it-sa 2026: Over 1,000 exhibitors in Nuremberg for the first time

<p>The it-sa Expo&Congress is heading towards a historic record: For the event from October 27-29, 2026 at the Nuremberg Exhibition Center, NürnbergMesse GmbH expects more than 1,000 exhibitors for the first time. Europe's leading IT security trade fair is thus continuing its growth trajectory unabated and underscores its position as a central meeting point for the international cybersecurity industry.</p><h2>Growth at a high level</h2><p>In recent years, it-sa has grown continuously, but the forecast for 2026 marks a special milestone. With more than 990 established exhibitors, the trade fair recently fell just short of the symbolic four-digit mark – now this threshold is set to be exceeded for the first time. The visitor numbers also show a clear increase: Over 28,000 industry visitors from Germany and abroad are expected in the halls of the Nuremberg Exhibition Center.</p><p>This development reflects the ongoing demand for IT security solutions, driven by increasing cyber threats, stricter regulatory requirements, and the advancing digitization of business and administration. As the only IT security trade fair in the German-speaking world, it-sa holds a special position and has developed into one of the most important industry meetings worldwide since its founding in 2009.</p><h2>International orientation with country pavilions</h2><p>The international reach of it-sa is also evident in the participation of numerous exhibitors from abroad. Countries such as Austria, Israel, and the Netherlands traditionally present themselves with their own country pavilions, underscoring the global relevance of the Nuremberg trade fair venue for the cybersecurity community. Exhibitors showcase their solutions in hardware, software, consulting, and services – a broad thematic spectrum that covers the full range of modern IT security architectures.</p><h3>Supporting program with Congress@it-sa</h3><p>In addition to the traditional exhibition space, the accompanying congress program plays a central role in the success of the trade fair. As part of Congress@it-sa, participants can expect more than 400 forum contributions that address current trends, threat scenarios, and solutions in a practical manner. The format is complemented by the ATHENE Startup Award, which provides young companies in the IT security sector with a platform to present innovative approaches to a specialist audience.</p><h2>A barometer for the cybersecurity industry</h2><p>The rising exhibitor numbers at it-sa can also be read as an indicator of the economic dynamism of the IT security industry as a whole. Companies are increasingly investing in protection measures against cyberattacks, while at the same time new legal requirements – such as those from European directives – are increasing the pressure to act. The trade fair serves as a meeting point where providers and users alike benefit from direct exchange, networking, and product presentations.</p><p>For exhibitors, it-sa offers the opportunity to build brand awareness, establish strategic partnerships, and convey expertise. Industry visitors, in turn, gain a comprehensive market overview and can learn about the latest developments in cloud computing, IT forensics, identity and access management, and numerous other sub-areas of IT security.</p><h2>Conclusion and outlook</h2><p>With the expected breakthrough of the 1,000 exhibitor mark, it-sa Expo&Congress 2026 is sending a clear signal of the continued relevance of IT security in business and society. The combination of growing exhibitor numbers, international participation, and a broadly based congress program positions the trade fair as a central industry meeting point in Europe. From October 27-29, 2026, it will become clear whether the forecasts of NürnbergMesse GmbH actually come true – the signs for this are certainly promising.</p>