ISM Cologne 2027 stand builder and hall plan guide
Koelnmesse, Cologne-Deutz • Cologne, Germany
What should exhibitors know about stand building at ISM Cologne 2027?
ISM Cologne 2027 runs from 31 January to 3 February 2027 at Koelnmesse. Build-up starts on 28 January at 08:00, and stands may be 4.50 metres high including advertising unless Koelnmesse approves more. Exhibition Stand Pro designs, produces and installs custom stands for sweets and snacks exhibitors who need a stand that fits the Cologne rules.
- Show
- ISM Cologne 2027
- Venue
- Koelnmesse, Cologne-Deutz
- City
- Cologne, Germany
- Dates
- 31 January 2027 - 3 February 2027
- Sector
- Food & Beverage
- Proposal
- Project-specific scope and quotation
Venue
Koelnmesse, Cologne-Deutz
Date Range
31 January 2027 - 3 February 2027
Sector
Food & Beverage
ISM Cologne 2027 at a glance
ISM takes place from Sunday 31 January to Wednesday 3 February 2027 at Koelnmesse in Cologne-Deutz. The last edition, in 2026, reported 1,567 exhibitors, 100,000 m² of gross exhibition space and 32,000 visitors.
Hall plan and getting there
Koelnmesse says the interactive hall plans for ISM 2027 will be published in good time before the event, and its hall plan page also names a downloadable Koelnmesse hall and site plan.
The Köln Messe/Deutz station for high-speed trains lies directly beside the grounds, and suburban trains S6, S11, S12 and S19 stop there at Entrance South. Trams and underground lines 1 and 9 stop at Köln Messe/Deutz (Underground) for Entrance South; lines 3 and 4 stop at Köln Messe/Deutz for the East, West and North entrances. Cologne Bonn Airport is the nearest airport.
Build-up, dismantling and deliveries
Build-up starts on 28 January 2027 at 08:00 and the construction period ends on 30 January at 20:00. Dismantling begins on 3 February at 16:00, and stands may not be partly or completely cleared before then. Access to the grounds through the logistics area needs a booked time slot (eSlot); vehicles without one are not admitted and must check in at the logistics centre at car park P22. Moving vehicles or machines over 3,000 kg, or loads over 20 kN per m², inside the halls requires prior notice to Koelnmesse's technical department. The Traffic Guidelines are due on the ISM site from November.
Height and plan rules
Koelnmesse limits stand structures and advertising to 4.50 metres overall; taller stands may be approved in individual cases on request. Structures on the boundary with a neighbour may not carry advertising above 2.50 metres. For stands above the limit, send the plans six weeks before the show to Koelnmesse's acceptance team. Early-bird shop prices for electrical connections, water and fire protection run to 31 December 2026, and for hall-ceiling suspensions and compressed air to 3 December 2026.
ISM Cologne 2027: key facts for exhibitors
Official dates
31 January–3 February 2027
Venue
Koelnmesse, Cologne-Deutz
Build-up
28 January 2027 at 08:00 to 30 January at 20:00
Dismantling
From 3 February at 16:00
Maximum stand height
4.50 m overall including advertising; taller stands may be approved in individual cases
Next to a neighbour
Advertising up to 2.50 m
Deliveries
Booked time slot (eSlot) required; check-in at the logistics centre at car park P22
Last edition (2026)
1,567 exhibitors; 100,000 m² of gross exhibition space; 32,000 visitors
Stand planning priorities
- ◆Access to the grounds through the logistics area needs a booked time slot (eSlot); vehicles without one are not admitted and must check in at the logistics centre at car park P22.
- ◆Moving vehicles or machines over 3,000 kg, or loads over 20 kN per m², inside the halls requires prior notice to Koelnmesse's technical department.
- ◆For stands above the limit, send the plans six weeks before the show to Koelnmesse's acceptance team.
- ◆Early-bird shop prices for electrical connections, water and fire protection run to 31 December 2026, and for hall-ceiling suspensions and compressed air to 3 December 2026.
Send this for a buildable proposal
- ✓Hall
- ✓Stand number and size (when you have them)
Planning guides
Official sources
Facts checked against the organiser's pages on 16 October 2026; dates and rules can change.
How we build for ISM
Our service area runs from Europe and Türkiye to the USA, Canada and the Middle East. Production is in our own 6,000 m² facility, and our own crews do the installation. At ISM that matters because the 4.50 m cap leaves little room to hide structure: surfaces, joins and lighting have to be finished in the workshop, not improvised in the hall during a two-and-a-half-day build.
Free ISM concept and quote
Share your hall, stand number and size when you have them, and we will hold the brief up against the 4.50 m cap before the first sketch. A concept and quote from us carry no charge. Ask for a quote.
VAV Grup by the Numbers
6,000 m²
Production facility, Ikitelli OSB, Istanbul
Hannover
Local base: storage, quality checks, on-site support
Independent
Stand contractor working to organiser rules
Frequently Asked Questions
Start Your Stand ProjectProject Brief
Share the show, city and stand size so we can define the right project scope.