt gave the starting signal for colour TV in a symbolic event, and for the first time the German TV world turned colourful thanks to PAL technology.
Other innovations included remote controls, FM transmission, semiconductor technology, television sets, stereo sound, the compact cassette, and picture discs.

1971 - 1989

IFA goes international

In 1971, the show was renamed to Internationale Funkausstellung (English: International Consumer Electronics Fair), or short IFA. The first video recorders were shown in Berlin that year.
IFA had established itself as one of the most important global events for new products. This meant that the latest innovations could be presented to an international trade and consumer audience in the fall and expect a high impact.
Home video recorders, quadraphony, camera recorders, traffic broadcasting and teletext were the buzzwords of the time. Two-tone and stereo broadcasts were enriching television. The compact disc, DAT and first TV sets with digital technology were introduced.
In 1985, high-definition television HDTV was shown for the first time, along with the first satellite receivers for television. The D2MAC transmission technology, RDS and TV sets with 84 and 95 cm pictures followed.

1991 - 2005

The multimedia age

From the mid-1990s, IFA increasingly showed itself to be a multimedia trade show. The focus was no longer just on radio and television sets, but increasingly on digital media and devices.
With DCC, CD interactive, the Photo CD and the Mini Disc. Laser TVs, digital TVs, digital cameras and camcorders, DVD players and DAB receivers, IFA pointed the way to the digital future.
The first flat TVs, cell phones with internet access and MP3 players came into focus. The home network was introduced.
In 1997, the Japanese company Nintendo was the first video game manufacturer at IFA to showcase its brand-new game console, the N64.

2006 - 2013

The start of a new era

From 2006, IFA has been held annually, adapting to the pace of innovation in the consumer electronics industry. In the beginning of the 2000s, technical innovations developed at a pace that allowed no time for a break.
LCD and plasma televisions overtook the market, enabling larger picture diagonals, HDTV and 3D TV. The Blue Ray Disc conquered the market as well, and the consumer electronics industry went mobile.
In 2008, IFA was expanded to include "Home Appliances@IFA" with an area of 30,000 square meters alone, making household and kitchen appliances eligible for the exhibition for the first time.

2014 - Today

Continuous expansion

In 2014, IFA celebrated its 90th birthday. The IFA Congress IFA+ Summit started and, including the City Cube Berlin, there were now around 6,000 additional square meters of exhibition space.
One year later, the new product area "Fitness & Digital Health" was introduced and in 2017 "IFA Next" was launched as a big stage for innovations. "IFA Next" became the new innovation hub for start-ups, research labs and companies. To this day, it offers know-how for the future of technology, business and lifestyle.
In 2018, the household appliances sector celebrated its tenth anniversary at IFA - and has long since been an integral part of the show. "IFA Global Markets" has become Europe's largest sourcing market.
In 2019, "IFA Next" hosted a partner country at the show for the first time, introducing Japan, a high-tech innovation nation, to the IFA audience.

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The future starts here

Discover innovation, connect with industry leaders, and experience technology that’s shaping the way we live, work, and play.

Unparalleled access to the future

IFA Berlin is where next-generation technology takes centre stage. As the global hub for innovation in consumer electronics and home appliances, we bring together the world’s leading brands, industry pioneers, and tech enthusiasts to showcase, experience, and discuss the latest advancements.

Join us and explore a space where business meets discovery, and where groundbreaking ideas spark connections that shape the future.

At IFA, innovation is for all. Whether you're a tech professional, an investor, or a curious visitor, you're part of a global movement pushing boundaries and redefining possibilities.

Funk Otto – A graphic legacy

Since 1971, the Funk Otto emblem has been a symbol of creativity and innovation at IFA Berlin. Designed by German graphic visionary Helmut Lortz, this timeless icon represents our heritage while evolving with the ever-changing landscape of technology.

Beyond his work for IFA, Lortz left a lasting imprint on the design world, inspiring generations through his contributions to experimental graphics and his tenure as a professor at the Berlin University of the Arts.

The spirit of Funk Otto, bold, forward-thinking, and unmistakably Berlin, continues to be at the heart of IFA today.

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