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EXhibitor
INFOformation

EXHIBITOR
INFORMATION


HERE YOU CAN FIND ALL EXHIBITOR INFORMATION FOR SPIEL ESSEN.

    

    

    

 

 

 

 

WELCOME TO SPIEL ESSEN!

As the world's largest public fair for board games, SPIEL is the place to be for the entire gaming world. Over 200,000 game enthusiasts from all over the world come to the fair to see you - the exhibitors - and your games.

Your direct route to the players

At no other fair can you meet your fanbase and new game fans as directly as here. You can set up your own game tables at your booth and staff them with demonstrators so that visitors can test your top titles and new releases right there and then. This way you can immediately see how your novelties are received, how much fun they are for visitors and also how much is bought on the spot. Because you can also sell directly at your booth.

Make contacts with the media and the industry

At the same time, SPIEL Essen is a focal point of attention both inside and outside the industry. Hundreds of international press representatives, bloggers, YouTubers and influencers are on site, making the fair an ideal forum for successful press and public relations work.

SPIEL is also the ideal place to meet new and well-known games designers, retailers and other business contacts. Whether directly at the booths or in additional meeting rooms, SPIEL is the place to talk.

So become part of the world's largest public fair for board games!

    

    

    

 

 

 

 

APPLICATION

BE PART OF THE BIGGEST BOARD GAME FAIR!

Registration for SPIEL Essen 2025 as an exhibitor is possible from January 20 to April 30.
As an exhibitor, you can book various booth spaces at SPIEL:

Row Booth

Row booths are closed on three sides and only open to an aisle.

Size by arrangement. Charged by square meters.

Corner Booth

Corner booth are closed on two sides and open to two aisles.

Size by arrangement. Charged by square meters.

Head of Row Booth

Head of Row Booths are closed on one side and open to three aisles.

Size by arrangement. Charged by square meters.

Island Booth (40 sqm and more)

Island booth are open on all sides.

Minimum size is 40 square meters.

Size by arrangement. Charged by square meters.

Small Booth (15 sqm, discounted fixed price)

Small booth are 15 square meters in size. The standard format is 3m deep and 5m wide (this may vary depending on the hall layout).

Small booths can be booked as a Row or Corner Booth. In rare cases, an Head of Row Booth is also possible.

Booths are booked without equipment (carpet, furniture, electricity, etc.) and without booth construction.

The booth space, booth partition walls, waste disposal fee and media package, which are invoiced individually, are mandatory components of the booth booking. Please note that, depending on the width of the booth partition walls, supports must be installed to stabilize the wall. These can protrude 0.5m - 1m into the stand.

Of course, our team is at your disposal via e-mail (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or telephone (+49 201 - 8436207-0) for queries, requests and all other topics relating to exhibiting at SPIEL.

Conditions of Participation SPIEL Essen 2025

The Conditions of Participation for SPIEL Essen 2025 are the basis for the entire planning of SPIEL. These include information on participation prices, cancellation & termination conditions, co-exhibitor regulations, media package, booth allocation, booth design and general sales and conduct rules at SPIEL.

Application Form

Here you can find the application form for SPIEL Essen 2025, which is fully digital.

Please note that a binding offer will be created when you submit the form. As soon as the deposit invoice has been issued and sent, a legally binding contract is created and the cancellation conditions mentioned in the conditions of participation apply.

General information about SPIEL Essen

Location of the event
Messegelände Essen
Messeplatz 1
D-45131 Essen

Duration
Thursday, October 23rd – Sunday, October 26th, 2025

Times of the fair (Opening Hours):
Daily from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm, on the last fair-day until 6:00 pm

Admission times exhibitors:
Daily from 8:00 am. The booths must be occupied by 9:30 am latest. For safety reasons, remainder in the halls and outdoor areas until 8:00 pm latest.

Admission times business tickets & press:
Daily from 9:30 am – 6:00 pm, on the last fair-day until 5:00 pm.

Admission times visitors:
Daily from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, on the last fair-day until 5:00 pm.

The organizer reserves the right to adjust the opening times before the start of the trade fair.

Organizer
Merz Verlag GmbH & Co. KG
Huyssenallee 105
D-45128 Essen
Telefon: 0201/8436207-0
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.spiel-essen.de

The technical organization is carried out by Messe Essen, commissioned by the organizer:
Messe Essen GmbH
Messeplatz 1
D-45131 Essen
Telefon: 0201/7244-672
Telefax: 0201/7244-877
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.messe-essen.de

Application deadline
Application deadline (without late fee) is April 30th, 2025.

Application deadline (with late fee) is August 1st, 2025.

Assembly and dismantling
Set-up times:

Mon, Oct. 20th – Thurs, Oct. 21st, 2025, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
Wed, Oct. 22nd, 2025, 7:00 am – 4:00 pm (work within the booth is also possible until 8:00 pm)

Early set-up and extended evening set-up/set-up (8 pm – 12 am / 8 pm – 7 am) (subject to a charge) must be requested in writing from Messe Essen.

 Dismantling times:

Sun, Oct. 26th ,2025, from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Mon, Oct. 27th, 2025, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm

Extended dismantling and extended evening dismantling (Sun: 10 pm – 12 am) (subject to a charge) must be requested in writing from Messe Essen.

Co-exhibitor registration

Co-exhibitors can now also be registered via an online form. So you can register your co-exhibitor at any time.

Co-exhibitors must be registered by October 1st, 2025 at the latest.

Price overview booth booking 2025

For better planning, you will find a separate price overview here, which will make it easier for you to fill out the application form and calculate your costs.

As usual, you will find the prices for the services of Messe Essen and its partners on the Messe Essen exhibitor service website. This is linked in the “Messe Essen / Stand Services” section of this page.

Checklist SPIEL Essen 2025

We have put together a checklist so that you do not miss any important points. Here you can find all the important points for your participation in SPIEL Essen 2025. You can also see here where you need to complete which tasks by when.

Information for small booths

To help our small exhibitors organize their trade fair presence, this collection of information provides initial guidance on topics such as booth booking, equipment and staffing. We have also put together some helpful tips on how to join forces and find co-exhibitors.

If you have any questions about the application process, you can of course contact us at any time. Here you will find the contact details of your appropriate contact person:

https://spiel-essen.de/en/exhibit#contacts

Networking / cooperation with other exhibitors

Shared space can create synergies (e.g. joint booth equipment or joint personnel), which can result in both space and cost savings. If you are interested in sharing your booth space with another exhibitor to take advantage of the synergy effects, but do not know a cooperation partner and do not know how to get in touch with other exhibitors, we have a solution for you:

With the closed Facebook group SPIEL Essen 2025 Co-exhibitor search, we have created a platform where you can network with other exhibitors and look for cooperation partners for your stand. Introduce yourself, your games and your target group there and you're sure to find someone who is also looking for a co-exhibitor. And don't worry - even if one of you is registered as the main exhibitor and the other as a co-exhibitor, you will both be equally visible to visitors and can take advantage of the same exhibitor benefits at SPIEL Essen.

Booth equipment

If you book a small booth with us, you will receive both the booth space and the booth partition walls from us. If you also require rental furniture, carpeting, electricity, internet or water connections, these must be ordered using the Messe Essen forms (available on their exhibitor service website). All orders can only be placed after stand numbers have been allocated (probably at the end of June / beginning of July), as Messe Essen will otherwise not be able to allocate you.

Booth partition walls

Based on the Technical Guidelines of Messe Essen, partition walls must always be erected at row, corner and head of row booths. When booking a small booth of 15 square meters, these booth partition walls and their assembly and dismantling are included in a wall flat-rate. The partition walls may only be canceled in one exceptional case, namely if you book a shell scheme booth through Messe Essen.

Booth partition walls consist of an aluminum frame and a white wall panel. To individualize your booth and make it a real eye-catcher, you can of course decorate the walls with banners, posters and the like. Please make sure that your decorations do not leave any residue or damage to the booth partition walls, otherwise you will be charged for the costs after the fair. To prevent damage, you can borrow fastening hooks from the Messe Essen Service Office (Hall 6) on site. Messe Essen also offers to print the walls directly with your templates, images and logos (can also be booked via the service portal).

Shell scheme system booths

Instead of ordering individual services such as carpeting, electricity etc. for your booth, it is also possible to book ready-made shell scheme system booths via the Messe Essen service. If you would like to use one of these offers from Messe Essen, please let us know in order to avoid double costs for the booth partition walls.

Deliveries

You can simply have your goods delivered to your booth during the set-up period. Please make sure that someone is on site who can receive the goods. If you wish to have goods delivered before set-up, they can be temporarily stored by Messe Essen's logistics partner, DB Schenker. This service is subject to additional costs. The contact details of DB Schenker can be found in the logistics section of the exhibitor service website. Please note the customs processing times to ensure that your goods arrive on time.

Parking

Parking tickets can be ordered via the Messe Essen service website. It is also possible to arrive with a camper or van. There are special parking spaces for this, which must also be booked in advance with Messe Essen. You will receive detailed information on this with your booth documents.

Waste disposal

Waste disposal is often an organizational problem. To counteract this, a flat-rate waste disposal fee is included in the booth price. This means that you simply have to place your waste at the edge of your booth on the set-up and dismantling days and on the days of the fair and Messe Essen's waste disposal service provider will take care of everything else. Please note: This only applies to the disposal of normal waste such as cardboard, residual waste, etc. The disposal of production waste or waste from exhibition booths and carpets must still be ordered from Messe Essen's waste disposal service provider.

Overnight stay

There are no room allotments for exhibitors at the hotels in Essen. Exhibitors are therefore responsible for booking their own hotel rooms. For this purpose, we would like to refer you to the hotel booking pages and the information page for hotels of Messe Essen.

Staffing

If you need game demonstrators or other staff for your booth, we offer you the opportunity to place job advertisements on our website. We will let you know via the exhibitor newsletter when job advertisements can be submitted.

In the event that you are looking at short notice or cannot find enough staff, Messe Essen also offers you the opportunity to contact its partner in the field of personnel services.

Further information

We have only included some of the most important information in this section so that you can book your booth. Detailed information on ordering exhibitor passes, set-up and dismantling, the novelty show and other important topics can be found on this website.

In addition, we will send you regular exhibitor newsletters with current topics to the e-mail address of the main contact person given in the registration form. Make sure that you always read these carefully and pass on important information to the relevant persons.

 

Media package

The media package includes the following services:

Access to the SPIEL app with your own exhibitor profile/co-exhibitor profile/brand profile

Together with our partner Eyeled, we provide you with access to the backend of the SPIEL app so that you can fill your profiles with sufficient information. The profiles form the core of your appearance in the SPIEL app. The data entered will be used for the exhibitor directory so that visitors can find out everything they need to know about you and your new products.

Entry in the list of exhibitors (website and app) 

To enable visitors to find you and check whether you are taking part in the trade fair, you will also be listed in all exhibitor directories in the fair media, as already mentioned in the section above. The information you enter in the exhibitor profile / co-exhibitor profile / brand profile will be displayed there. Therefore, make sure that the information you enter here is correct.

Illustration of the booth location in the hall plan (website and app) 

The hall plans help visitors, exhibitors and the press to find their way around the trade fair. The media package also includes the digital preparation and illustration of the position of your booth in the hall plans on our website and the app. We take care of this presentation for you.

Entries in the digital fair program (website and app) 

Your planned activities, such as meet & greets, raffles, etc., will be even more visible thanks to an entry in the Eyeled backend. You can enter all your program items there so that they are visible in our fair program overview on the website and in the app. With your program entries, you can provide visitors with all the necessary information about your activities via our central information platform and showcase them even better.

Listing of new games (for publishers & brands - website and app) 

New game releases are a central component of SPIEL Essen. So that you can present them well not only at your gaming tables but also digitally, we offer you the opportunity to publish your new releases in our new releases list. This is where visitors look for interesting new games when planning their visit to SPIEL. The list will also be passed on to the media, giving you additional visibility for your games.

Placement option at the novelty show (only for publishers) 

The novelty show is particularly important for the presence of your novelties in the press. Here you can present your novelties either on a table area allocated to you or on a special area that can be booked on a limited basis. We provide you with table space to display up to three new products per exhibitor and co-exhibitor. These will only be admitted in German or English. You will receive more detailed information on the novelty show at a later date.

Integration into the navigation tool of the app

The navigation in the SPIEL app not only helps visitors, but also the press and you as an exhibitor to get from A to B in a targeted manner. It makes it possible to find the shortest route from a location to a desired exhibitor, program item or game. This service for your booth is also included in the media package so that you too can be found easily and visitors can get to you quickly.

Our business partners

Below we introduce you to our partners who play a central role in the implementation of SPIEL.

MESSE ESSEN GmbH 

Messe Essen supports both us and our exhibitors in organizing the fair. To ensure that everything runs smoothly and that you receive targeted service advice, certain data (company name, contact person, booth number, booth size) will be shared.

Messe Essen is your contact for all technical matters (e.g. electricity, gas and water connections, suspensions, W-LAN, etc.). If you are looking for a rental system booth or rental furniture or have general questions about booth construction, you can contact the colleagues at Messe Essen. In addition, Messe Essen is also responsible for various topics such as parking, logistics, personnel services, permits, etc.

ADITUS GmbH 

Our exhibitor ticket webshop is coordinated by Aditus. Your exhibitor tickets, tickets for set-up and dismantling, as well as guest tickets will be sold and provided by us via the Aditus ticket webshop. You will receive a company or personal account there. Therefore, the respective information about the company and the contact person will be transmitted to our colleagues at Aditus (company name, contact person, e-mail).

Eyeled GmbH 

The software development studio Eyeled is behind our SPIEL app. They provide the backend of the app and the accesses for it. So don't be surprised if you receive access data from Eyeled itself during the course of the SPIEL organization (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). We will provide Eyeled with the information about the company and the contact person (company name, contact person, e-mail, booth number).

ATTENTION: The data you enter in the Eyeled backend automatically feeds our website and the SPIEL app for visitors with the information you enter. The eyeled backend is therefore the one-stop shop for your visibility. Here you enter all the important information yourself: Exhibitor profile, new products and events/program items. We do not check the accuracy of the data/text you enter.

Application documents at a glance

Here you can find all the application documents mentioned above at a glance in our file sharing folder.

    

    

    

 

 

 

 

APPLICATION - ARTIST

BECOME PART OF THE BIGGEST BOARD GAME FAIR!

Registration for SPIEL Essen 2025 as an artist is possible from January 20, 2025, to April 30, 2025.

As an artist at SPIEL, you can apply for a table space in the Artist Alley at SPIEL Essen. This can be booked for the entire duration of the fair (4 days) or on a daily basis. A table space consists of a table and a chair. It also includes the obligatory waste disposal fee and the media package, which are charged separately. You will also receive a separate presentation on our website and on Soial Media.

Of course, our team is at your disposal via e-mail (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or telephone (+49 201 - 8436207-0) for queries, requests and all other topics relating to exhibiting at SPIEL.

Conditions of participation - Artist SPIEL Essen 2025

The Conditions of Participation - Artist for SPIEL Essen 2025 are the basis for the entire planning of SPIEL Essen. These include information on participation prices, cancellation and termination conditions, the media package, table space allocation and design, and general sales and conduct rules at SPIEL.

Application form - Artist

Here you will find the application form - Artist for SPIEL Essen 2025, which is fully digital.

Please note that a binding offer is created when you submit the form. As soon as the down payment invoice has been issued and sent, a legally binding contract is created and the cancellation conditions mentioned in the conditions of participation apply.

General information about SPIEL Essen

Location of the event
Messegelände Essen
Messeplatz 1
D-45131 Essen

Duration
Thursday, October 23rd – Sunday, October 26th, 2024

Times of the fair (Opening Hours):
Daily from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm, on the last fair-day until 6:00 pm

Admission times exhibitors:
Daily from 8:00 am. The booths must be occupied by 9:30 am latest. For safety reasons, remainder in the halls and outdoor areas until 8:00 pm latest.

Admission times business tickets & press:
Daily from 9:30 am – 6:00 pm, on the last fair-day until 5:00 pm.

Admission times visitors:
Daily from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, on the last fair-day until 5:00 pm.

The organizer reserves the right to adjust the opening times before the start of the trade fair.

Organizer
Merz Verlag GmbH & Co. KG
Huyssenallee 105
D-45128 Essen
Telefon: 0201/8436207-0
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.spiel-essen.de

The technical organization is carried out by Messe Essen, commissioned by the organizer:
Messe Essen GmbH
Messeplatz 1
D-45131 Essen
Telefon: 0201/7244-672
Telefax: 0201/7244-877
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.messe-essen.de

Application deadline
Application deadline (without late fee) is April 30th, 2025.

Application deadline (with late fee) is August 1st, 2025.

Assembly and dismantling
Set-up times:

Mon, Oct. 20th – Thurs, Oct. 21st, 2025, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
Wed, Oct. 22nd, 2025, 7:00 am – 4:00 pm (work within the booth is also possible until 8:00 pm)

Early set-up and extended evening set-up/set-up (8 pm – 12 am / 8 pm – 7 am) (subject to a charge) must be requested in writing from Messe Essen.

 Dismantling times:

Sun, Oct. 26th ,2025, from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Mon, Oct. 27th, 2025, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm

Extended dismantling and extended evening dismantling (Sun: 10 pm – 12 am) (subject to a charge) must be requested in writing from Messe Essen.

Price Overview 2025

For better planning, you will find a separate price overview here, which will make it easier for you to fill out the application form and calculate your costs.

As usual, you will find the prices for the services of Messe Essen and its partners on the Messe Essen exhibitor service website. This is linked in the Messe Essen section of this page.

Checklist Artist SPIEL Essen 2025

We have put together a checklist so that you don't forget all the important points. Here you can read all the important points for participating in SPIEL Essen 2025. You can also see here where you should have completed which tasks by when.

Media Package

The media package includes the following services:

Access to the SPIEL app with your own exhibitor profile/co-exhibitor profile/brand profile

Together with our partner Eyeled, we provide you with access to the backend of the SPIEL app so that you can fill your profiles with sufficient information. The profiles form the core of your appearance in the SPIEL app. The data entered will be used for the exhibitor directory so that visitors can find out everything they need to know about you and your new products.

Entry in the list of exhibitors (website and app) 

To enable visitors to find you and check whether you are taking part in the fair, you will also be listed in all exhibitor directories in the fair media, as already mentioned in the section above. The information you enter in the exhibitor profile / co-exhibitor profile / brand profile will be displayed there. Therefore, make sure that the information you enter here is correct.

Illustration of the booth location in the hall plan (website and app) 

The hall plans help visitors, exhibitors and the press to find their way around the trade fair. The media package also includes the digital preparation and illustration of the position of your booth in the hall plans on our website and the app. We take care of this presentation for you.

Entries in the digital fair program (website and app) 

Your planned activities, such as meet & greets, raffles, etc., will be even more visible thanks to an entry in the Eyeled backend. You can enter all your program items there so that they are visible in our fair program overview on the website and in the app. With your program entries, you can provide visitors with all the necessary information about your activities via our central information platform and showcase them even better.

Integration into the navigation tool of the app

The navigation in the SPIEL app not only helps visitors, but also the press and you as an exhibitor to get from A to B in a targeted manner. It makes it possible to find the shortest route from a location to a desired exhibitor, program item or game. This service for your booth is also included in the media package so that you too can be found easily and visitors can get to you quickly.

Presentation area on the website (only for artists) 

Our artists have the additional opportunity to introduce themselves specifically on our website and to present their art there in advance. This gives visitors a clear picture of our Artist Alley and arouses their interest in advance. This draws additional attention to you and your artwork.  

Our business partners

Below we introduce you to our partners who play a central role in the implementation of SPIEL.

MESSE ESSEN GmbH 

Messe Essen supports both us and our exhibitors in organizing the trade fair. To ensure that everything runs smoothly and that you receive targeted service advice, certain data (company name, contact person, booth number, booth size) will be shared.

Messe Essen is your contact for all technical matters(e.g. electricity, gas and water connections, suspensions, W-LAN, etc.). If you are looking for a rental system booth or rental furniture or have general questions about booth construction, you can contact your colleagues at Messe Essen. In addition, Messe Essen is also responsible for various topics such as parking, logistics, personnel services, permits, etc.

ADITUS GmbH 

Our exhibitor ticket webshop is coordinated by Aditus. Your exhibitor tickets, tickets for set-up and dismantling as well as guest tickets will be sold and provided by us via the Aditus ticket webshop. You will receive a company or personal account here. Therefore, the respective information about the company and the contact person will be transmitted to our colleagues at Aditus (company name, contact person, e-mail, booth number).

Eyeled GmbH 

The software development studio Eyeled is behind our SPIEL app. They provide the backend of the app and the accesses for it. So don't be surprised if you receive access data from Eyeled itself during the course of the SPIEL organization (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). We will provide Eyeled with the information about the company and the contact person (company name, contact person, e-mail, booth number).

ATTENTION: The data you enter in the Eyeled backend automatically feeds our website and the SPIEL app for visitors with the information you enter. The eyeled backend is therefore the one-stop shop for your visibility. Here you enter all the important information yourself: Exhibitor profile, new products and events/program items. We do not check the accuracy of the data/text you enter.

Application documents at a glance

Here you can find all the application documents mentioned above at a glance in our file sharing folder.

    

 

 

 

     

    

 

 

 

 

MESSE ESSEN / BOOTH SERVICES

THE PARTNER FOR ALL QUESTIONS ABOUT BOOTH SERVICES AND HANDLING ON SITE!

All booth services, such as furniture rental, additional booth walls, electricity, internet, parking, hazardous/speical waste disposal, booth cleaning, security, etc., are coordinated and organized by Messe Essen. To book booth services, you must fill out separate forms and send them to Messe Essen.

!BOOKINGS ARE ONLY POSSIBLE AFTER THE BOOTH NUMBER HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED (from around the end of June / beginning of July)!

Please note the Messe Essen deadlines, which you can find in our checklist. After a certain date, Messe Essen will charge late fees.

Messe Essen's exhibitor service will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
You can reach them as follows:
E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone +49 201 - 7244-830

Service forms of Messe Essen

The button below will take you directly to the Messe Essen exhibitor services page and give you an overview of the services offered by Messe Essen.

We have listed the most important services below and linked the corresponding order forms:

Stand construction

Messe Essen offers the option of building entire booths for you. However, these are only system booths. No individual booth construction is offered.

It is also possible to book additional booth walls and doors to create a booth, or additional lamps to illuminate your booth.

If you would like to have special graphics on the walls, you can also book these here.

Stand engineering

In this section you will find all the booking forms for the technical components of your exhibition booth. In particular:

  • Electricity (Power bookings)
  • Water
  • Suspensions
  • Event technology
  • Inernet access

Certain services (including suspensions of any kind from the hall ceiling and roof structures of the exhibition halls, main electrical, water and compressed air connections, sprinkler systems, underground installations and foundation work, security, forwarding services on the exhibition grounds, telephone and data connections) must always be ordered via MESSE ESSEN GmbH and are carried out exclusively by a company contracted by MESSE ESSEN GmbH.

Stand equipment

Here you will find all the important booking forms for booking:

  • Rental furniture
  • Lettering
  • Floor Coverings
Stand services

Here you will find all the important booking forms for booking:

  • Guard Service
  • Stand Cleaning
  • Insurance
  • Personnel services
  • Additional Waste Disposal*

We continue to recommend taking out exhibition insurance.

Unfortunately, there have been occasional thefts of cash from exhibitors' booths in recent years. Please be aware of this and secure your cash! Of course, you can also order booth security via the Messe Essen service forms.

*Apart from the waste disposal included in the booth booking, you can book waste disposal for hazardous waste, chemicals, food, booth construction and production waste here.

Approvals & Information

Here you will find all the important forms for the authorization of:

  • Early stand set-up
  • Stand party permission
  • Dismantling extension

You can also find further information on the following topics here:

  • Stand constructor & authorisation
  • Approval of special Structure
  • Gates and lifts
  • Methods of payment
  • Technical Guidelines
  • General Terms and Conditions for Services
Logistic services

Here you will find all the important information about transport and warehouse logistics at the trade fair: 

  • Logistics service provider of Messe Essen
  • Traffic Guide
  • Access slip for dismantling
Parking tickets

For SPIEL Essen 2025, it is possible for exhibitors to purchase parking tickets online in advance. You will receive your access data for the parking ticket webshop from Messe Essen.

Please note that only the contact person registered with us through your registration is also registered with Messe Essen with their e-mail address.

If you have any questions or problems regarding the parking ticket webshop, please contact Messe Essen directly, as it is the sole provider of the webshop.

You can contact the exhibitor service of Messe Essen in this regard: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

You can order a long-term ticket for the entire duration of the event or parking tickets that are only valid on a daily basis. The last set-up day is included with season tickets.

For SPIEL Essen 2025, you can purchase car parking tickets for parking lots P2, P3, P5, P6 and P9, subject to availability. Please note that a height limit of 1.90 m applies in parking lots P3 - P9. For vehicles over 1.90 m, parking lot P2 is available for a fee.

It is possible to print out the parking ticket or save it on your smartphone. The readers at the parking facilities can read both paper tickets and digital versions. You can also forward purchased parking tickets by e-mail, for example to your booth personnel. Additional orders can be placed at any time in the parking ticket webshop (as long as parking spaces are still available).

Parking tickets can be canceled free of charge via the online store using the “Cancel” button until 11:59 pm on the penultimate set-up day. Cancellations can no longer be accepted after the last set-up day.

The parking garage P6 will only be accessible in the morning for exhibitors in possession of a ticket. After the end of the fair, you will be charged EUR 14.00/vehicle/day (incl. VAT) for the parking tickets you have ordered. The long-term parking ticket for the entire event (including the last set-up day) costs EUR 63.00 (incl. VAT).

Please have your ticket ready in the morning so that the service staff can authorize you to drive through to these parking spaces. The barriers to these parking lots are open in the morning. To exit, hold the ticket with the QR code in the terminal's reader.

!THE LINK TO THE PARKING TICKET STORE WILL BE PROVIDED IN JULY!

Prices: 

Set-up/Dismantling cars and trucks (last day of the fair from 2:30 pm) EUR 7.00/vehicle/day (incl. VAT) 
Car (duration) EUR 14.00/vehicle/day (incl. VAT) 
Car permanent ticket in the store (valid from October 22 to October 25, 2025) EUR 63.00/verhicle (incl. VAT)  

Trucks (duration)  

>3,5t <= 7,5t         EUR 24.00/vehicle/day (incl. VAT) 

>7,5t <   40t          EUR 36.00/vehicle/day (incl. VAT) 

Ab 40t                   EUR 48.00/vehicle/day (incl. VAT) 

Special booth builder parking tickets are available from the Service Office Mitte, which can be used to access a parking garage several times a day.

Trucks/camper vans  

Parking spaces for trucks are available on P2. Tickets are only available on site. Please drive to parking lot P2 for check-in. 

Motorhome/caravan parking spaces are only available on request.

You will find your contact person for questions about truck parking spaces and camper/caravan parking spaces here after stand number allocation.

General information on booth service bookings

Messe Essen asks you to return your order as soon as possible, but no later than September 10, 2025. From September 11, 2025, MESSE ESSEN GmbH will charge a surcharge of 20% for all orders. From October 2, 2025, the surcharge will increase to 50%.

All exhibitors from EU member states are requested to provide their valid VAT identification number.

Messe Essen reserves the right to charge for ordered services in advance - depending on the size of the order - and to carry them out only after receipt of payment. Services ordered later or on site can only be accepted and carried out if credit card details, direct debit or cash payment are provided. Please note that it may not be possible to provide services if orders are placed too late.

You will receive confirmation of all orders from MESSE ESSEN GmbH. Please pay particular attention to the “Technical Guidelines” and the “Terms and Conditions of Business and Delivery”.

The Messe Essen service team will be happy to answer any further questions you may have:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    

 

 

 

     

    

 

 

 

 

MARKETING OPTIONS

With our extensive, high-reach marketing packages, you can also showcase yourself outside your booth and highlight yourself and your products in a targeted manner.

When you book a package, you will receive credit for marketing options as well as a discount on the list prices. All individual options can also be booked separately.

There are numerous options in our marketing catalog to present you in the best light, whether digital or analog. From advertising in the city or on the exhibition grounds to digital content, you will find many ways to realize your individual marketing goal.

The marketing options can only be booked by approved exhibitors.

In addition, we are again offering you the opportunity to place job advertisements on our website to find explainers, temporary staff and support for your trade fair appearance at SPIEL Essen.

Marketing Catalog

Here you will find the extensive marketing catalog.

You will find all information on the individual bookable marketing options. A special highlight are the customizable marketing packages, which you can adapt exactly to your needs.

Book marketing

You can find the direct booking form here.

Book job advertisement

You have the possibility to search for temporary staff on our website. There is a processing fee of EUR 60 plus VAT for this.

The contents of the advertisement (remuneration, bonuses, working hours, etc.) are provided by you. You are also responsible for the billing of temporary staff. We only provide the platform and cannot guarantee that temporary staff will respond to your job offer. We therefore recommend that you formulate the text of the ad in an appealing way to get people interested in your offer.

!THE BOOKING LINK CAN BE FOUND HERE FROM JUNE!

    

 

 

 

     

    

 

 

 

 

NOVELTY SHOW

SHOW WHAT'S NEW!

No fair is better known for new games and releases than SPIEL. This is where you show what's new - not only to gamers, but also to the media and retailers.

On Wednesday, directly after the press conference with several hundred media representatives, the novelty show opens its doors to the press and other exhibitors.

As a registered exhibitor, you can present new titles on the table areas included in the media package. How you present your games in the best possible light is up to you: You are welcome to bring along tablecloths, decorations, information material and anything else you can think of that will fit on your space.

You can also order display cases from us to highlight your new products even more.
You can also book showrooms and special areas for more elaborate presentation booths for a fee, which you can design with your booth builder. Showrooms can also be used for specific press meetings.
If table space is still available, this can be booked in addition.

On Wednesday, while the novelty show is running, you should have contact persons on site to answer visitors' questions about your games.

All games that you want to present at the Novelty Show must be registered with us in advance. On the one hand, space is limited, so we can't admit an infinite number of games, and on the other hand we want to make sure that only new titles are shown on site. Games must be released in the period between the last SPIEL and around spring of the following year in order to be considered new.

!FOR THE REGISTRATION OF NOVELTIES AND THE BOOKING OF SPACE, WE WILL CONTACT ALL APPROVED EXHIBITORS BY MAIL BY THE BEGINNING OF JULY!

Conditions of participation

The conditions of participation describe and regulate all important topics relating to the Novelty Show.

You can find the information here:

  • how to register for the Novelty Show
  • when and wheer Novelty Show takes place
  • how to set-up and dismantle

You will also find detailed information on the highlight areas (showcases, special areas and showrooms) that can be booked for the Novelty Show.

!THE CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE HERE IN JULY!

Info sheet highlight areas

At the Novelty Show, you have the opportunity to showcase your products even better by booking additional space in showcases, special areas or showrooms.

Here you will find detailed information on these bookable highlight areas, including examples of how they can be used.

!HERE YOU CAN FIND THE INFORMATION SHEET FOR THE HIGHLIGHT AREAS FROM JULY!

Book highlight areas

As in 2024, you can make your presence at the Novelty Show even more impressive in 2025 by booking the following highlight areas:

  • Showcases or individual showcase levels
  • Special areas
  • Showrooms

!HERE YOU CAN FIND THE BOOKING FORM FOR THE HIGHLIGHT AREAS FROM JULY!

Register novelties

To be able to take part in the Novelty Show with your novelties, you must register them separately.

The list of novelties (Eyeled backend) is a list of all novelties that will be presented and sold in the halls at SPIEL. This also includes categories such as accessories, big boxes and other variants of games that are not permitted as novelties in the sense of the Novelty Show.

For this reason, the separate and additional registration of your novelties is mandatory. This is the only way to ensure that the games go through our approval process and receive a place at the Novelty Show.

!HERE YOU WILL FIND THE REGISTRATION LINK FOR YOUR NOVELTIES FROM JULY!

    

 

 

 

     

    

 

 

 

 

ESC - EXHIBITOR TICKET SHOP
(ADITUS WEBSHOP)

DO YOU HAVE ALL THE TICKETS FOR YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES?

You can create your exhibitor passes in the ESC, the exhibitor ticket shop. These are essential for everyone in your team to be able to enter the exhibition grounds. Your stand builders also need a so-called "assembly and dismantling ticket" for Wednesday, which can be created using the non-personalized ticket function.

As only the main exhibitor has access to the ticket store, they must also create the tickets of their co-exhibitor and forward these to them. The ESC offers various options for this purpose, allowing you and the co-exhibitor to simply hand over the tickets (digitally).

Exhibitor ticket shop

!AT THE END OF JUNE / BEGINNING OF JULY YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR LOG-IN INFORMATION FOR THE EXHIBITOR TICKET SHOP AS WELL AS THE LINK TO THE EXHIBITOR TICKET SHOP!

You will receive the login data from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Otherwise you can use the "Forgot password" option to have a new password or an activation code sent to you.

PLEASE NOTE: Access to the exhibitor ticket shop will only be sent to the contact person you specified when registering. Their e-mail address is also linked to the access.

If your contact person or responsibilities change, please let us know as soon as possible by sending an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Ticket types for exhibitors

As an exhibitor, you can purchase different types of tickets for you and your employees. Below you will find brief information on which types are available and what access they grant you.

  • Exhibitor Pass - 1 Day - Grants access to the exhibition grounds on the set-up days, one selected day of the fair, on the dismantling days
  • Exhibitor Pass - 2 Days - Grants access to the exhibition grounds on the set-up days, two selected exhibition days*, on the dismantling days
  • Exhibitor Permanent Pass - Grants access to the exhibition grounds on the set-up days, during the entire fair period, on the dismantling days
  • Assembly and Dismantling Ticket for booth builder - Access only granted on set-up and dismantling days

Exhibitor passes may only be purchased for booth personnel who are actively working for you on the booth.

"Assembly and dismantling" tickets must be purchased for persons who work for you as set-up and/or dismantling assistants and only need to be on the exhibition grounds on the set-up and dismantling days (e.g. booth builders).

*The selected days are freely selectable, so that a ticket can be activated on Thursday and Sunday, for example. This allows you to better adapt your requirements to the needs of your personnel planning.

Instructions for creating exhibitor passes

We have created a special instruction document that explains step by step how to create the exhibitor passes.

!HERE YOU WILL FIND AN INSTRUCTION DOCUMENT FROM THE END OF JUNE / BEGINNING OF JULY!

Billing of exhibitor passes

Each exhibitor will be provided with free exhibitor permanent passes depending on the size of their booth.

After the fair, we will invoice the exhibitor passes used minus these free exhibitor passes - permanent tickets.

Please note that we can only offset the free exhibitor passes against the exhibitor permanent passes. If only exhibitor passes - 2 days (e.g.) are used, these will be charged in full after the fair.

View issued tickets

In the exhibitor ticket webshop you can also see how many passes you have already created, to whom they have been sent, download them or cancel them if a helper cancels.

We have also put together a guide explaining how to find this administration area.

!HERE YOU WILL FIND AN INSTRUCTION DOCUMENT FROM THE END OF JUNE / BEGINNING OF JULY!

    

 

 

 

     

    

 

 

 

 

EXHIBITOR PROFILE, NOVELTIES & EVENTS IN THE SPIEL APP (EYELED)

SPOTLIGHT ON YOU AND YOUR PRODUCTS - PUT YOURSELVES IN  SCENE PERFECTLY!

We offer every exhibitor the opportunity to put themselves in the spotlight with our online fair media. Our media package includes the entry of your exhibitor profile in our SPIEL app and website.

In order to manage your presence there in the best possible way, you will receive separate access to your exhibitor backend for Eyeled. Eyeled GmbH is the company with which we developed the app, which also feeds the exhibitor data on our website. You will receive your access from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 1-2 weeks after the hall plans and booth numbers have been sent out. If not, please contact us so that we can send you your access data again.

Please note:
The access will be created for the contact person specified in the registration and sent to the e-mail address marked as "Contact person e-mail".
If the contact person or the responsibilities change, please contact us immediately by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so that we can adjust the accesses.

What can you do in Eyeled?

  • fill your company profile with useful information for fair visitors
  • adapt your name in the list of exhibitors and hall plan
  • enter your new products in the list of new products
  • create your fair events, such as signing sessions, tournaments, etc.
Eyeled app backend

Here you will find the direct link to the Eyeled app backend to customize your exhibitor profile, enter new products in the novelties list or enter your trade fair events during the fair.

!THE LINK WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE END OF JUNE / BEGINNING OF JULY!

Exhibitor profile

In the exhibitor profile, you can show your best side and give visitors a first impression of you.

Many visitors find out which exhibitors they want to visit in the run-up to the fair. Therefore, a fully completed profile at an early stage is the best way to attract the attention of visitors in advance.

Here you can enter your contact details, your homepage and social media profiles as well as a description of your company. You can also add a logo and let visitors know which product categories you offer. App users can search specifically for these categories.

!HERE YOU WILL FIND AN INSTRUCTION DOCUMENT FROM THE END OF JUNE / BEGINNING OF JULY!

Submit novelties

You can enter your novelties in our novelties list in the Eyeled app backend.

The novelies list is an essential part of the preparation of the fair for visitors. This is where visitors look around in advance and select the games they would like to test or buy directly.

All novelties submitted go through an approval process. This is because novelties may only be listed as such with us once and must have released or released in the relevant period (between the last SPIEL and approx. 6 months after the current SPIEL).

Please note: The confirmation after approval of your novelties entered in the Eyeled backend only applies to the list of novelties. It does NOT apply to the Novelty Show. The placement on the novelty show MUST BE REGISTERED separately via a specially created form. You can find all information about the Novelty Show here on the website in the "Novelty Show" section.

!HERE YOU WILL FIND AN INSTRUCTION DOCUMENT FROM THE END OF JUNE / BEGINNING OF JULY!

Submit events

Our SPIEL app is also a perfect tool for promoting your events at the fair.

Whether it's autograph sessions by designers or illustrators, competitions/raffles, special gaming sessions, tournaments, etc. - you can enter all the activities that you organize at your booth during the fair in our app.

Visitors can then save these as favorites in the app and plan their day at the fair according to your events.

!HERE YOU WILL FIND AN INSTRUCTION DOCUMENT FROM THE END OF JUNE / BEGINNING OF JULY!

    

 

 

 

     

    

 

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

WOULD YOU LIKE TO PRESENT YOURSELF ON EDUCATORS DAY OR BOOK A CONFERENCE ROOM?

You can find all information about our additional services here.
 
Educators Day


The Educators Day is a central component of SPIEL Essen. When people think of games in an educational environment, most of them probably think of learning through play and educational games. However, anyone who takes a closer look at modern board games and their possible uses quickly discovers how wide the range is: be it games for integration, for strengthening cognitive skills, for developing collaborative problem-solving, for promoting social skills and much more. At Educators Day, experts, scientists and practitioners from all over the world will provide insights into the diversity of games and education.
Do you have a game that is perfect for educational use? Then present it at the Educators Day exhibition!

Conference rooms

You can also rent Messe Essen's conference rooms from us. There are rooms of various sizes available in three conference centers on the exhibition ground. Would you like to book a room for a special customer event? Or have your own meeting area at the fair? Then ask us for a meeting room.

All of the above services can only be offered to registered and confirmed exhibitors.

Book Educators Day table

As an exhibitor, you have the opportunity to book a table in the Educators Day exhibition to present yourself to the educational target group.

Limited availability.

!THE LINK TO BOOK THE EDUCATORS DAY TABLE WILL BE AVAILABLE HERE FROM JULY!

Request a conference room

Conference rooms can be booked for the entire duration of SPIEL, by the day or for individual time slots.

The following information is required for registration:

  • On which days should the room be booked?
  • At what times does the room need to be available?
  • How should the seating be arranged?
  • Is catering required?
  • Is additional technology required?

Due to limited availability, requests for conference rooms must be checked with us individually.

!HERE YOU WILL FIND THE BOOKING LINK FROM MARCH!

    

 

 

 

     

    

 

 

 

 

CONTACT

YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR WANT TO CONTACT US DIRECTLY?

Our team will be happy to answer all your questions about booth bookings, registrations, service and all other exhibitor topics.

If you are attending for the first time or have general questions, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Or get in touch with your contact person directly:

Exhibitor Service

Kevin Wegener

Project Manager

- Novelty Show

(+49) 201 8436207 13

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kirsten Schweda

Project Manager

- Hall safety
- Booth approval

(+49) 201 8436207 19

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Torsten Becker

Project Manager

- Meeting rooms

(+49) 201 8436207 17

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Additonal Topics

Carol Rapp

Managing Director

- Cooperations
- Marketing

(+49) 201 8436207 0

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Claudia Blöser

Project Manager

- Invoices
- SPIEL App

(+49) 201 8436207 11

Damaris Hollmann

Administration

- Exhibitor Marketing

(+49) 201 8436207 18

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Robin de Cleur

Director Communications

- PR
- Exhibitor Marketing


(+49) 201 8436207 14

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Steffi Steynes

Senior Project Manager

- Side Events
 
 
 

(+49) 201 8436207 16

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Vanessa Streng

Project Manager

- Artist Alley
- Ticketing
- Newsletter
- Side Events

(+49) 201 8436207 12

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FIND ALL THE ANSWERS TO SPIEL ESSEN HERE!

We are always happy to answer your questions. We have already collected the most frequently asked questions for you. Can't find the answer to your question? Then please get in touch with us so that we can expand our FAQ at any time.

Gerneral information

Where will SPIEL Essen 2025 take place?

Messegelände Essen, Messeplatz 1, 45131 Essen, Germany

When will SPIEL Essen 2025 take place?

Thursday, October 23, 2025, to Sunday, October 26, 2025

What are the opening and admission times?

Times of the fair (opening hours):
Daily from 10:00 am - 7:00 pm, on the last day of the fair until 6:00 pm.

Admission times for exhibitors:
Daily from 8:00 am. Stands must be manned by 9:30 am at the latest. For security reasons, exhibitors may remain in the halls and outdoor area until 8:00 pm at the latest.

Admisstion times for trade visitors & press:
Daily from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm, on the last day of the fair until 5:00 pm.

Admission times for visitors:
Daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, on the last day of the fair until 5:00 pm.

Is it allowed to sell at SPIEL?

Visitors to SPIEL are very interested in buying new games directly on site. That is why you as exhibitors are expressly permitted to sell games directly on your own booth area. In addition, various retailers are also represented at the fair with their own sales booths. Especially if you are a small publisher without a large distribution network or with only a small print run of your games, you will benefit from the opportunity to sell your titles directly to players at SPIEL. All products you wish to sell must comply with German sales standards. Products that may not be sold in Germany may of course not be offered at SPIEL.

Application

How do I become an exhibitor?

Are you active in the board game industry and would like to exhibit at SPIEL Essen?

Please read the conditions of participation carefully before filling out the registration form, as this is the only way you will be on the list of possible exhibitors. As soon as you have received the deposit invoice from us, you are sure to be at SPIEL 2025.

Please note that the submission of your registration is binding. Should you wish to withdraw your registration, you may be liable to pay cancellation fees.

You are not sure whether your business belongs to the board game segment?
Then get in touch with us (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and we will check whether you can register for SPIEL Essen.

How much does an exhibition booth cost?

Larger booths (starting at 16 square meters) are charged per square meter.

Small booths (15 sqm) are available at a reduced fixed price.

The prices of all our services can be found in our price list under the menu item Application.

When booking a booth, the booth space, the booth partition walls, the media package and the waste disposal fee are obligatory and must be included in the cost calculation.

What is the difference between a publisher's booth and a dealer's booth?

A publisher's booth is for exhibitors who only want to offer, demonstrate and sell their own products.

A dealer booth is for dealers who may offer their own products as well as third-party products.

What does booking an exhibition booth include?

The booking includes:

  • the booth space,
  • the booth partition walls,
  • the media package,
  • the waste disposal fee.

These services are obligatory for all exhibitors and will be charged separately.

Also included are free exhibitor permanent passes (number depending on booth size).

Can I book furniture, carpet, electricity and the like with you?

Additional booth equipment (rental furniture, electricity, carpet, catering, etc.) cannot be ordered through us, but exclusively through exhibitor service of Messe Essen.

Service orders can only be placed after the booth numbers have been assigned, as you need the booth number to book.

You can find the service booking forms here: https://www.messe-essen-service.de/exhibitor-service/spiel/ 

These must be completed and sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

When will I find out my booth number/booth location?

After completion of the hall planning you will receive your exhibitor documents with hall plan, booth number and all important information about your participation in the fair.

This is expected to be at the end of June / beginning of July.

Can I choose the booth location?

By indicating which category or categories your product portfolio belongs to (e.g. hobby games, miniature games, children's games, etc.), you can influence the area in which you are sorted at SPIEL.

You can indicate your booth preferences on the application form under "Comments". We will make every effort to take these into account when planning the hall.

However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to implement these wishes.

Application for the Artist Alley

What is the Artist Alley?

The Artist Alley is intended for illustrators, artists and comic artists who can make drawings for visitors and also sell them there.

A place on Artist Alley can be booked per day. The artists can decide on which days they would like to be present at the fair.

How do I become an artist at SPIEL?

Are you an independent artist and create your own graphic products?

Then you will find the "Conditions of Participation - Artist" and the "Application Form - Artist" for SPIEL Essen 2025 in the "Application - Artist" section of this page. You will only be added to the list of possible artists if you have completed the application form correctly. As soon as you have received the deposit invoice from us, you are sure to be at SPIEL 2025.

Please note that the submission of your application is binding. Should you wish to withdraw your application, you may be subject to cancellation fees.

How much does a table at the Artist Alley cost?

You can find the prices of all our services in our price list. When booking a table space, the fee for the table space, the media package and the disposal fee are obligatory and must be included in the cost calculation.

What does booking a table include?

The booking includes:

  • a table and a chair,
  • the media package,
  • the waste disposal fee.

These services are obligatory for all exhibitors and will be charged separately.

Also included is a free exhibitor season ticket.

A back wall can be booked as an option for an additional charge.

When will I find out my table location?

Once the Artist Alley layout has been finalized, you will receive your exhibitor documents with hall plan, stand number, table positioning and all important information about your participation in the fair.

This is expected to be at the end of June / beginning of July.

Can I choose the table space?

You are welcome to indicate your preferred table location on the application form under "Comments". We will make every effort to take these into account for the Artist Alley. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to fulfill these requests.

Invoicing, cancellation and terms of payment

When will I receive my down payment invoice?

The down payment invoice will be sent after your application has been checked. This can take a few days to a few weeks, depending on the number of applications.

When will I receive the final invoice?

The final invoice for the booth (booth space, media package, disposal fee, booth partition walls and co-exhibitor fee, if applicable) will be issued after the final hall planning.

You can expect to receive the final invoice in July/August.

When are additional services invoiced?

The additional services marketing, conference rooms, novelty show and Educators Day table will be invoiced after the final stand invoice has been sent.

The invoice for additional exhibitor passes and "assembly and dismantling" tickets will be sent after SPIEL, as only those exhibitor passes that were used for access at SPIEL will be invoiced. The contingent of free exhibitor permanent passes, which is available to each exhibitor depending on booth size, will be deducted.

All services booked via Messe Essen will be invoiced separately. These services are usually invoiced approximately six weeks after the event.

What are the terms of payment?

All our invoices have a payment term of two weeks.

The invoice amount must be transferred to one of the accounts specified on the invoice.

Payment by credit card or PayPal is not possible.

What happens if I have to cancel my participation in SPIEL?

Cancellation is possible, but unfortunately not free of charge. The following cancellation fees apply:

  • Until April 30, 2025: 40% of the agreed participation fee
  • From May 1 to August 1, 2025: 70% of the agreed participation fee
  • From August 2 to October 23, 2025: 100% of the agreed participation fee
Why do I have to pay for the cancellation?

Something can always happen, we understand that. However, we can only organise a fair like SPIEL with sufficient planning time and planning security.

That's why we start talking to you as early as the application phase, trying to position your booth as optimally as possible in the halls and, of course, answering all your questions. This means that even if you cancel at the end of April, we have already put a lot of time and thought into it.

If you cancel after the application deadline, the hall planning processes are already much further advanced, so that we have not only provided this service, but in some cases approval procedures and other mandatory external processes have already been initiated.

The closer a cancellation is to the event, the more such external processes have already been completed and have to be reopened and changed. This means a lot of effort, sometimes slows down other processes and of course causes additional costs.

It is therefore not possible to accept a cancellation in the process free of charge.

Preparation for participation

Where can I book rental furniture, carpet, electricity, internet and other services?

Booth services can be booked via the exhibitor services page of Messe Essen. Under the following link you will find all the necessary forms for service, construction and equipment of your stand:

https://www.messe-essen-service.de/exhibitor-service/spiel/

How can I send goods and other materials to the fair?

Delivery before the fair

You can contact DB Schenker, Messe Essen's logistics partner, to have goods delivered to the exhibition centre before set-up. They can temporarily store goods for you.

https://www.messe-essen-service.de/exhibitor-service/spiel/logistics/

Delivery to the booth

Deliveries to the booth can only be made during the set-up days and during the fair. In addition, a contact person must be present at the booth to accept the goods.

The logistics provider requires the following information for delivery directly to the booth:

  1. The address of Messe Essen (Norbertstraße 2, 45131 Essen)
  2. The name of the event (SPIEL Essen)
  3. The booth number

Pallets cannot be delivered by forklift truck or pallet lorry during the fair. Pallet deliveries are only possible before 9.30 a.m. (on Thursday to Sunday) using a pallet lorry.

Does SPIEL have co-operations with neighbouring hotels?

There are no co-operations with neighbouring hotels.

You can find hotels near the exhibition centre via the usual booking portals and at this link: https://www.messe-essen-service.de/stay/

How do I get an invitation letter for my visa application?

If you need an invitation letter, please send us an e-mail with your request, first name, surname, gender, date of birth, place of birth, passport number, expiry date of the passport and complete company address to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

How do I get my exhibitor passes?

You will probably be able to create your own tickets via our exhibitor ticket webshop from the end of June / beginning of July.

Further information can be found on this page in the ‘Exhibitor ticket shop (Aditus Webshop)’ section.

Where can I book my exhibitor car park?

Messe Essen provides its own webshop for car park tickets.

!LINK WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE END OF JUNE / BEGINNING OF JULY!

Please bear in mind that only the contact person whose e-mail address you have registered with us is also registered with Messe Essen.

If you have any questions or problems regarding the parking ticket webshop, please contact Messe Essen directly, as it is the sole provider of the webshop.

You can contact the exhibitor service of Messe Essen directly here: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Where can I find additional booth personnel?

Once again this year, we are making our website available to you as a platform for finding temporary staff for the fair. We have prepared an extra page for this purpose, where we will publish your job offers for a small processing fee.

Please bear in mind that you are responsible for the content of your job offer and that we cannot guarantee that staff will be found. The interested parties must contact you and you must clarify everything else (working hours, remuneration, etc.) with them independently.

You can find the booking link and further information here: !LINK WILL BE PROVIDED IN JUNE!

There is also the option of contacting the personnel service provider RIENÄCKER, which works with both Messe Essen and us. However, we would like to point out that RIENÄCKER staff do not necessarily have an affinity for games. They have experience as fair hosts and can provide you with competent support. However, some training may be necessary in the area of game explanation or game promotion.

You can find more information about our personnel services here:

https://rienaecker.de/en/temporary-staff/book-staff/

SPIEL app

How can I change my exhibitor profile on the website and the app?

In Eyeled you can manage your exhibitor entry in our digital media (website and app). You will receive access from the e-mail address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. This is not spam if you receive an e-mail with access data from this address.

The exhibitor entry can be viewed publicly by visitors, so please ensure that your information is correct. The contents are not checked for accuracy by Merz Verlag.

Further information can be found on this page under ‘Exhibitor profile, news & events in the SPIEL app (Eyeled)’.

Where can I add my novelties for the novelties list on the website and the app?

In Eyeled you manage the novelties registration for the novelties list. You will receive access from the e-mail address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. This is not spam if you receive an e-mail with access data from this address.

If you would like your novelties to be visible in our novelites list, you must submit them via Eyeled. The novelties will be checked by our team and approved or rejected accordingly. Only approved novelties will be listed in the novelty list.

Submitting novelties via Eyeled is also important for the novelty show. Only novelties that have been approved in Eyeled (and are therefore on the list of novelties) may be presented at the novelty show.

Please note that entering and approving a novelty via Eyeled does NOT automatically constitute registration for the novelty show! You must submit a separate form for this.

If you have any questions about rejected novelties or events, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We are happy to help!

Further information can be found on this page under ‘Exhibitor Profile & Novelty List’.

Where can I enter my events in the SPIEL app?

In Eyeled you manage the registration of events on your stands. You will receive access from the e-mail address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. This is not spam if you receive an e-mail with access data from this address.

You can use Eyeled to register your booth events, such as autograph sessions, goodie campaigns, tournaments, etc., to make them visible to visitors. Your registered events will be checked by our team and approved or rejected accordingly.

If you have any questions about rejected events or new features, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We are happy to help!

Further information can be found on this page under ‘Exhibitor profile, news & events in the SPIEL app (Eyeled)’.

Set-up and dismantling

When does the set-up take place?

Monday, 20 October 2025, until Wednesday, 22 October 2025.
Mon.-Tue.            7:00 am - 8:00 pm
Wed.                     7:00 am - 4:00 pm (within your own booth area until 8:00 pm)

If you need more time to set up your booth, you can apply for early set-up at the fair. To do this, please fill out the form ‘Early set-up’ in the Exhibitor Service Portal of Messe Essen (https://www.messe-essen-service.de/exhibitor-service/spiel/approval-important-information/) and send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

How do I get to the exhibition ground on set-up days?

General access to the exhibition ground

To ensure that everything runs smoothly on the exhibition ground during the set-up and dismantling periods, all vehicles must be removed from the exhibition ground immediately after the loading process. Car park P2 without height restriction and P6 up to 1.95m are available for temporary vehicle parking.

The parking of vehicles on the exhibition ground is subject to special regulations. Vehicles parked illegally on the exhibition ground or obstructing escape routes will be towed away at the expense of the person responsible or owner.

A deposit of EUR 200.00 in cash (no card payment possible!) is required for entry to the exhibition ground. This deposit will be refunded if the time period noted on the deposit slip is observed. Please also note the traffic guidelines for SPIEL Essen 2025.

Either an exhibitor pass or a assembly and dismantling ticket (see section ‘Exhibitor ticket webshop (Aditus)’) is required for entry.

Entry on the last set-up day

All exhibitors, booth construction companies and suppliers who need to enter the exhibition ground are requested to first go to the vehicle registration area in car park P2 on the last set-up day, Wednesday, 22 October 2025. Entry to the exhibition ground will be organised from there.

When does the dismantling take place?

Sunday, 26 October 2025, until Monday, 27 October 2025.
Sun.                   6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Mon.                  7:00 am - 8:00 pm

If you need more time to dismantle your stand, you can apply to the fair for an extended dismantling period. To do this, fill out the ‘Extended Dismantling’ form in the Messe Essen Exhibitor Service Portal (https://www.messe-essen-service.de/exhibitor-service/spiel/approval-important-information/) and send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

How do I get to the exhibition ground on dismantling days?

Entry on the last day of the event

You can obtain entry tickets with call-off numbers, which authorise you to enter the exhibition ground without a deposit on the evening of dismantling, as follows:

  • You can apply for entry passes online using the following form 2016 (messe-essen-service.de). The vouchers will be brought to your booth during the fair or, alternatively, deposited at the logistics area and check-in on P2 on the last day of the fair.
  • You will receive further entry tickets on 26 October 2025 from 9:00 am at the service office and from 2:30 pm at the check-in car parks P2 and P9. Transport vehicles for the evening dismantling of the event can also park here free of charge from 2:30 pm and will be sent to the loading zones by Messe Essen's logistics staff as soon as access is possible.

Entry to the exhibition ground on the evening of dismantling will be from around 7:00 pm from car parks P2 and P9 according to the call-off numbers issued. Your call-off numbers will be called out.

What should I bear in mind when travelling to the exhibition ground?

Essen environmental zone

With effect from January 1, 2012, a contiguous low emission zone has been established in the Ruhr region. This low emission zone stretches from Duisburg to Dortmund and covers an area of around 850 square kilometres.

Since July 1, 2014, only vehicles with a green sticker have been allowed to enter the low emission zone.

You can find out which sticker your vehicle is entitled to with the help of the emissions code in the vehicle licence. You can obtain a sticker from the vehicle registration office, the ADAC, the test centres (TÜV, DEKRA, GTÜ, GTS) and also from all garages that carry out emissions tests

How do I get electricity for set-up and dismantling?

Any power supply required in advance must be registered and is provided free of charge at the hall walls, pillars and gates up to a maximum of 10 kW/CEE 16 A. Any additional supply or early activation of the ordered connection is subject to a charge. The application for set-up and dismantling power (form B 1.4) must be submitted one week before the start of set-up. Thereafter, it is no longer possible to supply power before the last day of set-up. The costs amount to a flat rate of EUR 140.00 plus electricity consumption for set-up and dismantling.

How does waste disposal work on set-up and dismantling days?

During set-up and dismantling, all cardboard, foil and normal residual waste will be collected by Messe Essen as part of the disposal fee and disposed of professionally. This means that the waste in question can be left at the edge of your own booth area to be collected overnight.

Special waste disposal, including exhibition booths, liquids, etc., must be requested separately from the Service Office.

Rules and guidelines

What should I bear in mind when designing my booth?

General regulations for booth construction

We will provide the floor space of the booth area in the hall. Stand area boundaries provided by us consist of 2.50 metre high exhibition walls made of aluminium frames with white plastic wall panels. Booth area boundaries set up by you must have a height of at least 2.50 metres. You are responsible for the further equipment of the booth (carpeting, lighting, furniture, etc.). The sides of the booth facing the visitor aisles must be transparent and may be closed up to a maximum of 30%. In order to ensure a good overall impression, Messe Essen has laid down guidelines for stand construction and design, which contain binding requirements. You will find this information in the Technical Guidelines of Messe Essen. The relevant statutory provisions and administrative regulations are binding for all exhibitors.

When designing the booth, care must be taken to ensure that the aisles are not blocked by furniture, queues or similar gatherings of people. For safety reasons, the aisles must always remain fully passable. Further details can be found under point 20 ‘Construction and stand design’ in our conditions of participation.

Maximum construction height and suspensions

The maximum construction height is 6.00 metres, with the exception of the right-hand section of Hall 4 (to Hall 5), where the maximum construction height is 4.50 metres.The construction height of 6 metres may not be exceeded under any circumstances - not even with suspensions.

Suspensions are possible at the technical facilities provided for this purpose and will be provided by a service partner of Messe Essen (FA. Überkopf).

What must be taken into account with regard to stability?

You must organise your booth safely. You will find all the relevant regulations in the Conditions of Participation and the Technical Guidelines of Messe Essen. If you are not sure, please ask us or Messe Essen directly.

What do I have to bear in mind if I want to sell my goods at SPIEL?

All products at SPIEL must comply with German guidelines and laws.

Information on the current laws for Germany can be found on this page: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32009L0048

Trade fair organisation on site

Where can I find Merz Verlag at SPIEL Essen?

The Merz Verlag team will be available in the Business Club (Hall 6, 1st floor, above the SnackPoint) for the entire duration of the fair. You can also contact the official SPIEL Essen booth (Hall 6).

The team can also be reached at the telephone number (+49) 201 8436207-0 and the known extensions.

Where can I find the Exhibitor Service Office of Messe Essen?

The Exhibitor Service Office is located in Hall 6, 1st floor, Messehaus Mitte. It can be reached at (+49) 201/7244-830 and -850 and is staffed during the set-up and dismantling phase and the duration of the event at the following times

Monday, October 20, 2025             8:00 am - 4:30 pm 
Tuesday, October 21, 2025             8:00 am - 6:30 pm 
Wednesday, October 22, 2025       8:00 am - 7:30 pm
Thursday, October 23, 2025           9:00 am - 7:30 pm 
Friday, October 24, 2025                 9:00 am - 7:30 pm 
Saturday, October 25, 2025            9:00 am - 7:30 pm 
Sunday, October 26, 2025              9:00 am - 6:30 pm 
Monday, Oktober 27, 2025              8:00 am - 1:00 pm 

How does waste disposal work during the trade fair?

During the fair, all cardboard, foil and normal residual waste will be collected by Messe Essen as part of the disposal fee and disposed of professionally. This means that said waste can be placed at the edge of the booth area in the evening to be collected overnight.

Should a collection be necessary before the end of the fair day due to excessive waste, a collection can be requested at no additional cost by calling the service number (+49) 173/3065329 during the trade fair day.

Special waste disposal, including exhibition booths, liquids, etc., must be requested separately from the service office.

EXHIBITOR NEWSLETTER

Here you can find all relevant mailings. Reminder mailings can be found by clicking on the "All Mailings" Button in the "Mailings at a Glance" section down below.

Exhibitor mailings

Newsletter 1 - January 22, 2024: Application start SPIEL Essen 2025
  • Participation prices
  • Application start
  • New exhibitor website

Co-exhibitor mailings

Artist mailings

Newsletter 1 - January 23, 2024: Application start SPIEL Essen 2025
  • Participation prices
  • Application start
  • New exhibitor website

Game designer mailings

Mailings at a glance

Here you can find the above mailings at a glance in our filesharing folder.