IFA 2025 Opens in Berlin With a Vision to “Imagine the Future”

The world’s largest consumer electronics show officially kicked off on September 3, with its annual press conference at CityCube Berlin, setting the stage for seven days of innovation, product launches, and cultural programming. Hosted by Leif Lindner, CEO of IFA Management GmbH, and Dr. Sara Warneke, Managing Director of GFU Consumer & Home Electronics GmbH, the session outlined how IFA 2025 intends to position itself not just as a technology fair, but as a cultural platform shaping how tech intersects with society.
Dr. Sara Warneke presented the current trends for the consumer and  home electronics industry, and we published an article here.

IFA officially opened today at Messe Berlin, where it will highlight the latest innovations in consumer electronics and appliances through Tuesday, September 9, 2025. You can follow our IFA news here.

A Fully Booked Show

This year’s IFA is sold out, with 1,900 exhibitors from 49 countries filling all 190,000 square meters of exhibition space. “Berlin is becoming a stage for technology, culture and community,” said Lindner, noting that IFA 2025 represents a “new era” that blends tradition with transformation. For Warneke, the value lies in relevance: “Here, you not only see innovation, you see how it resonates with people.”

The two executives emphasized that IFA’s strength is its role as a global meeting point—where engineers, startups, retailers, and consumers converge to preview the technologies shaping daily life.

Imagine the Future

This year’s motto, “Imagine the Future,” runs through every part of the show. In his keynote, Lindner highlighted three themes driving the industry: artificial intelligence, computing power, and sustainability. Rather than isolating AI in a dedicated pavilion, the fair has embedded it across product categories, from smart home appliances to mobility solutions.

“The real question is not whether technology will shape our future—it already is,” Lindner said. “The question is: will it serve us, or will we end up serving it?”

Expanding Beyond Tech

The show is broadening its scope with several new zones and initiatives:

• IFA Next (Hall 25): Startups and pioneers present disruptive ideas.

• IFA Global Markets (Hall 26): A sourcing hub for OEMs, ODMs, and retailers.

• Creator Hub (Palais): A space for influencers, live streaming, and workshops, with TikTok among its partners.

• Beauty Hub (Hall 17): Showcasing digital health and smart beauty tech.

• Games Ground x IFA: Spotlighting Berlin’s indie gaming scene.

• Mobility Track: A test area for e-bikes, e-scooters, and micro-mobility solutions.

• Find Your Next Tech (FYNT): 35 hours of live-streamed content curated with Webedia, streamed across YouTube and other platforms.

These additions reflect IFA’s effort to connect with younger audiences, cultural movements, and a new generation of creators.

Partnerships and Retail Power

Major retail groups—including MediaMarkt, Expert, and Euronics—are on site, underlining IFA’s importance as a commercial hub. New initiatives such as the Retail Leader Summit aim to connect senior retail executives with tech disruptors and consumer trend analysts. International platforms like JD.com are also taking the stage, with its CEO delivering a keynote on the future of retail.

Culture and Community

Lindner stressed that IFA is increasingly part of Berlin’s cultural fabric. From collaborations with Fotografiska museum to summer concerts at the IFA Sommergarten, the show wants to extend its influence beyond the exhibition halls. Headline acts this year include Deine Cousine, EVIL JARED x KROGI, and a live open-air taping of Jan Böhmermann and Olli Schulz’s cult podcast Fest & Flauschig.

Sustainability at the Forefront

A partnership with the Cradle to Cradle NGO underscores IFA’s commitment to sustainability and circular design. By spotlighting eco-friendly approaches to manufacturing and product life cycles, organizers hope to drive conversations that extend beyond gadgets into societal responsibility.

Innovation Awards Debut

For the first time, IFA is introducing the IFA Innovation Awards, designed to recognize breakthrough products and concepts in design, usability, and sustainability. An independent jury will select the winners, giving exhibitors an additional incentive to showcase forward-looking technologies.

A Platform for Global Exchange

Throughout the press conference, both Lindner and Warneke emphasized IFA’s role as a bridge. “Technology doesn’t carry a passport,” Lindner said, stressing that collaboration across borders is essential to tackle global challenges such as climate change and digital transformation. “Some shows give you the trailer—at IFA, you see the full movie.”

Looking Ahead

With the halls already buzzing, IFA 2025 feels like more than a trade show. It is positioning itself as a space where technology, culture, and community converge. For Warneke, the defining word is “connection.” For Lindner, the highlight is “Viva,” a new concept space that makes innovation tangible.

Together, their message was clear: IFA is not just a showcase of devices, but a conversation about the future—one that the global tech industry, cultural institutions, and everyday consumers are all invited to join.

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