Messe Frankfurt is at home all around the world. With subsidiaries and events across the globe, international collaboration is part of our everyday business. Naturally, much of our communication takes place digitally through video calls and emails. This makes those special occasions when colleagues can meet in person all the more valuable.
And that was precisely the aim of the Global Staff Meeting 2026. For the first time since 2008, the event brought together the global Messe Frankfurt team under one roof. While it provided an important platform for business exchange, its greatest focus was on creating meaningful personal connections among the more than 2,100 participants.
A special highlight of the two-day event was the Global Village. In a dedicated exhibition area, both the subsidiaries and the headquarter showcased different aspects of their home countries, taking colleagues on a journey around the world. These fascinating insights into different cultures sparked conversations and made the richness of Messe Frankfurt's international network truly tangible.
Every stand offered a taste of home along with countless personal stories. Colleagues at the Chinese and English stands served traditional tea and delicious pastries. The French team treated visitors to champagne, whilst at the Japanese stand, people raised a toast with sake. Music from around the world filled the hall, traditional attire caught everyone's attention, and the unique atmosphere so familiar to exhibition halls could be felt throughout the venue.
For many colleagues who had previously worked together only virtually, this was their first opportunity to meet in person. They exchanged experiences, discovered shared interests and took the time to tell the stories that are often left untold in day-to-day business.
The Frankfurt stand invited participants to look towards the future together. Participants were encouraged to write down their thoughts, wishes and ideas on specially designed cards, which were later collected in a time capsule. The capsule was then buried on the exhibition grounds and is meant to be reopened in 2240, when Messe Frankfurt celebrates its 1,000th anniversary.
By then, the trade fair industry, technology and perhaps even the way we work together will have changed dramatically. What will remain, however, is the idea behind the time capsule: bringing people together and shaping the future as one.
That same idea is what made the Global Staff Meeting 2026 so special. Different cultures, perspectives and experiences came together, demonstrating what defines the international Messe Frankfurt team: openness, trust and meaningful exchange across borders. Because although our colleagues are at home all over the world, we are united by one shared purpose: bringing people together.