iba 2025: Top 10 highlights – the ultimate bucket list

Take this bucket list with you and you're ready to go: starting Sunday, 18 May, at Fairground Düsseldorf, 983 exhibitors will present their trade fair highlights in seven halls, the best of the baking trade will compete for awards and the heads of the global baking industry will meet at lectures, award ceremonies and networking events.

1. Benefit from the bundled practical expertise of the Central Association of the German Bakery Trade

At the stand of the German Bakers‘ Confederation (Hall 14/A21) visitors can find out more about the Confederation’s work. At the iba.FORUM, they can benefit from the hands-on know-how of professionals – the programme changes daily. And at iba.ACADEMY, trade fair participants and trainees will benefit from practical insights. Promoting the next baker generation is a major concern for the Confederation. At the ‘Trainee Workshop’, trainees can learn about exciting new developments in the baking sector during daily tours of the trade fair and can take home new in-depth knowledge at workshops (Hall 14/A13) from 10 a.m. Monday to Thursday. The trade fair Sunday, 18 May, is dedicated to the bakery trade from dawn to dusk as ‘Bakers’ Day’.

2. World-class competitions – watching the best

Inspiration is provided by the industry's top talents. They will be demonstrating their skills in front of an audience at the German Bakers Confederation stand (14/A11) in the show bakeries:

18 & 19 May: the best bakers from six countries will compete against each other for The iba UIBC Cup of Bakers.   
21 & 22 May: the best confectioners from Korea, Albania, Italy, Germany, Mexico and Taiwan will fight for The iba UIBC Cup of Confectioners. 
20 May: finalists of the  German Championship of Master Bakers  will compete against each other from the morning.  Award ceremony:  5 p.m.
21 May: A premiere is the World Championship of Bread-Sommeliers,  where 16 finalists from all over the world will be competing.  Award ceremony:  5 p.m.

Further award ceremonies: 
18 May, 11 a.m.:  Honorary Award of the German Bakery Trade
20 May, 10 a.m.:  Design Competition The Bakery of the Future
11 a.m.:  iba.Award
12 p.m.:  iba Trophy 

3. Become a pretzel master with iba.ACADEMY

Anyone interested in learning artisan bakery is absolutely invited attending a workshop offered by the iba.ACADEMY (Hall 14/A13). Participants will dive deep into the secrets of original German pretzel making explained step by step by professionals: from ingredients to dough to forming the right shape. English language Master of Pretzels seminars are offered on opening Sunday from 2 to 4.30 p.m. and Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. All participants will be awarded a certificate. Please do make sure to register your participation early.

4. On-stage programme: best practice, panels, pitches and more

Presentations will take place on three stages: the iba.FORUM (Hall 14/A21) offers best-practice presentations and stage talks by industry experts in addition to the competitions. On the iba.STAGE (Hall 15), there will be 20-minute presentations on focal topics and ‘sum-ups’ by exhibitors every day from 10 a.m. onwards. In the iba.START UP AREA (Hall 13/D61), founders will pitch their business models on Sunday at 1 p.m. and Monday to Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

5. Networking: Ensuring contacts with people from all over the world

The international baking industry meets in Düsseldorf and for five days there are a lot of opportunities to network with inspiring people and to develop new business. At the exhibitor stands, on the fringes of competitions, award ceremonies, during or after panel discussions or at the evening events in the iba.EVENT AREA.

6. Experience diversity live on 100,000 square metres

Whether it be personal discussions on site, live demonstrations or new products visitors are invited to test at the stands, all enhanced by the smell of freshly baked goods deliciously pervading the air – iba covers the baking industry’s entire spectrum: from automation, production and artisan bakery to snack ideas and food trends. Visitors can draw inspiration for the future of their businesses from this huge range of exhibits.

7. Solutions from all over the world in seven halls

983 exhibitors from 46 countries will be presenting their solutions: From artisan bakery to production, from process optimisation, packaging, energy, ventilation and air conditioning technology to analytics, from raw materials, logistics, sales and digitalisation to finished products.

The seven halls are organised according to different focus areas: Production technology and equipment are in Halls 9, 10, 11, and 12, while packaging technology is shown in Hall 9. Raw materials and ingredients found a home in Hall 15. Halls 13 and 14 are all about artisan bakery: from operating technology to shop fitting. The iba.DIGITALISATION AREA in Hall 14 should be of interest to everyone – because no matter the size of the bakery, digitalisation is important for everyone. Here, visitors can experience the bakery of the future’s visionary possibilities and how employees can be unburdened by the smart use of modern technology.

8. Focus topics: digitalisation, artisan bakery and food trends are everywhere

The top focus topics at iba are artisan bakery, digitalisation and food trends. They run like a common thread through exhibition programme, competitions and presentations as well as the special areas iba.FOOD TRENDS AREA (Hall 15), iba.DIGITALISATION AREA (Hall 14), iba.CONFECTIONERY TEC AREA supported by ZDS The Academy of Sweets (Zentralfachschule der Deutschen Süßwarenwirtschaft in Hall 9/B11) and iba.START UP AREA (Hall 13/D61).

9. iba.TOUR – tours of the trends

Looking for quick orientation? Guided tours through the halls offer visitors an introduction to the wide range of exhibitor themes. They can learn about the latest trends in the bakery sector from company consultants on 2-hour tours. The free iba.TOURS are starting daily at 1 p.m., Thursday at 11 a.m. Please note: registration is mandatory to ensure optimum group size. The meeting point is always at the stand of the Central Association of the German Bakery Trade (Zentralverband des Deutschen Bäckerhandwerks, Hall 14/A21).

10. Celebrate together at the iba.EVENT AREA in the evening

After a tough yet great trade fair day, when the halls are closing, time has come for détente and relaxation. To do this, the perfect spot to ensure that would be the iba.EVENT AREA, a charming alpine hut outside, between hall 10 and 16, where you can enjoy food, entertainment and celebrate together. A great place to get to know each other and make new contacts. It is being realised as part of iba with GenussGARTEN & Friends as host and offers a programme on all evenings, entry possible at 6 p.m., starting at 6:30 p.m.:

18 May, 6 p.m.: iba celebrations are kicked off on Sunday with the iba.BÄCKER PARTY for artisan bakers from Germany – the whole event will be held in German. The bakers‘ guild will be celebrating the city’s carnival motto “Helau Düsseldorf” with dance guards, bakers’ singers, carnival speeches and music.

19 May, 6 p.m.: All trade fair participants are welcome to join the iba.NETWORKING NIGHT on Monday to connect and celebrate with food and music. Anyone attending will automatically be entered into a prize draw for an exclusive trip to Dubai: master baker Sven Mostegl is giving away a five day experience as part of his book presentation.

21 May, 6 p.m.: Wednesday night is BAKERS-NIGHT, already firmly established as an exclusive networking event for decision-makers in the baking industry and all trade fair participants. It is organised with GenussGARTEN & Friends as part of iba. Food, drinks, live music and a great atmosphere will be provided.

Tickets for all events are available online.