From August 28 to September 6, 2026, the doors of Caravan Salon Düsseldorf will open again. The world's largest trade fair for motorhomes, caravans, and mobile travel attracts not only consumers annually but is also an important meeting point for camping entrepreneurs, suppliers, destination organizations, policymakers, and investors. For this business target group, an extensive three-day program has been put together this year under the name 'Destination Zukunft'.
The Caravan Salon is expected to bring together over 830 exhibitors. They will showcase motorhomes, caravans, campervans, mobile recreational accommodations, vehicle technology, accessories, and outdoor products. Tourist regions, campsites, and motorhome parks will also present themselves at the fair. New features include a special hall for roof tents and an extensive off-road range in halls 16 and 17.
According to the organizers, the previous edition of the fair attracted 270.000 visitors from more than eighty countries. This makes Düsseldorf a good opportunity to monitor developments in the large German camping market. Germany now has approximately 1,8 million registered recreational vehicles, making it by far the largest camping market in Europe.
Destination Zukunft focuses on the development of regions
The business program 'Destination Zukunft' takes place from Monday, August 31 to Wednesday, September 2. The central question is how regions can respond to the growing interest in caravanning, outdoor recreation, and independent travel. The conference is predominantly in German.
The target group includes destination managers, camping and motorhome sites, investors, policymakers, and representatives of tourism organizations. In addition to substantive sessions, the program provides opportunities for networking between the tourism sector, the camping industry, and government bodies.
The program includes, among other things:
- 6th Deutscher Stellplatztag – Monday, August 31: regarding subsidy opportunities, the development of motorhome sites, and their economic significance for regions. The meeting is organized by the trade association CIVD, ADAC, and the Deutsche Tourismusverband.
- InnovationStage – Monday, August 31: focused on new vehicle technology, energy supply, charging infrastructure, digital platforms, and digital services for guests. New forms of collaboration and revenue models are also discussed.
- Symposium Natur.Tourismus.Zukunft – Tuesday September 1: on the influence of sports, events, and new outdoor trends on destinations. Luxembourg Minister of Tourism Lex Delles is among the participants.
- Camping Destination Day – Tuesday, September 1: Practical examples of regions leveraging camping tourism to attract more visitors, increase economic value, and strengthen the destination profile. One of the cases is Wacken Open Air, where a small town temporarily transforms into a destination for tens of thousands of guests.
- Travel Industry meets Caravaning – Tuesday evening, September 1: a networking event intended to bring the traditional travel industry and the camping sector closer together.
- Young Hiking – Wednesday, September 2: a professional program by the German Hiking Association on younger target groups, urban hiking, and new hiking trends.
Interesting for Dutch recreation professionals
For Dutch visitors, the link between campsites and area development is particularly relevant. The German market is leading the way in various areas regarding the development of motorhome sites, regional route networks, and cooperation between the automotive industry, tourism organizations, and municipalities.
Destination Zukunft thus addresses not only the sale of camping equipment but also the underlying question of how destinations can accommodate the growing influx of campers and outdoor visitors. One of the lectures, for example, focuses on the growing interest of hotels in camping facilities. Topics such as spatial integration, financing, digitalization, season extension, and regional spending make the program interesting for both entrepreneurs and public parties.
The Caravan Salon is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. Friday, August 28 is the Preview Day. Advance registration is required for various parts of Destination Zukunft.
More information: