Nearly 530 exhibitors from 34 countries: denkmal and MUTEC are an international meeting place for cultural heritage
From 5 to 7 November 2026, Leipzig will become an international meeting place for the preservation and communication of cultural heritage. A total of 529 companies, associations, chambers and institutions will present their solutions, products and ideas at denkmal and MUTEC. This marks further growth for the trade fair combination compared with 2024. The extensive programme, featuring almost 380 items across both events, reflects the breadth of topics covered – from sustainable construction in existing buildings, restoration and archaeology to digitalisation, the protection of cultural assets, inclusive communication and artificial intelligence.
Markus Geisenberger, CEO of Leipziger Messe, is highly pleased with the figures for denkmal and MUTEC: “Together, denkmal and MUTEC are Europe’s leading platforms for preserving and communicating cultural heritage. With 529 exhibitors from 34 countries, the trade fair combination is opening with significant growth. This is a strong signal both for our trade fairs and for the relevance of the sector. We are looking forward to successful days at the fair,” says Markus Geisenberger, CEO of Leipziger Messe. Compared with 499 exhibitors from 26 countries in 2024, the trade fair combination has recorded substantial growth. denkmal alone brings together 371 exhibitors from 24 countries, while MUTEC features 158 exhibitors from 21 countries.
denkmal, Europe’s leading trade fair for heritage conservation, restoration and the refurbishment of old buildings, brings together expertise from the skilled trades, restoration, academia, archaeology and planning. MUTEC, the International Trade Fair for Museum and Exhibition Technology, presents solutions for preserving, exhibiting and communicating heritage. Both events combine a diverse exhibition with a broad programme addressing current challenges relating to cultural heritage.
denkmal: Expertise and new perspectives
New to denkmal is the Archaeology exhibition area. In cooperation with CIfA Deutschland, it integrates the preservation of archaeological heritage into denkmal as a dedicated focus area for the first time. It also addresses the challenges of the energy transition: archaeological investigations are becoming increasingly important in the planning and construction of major infrastructure projects, such as energy transmission routes. International perspectives are also offered by a presentation on Greenland’s cultural heritage and the links between the Moravian Church and Nuuk.
The “European Mosaic of Heritage Practitioners” turns the spotlight on traditional craft techniques. Ten experts from ten European regions – from Greenland to Ukraine and from Lithuania to Armenia – will demonstrate traditional craft techniques and conservation methods. The presentation highlights the diversity of European cultural heritage and the importance of passing endangered knowledge on to future generations.
denkmal and MUTEC award ceremonies
On Friday, 6 November, the denkmal Gold Medals and the MUTEC Award will be presented. At 12 noon, five exhibitors will receive the denkmal Gold Medal at the denkmal FORUM in Hall 2. An independent expert jury selected 16 nominees from a total of 58 applications. The nominees reflect the diversity of contemporary heritage conservation: from restoring significant historic objects and developing innovative materials and digital applications to safeguarding traditional craft skills, attracting young talent and encouraging civic engagement.
At 1 p.m., the MUTEC Award 2026 will be presented at the MUTEC Forum in Hall 4. From twelve nominated exhibition projects, the jury will select three equal-ranking winners; each project will receive prize money of €1,500. The award recognises outstanding exhibition projects at museums and exhibition venues in German-speaking countries.
Also on Friday, the best entries in the 14th Messeakademie will be honoured. The nationwide competition is aimed at students of architecture and civil engineering. They developed concepts for four listed buildings in Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. An expert jury will select the ten most compelling designs for public presentation and award three prizes worth a total of €1,500.
MUTEC: International impetus for museums and exhibitions
MUTEC demonstrates how museums, archives, libraries, science centres and other cultural institutions can make their work fit for the future. Its international exhibitor base ranges from neighbouring European countries such as Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, Poland, France and the Netherlands to China, Canada, Japan, Finland and the United States. This makes MUTEC a platform for international exchange on solutions for preservation, exhibition and communication.
The programme also addresses international cooperation. The GreenMuseumHub network, for example, will present its collaboration between Germany, Egypt and Tunisia. The resulting pop-up exhibition, “We Wanna Live!”, can be experienced at MUTEC and presents multilingual approaches to conserving resources, reducing digital carbon footprints and fostering social participation. Sarah Kenderdine, Professor at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland, will speak about computational museology. Her presentation explores the new ways in which AI can open up access to collections and exhibitions, as well as what “cultural deepfakes” mean for the museum world.
The activity area in Hall 4, expanded to include a Pitch Area, makes museum technology tangible: from robotics and interactive applications to tactile exhibits for inclusive communication, AI-supported formats, and solutions for collections and storage facilities. In the adjoining Pitch Area, exhibitors will explain their products and projects in direct exchange with visitors.
