Following a break due to the pandemic, the world’s leading trade fair for consumer electronics and home appliances features the latest innovations and tech trends as well as a wide range of leisure activities for young and old.

At last, live at IFA Berlin, consumers can marvel at the latest TV sets featuring pin-sharp images and full sound, enjoy a cold brew from a state-of-the art coffeemaker, get tips straight from professional chefs for the latest steamer, discover the many ways to save energy in the home, or take part in demonstrations of super-clever smart home gadgets. From 2 to 6 September the Berlin Exhibition Grounds will be an experience for all the senses. The Summer Garden is open again for young and old and will feature lots of on-stage music and entertainment.

All the leading startups, SMEs and big players will come together in over 30 exhibition halls and on numerous displays at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. Among them will be leading brands such as AEG/Electrolux, AVM, Beurer, Beko Grundig, Bosch, Haier, HAMA, Huawei, JURA, Liebherr, LG, Metz, Miele, Panasonic, Siemens, Samsung and TCL. At IFA, senior executives from international companies including Arçelik, Huawei, Honor, Qualcomm and Schneider Electric will hold keynote speeches about their visions of future technology.

“After the pandemic we want to give retailers, buyers and trade visitors what they need again – a joint platform for setting the global tech industry’s course for the future. That can only succeed together with the consumer. It is not enough to talk about the latest innovations and trends. What is important is to present them to a wider public. What is new? What are the benefits? And how can I use a particular product? Those are the questions that being at IFA in Berlin will answer“, said David Ruetz, senior vice president at IFA 2022.

“IFA 2022 is the first global trade fair for the home electronics industry since the pandemic began. This year, it will again highlight the leading product trends and solutions in the consumer electronics and home appliances sector and in neighbouring industries, and will give international markets a boost. What is more, IFA Berlin is the place where the industry, retailers, trade visitors, the media and of course consumers meet, for whom ultimately all the products and services are developed and produced“, said Dr. Sara Warneke, managing director of gfu Consumer & Home Electronics GmbH, the organiser of IFA.

Latest market statistics by gfu

In Germany in the first half of 2022 the market for home electronics products registered a turnover of 22.6 billion euros, equivalent to 2.2 per cent growth. However, this was not distributed evenly across the various product segments. In the wake of very successful business due to the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, during which consumers put great emphasis on technical equipment in the home, this market development comes as no surprise. At present, uncertainty among customers is affecting the market, as evidenced by the consumer climate index.

IFA trends – from TV sets with 3D sound to smart home gadgets

Two and a half years of the coronavirus pandemic have left their mark on the many trends being shown at IFA. People retreating into the private sphere has triggered improvement in household devices, while outdoor activities such as gardening have moved indoors. Other key topics include sustainability, AI, improved functionality and efficiency.

The latest generation of TV sets comes with breathtakingly large screens, ultra-high resolution and a huge range of colours. For those looking for the right audio to match these images, IFA has lots of products offering a full sound. Intelligent software can detect whether the audio track is a football stadium, a studio news desk, a commercial break or a concert hall and fine-tune it accordingly. New technologies make the sound of games, music and films a close-up and even more intense experience. Innovative audio algorithms based on AI and deep learning models can improve the quality and clarity of voice transmissions – a genuine benefit for online seminars, newscasts, podcasts and school lessons.

For IFA visitors, sustainability has long been an established topic. Whether washing machines or driers, every successive model range is optimised to save as much electricity, water and washing agents as possible. These products can help consumers to save energy and costs on a daily basis, as can smart radiator thermostats and window contacts. Technology can help to reduce pollution from microplastics. Indoor gardening is yet another trend. Sophisticated control units, efficient LEDs and sensors can help to make cultivating greens, herbs and other plants successful and easy for consumers.

Connectivity remains a much talked-about topic. Networking smart home products makes them safe, efficient and easy to use. Some appliances make it easy for users to request and receive the latest programme status, messages, or care, maintenance and service information. Thanks to integrated cameras, checking the oven or the fridge from a distance is no longer a problem. Automatic door locks make door keys superfluous and can automatically provide selected access, while light and blind movements simulate occupancy in order to deter unwanted guests.

Major and small domestic appliances are becoming easier to use, more user-friendly and efficient, while also offering more functions. As an example, washer-driers and multi-functional ovens cleverly combine the features and options of what used to be separate appliances. Technological advances, in batteries for instance, offer greater freedom of use, while others ensure food stays fresh longer or give better washing and cleaning results. Major and small domestic appliances aim to make household chores easier and save valuable resources such as energy, water and time.

With the latest communication networks, smartphones and other mobile devices are becoming faster and more powerful. High-performance processor power is being combined with innovative, sometimes folding, displays.

Another important aspect is networked health. With the right appliances and helpers such as fitness trackers and kitchen aids featuring cooking functions, ensuring a healthy diet and meals, fitness and wellbeing becomes easier and an even more fun experience.

IFA NEXT – the innovation hub

In addition to the industry’s big players, innovative newcomers are playing an important role at this year’s IFA. The innovation hub that is IFA NEXT is occupying all of Hall 20. This is where the world’s leading research institutes, universities, startups and associations are presenting the latest technology trends. Sustainability remains an ongoing topic. Numerous startups are working to improve ecological performance in the consumer electronics and home appliances sector. Resource-friendly and carbon-neutral production methods, repairability and recycling are the focus here. Visitors can also marvel at other fascinating innovations surrounding connectivity, AI, smart living and efficiency.

IFAtainment programme featuring Fest & Flauschig, the Markus Ehrlich Jazz Trio, Anton and Ich & Herr Meyer

In addition to the exhibition of latest trends, IFA has a wide-ranging programme of entertainment for children, adults and the family. Autograph signings featuring YouTube stars, top athletes and footballers, live cooking events, talk shows, games and e-sports events, as well as music gigs with the latest stars: it all means that with IFA, the Berlin Exhibition Grounds will be transformed into ‘Entertainment City’. This year, the Summer Garden is open to the public again, with deckchairs inviting visitors of all ages to while away the hours.

Over the three days of IFA the Markus Ehrlich Jazz Band with its soft saxophone, piano and bass sounds will create a special musical atmosphere in the Summer Garden.

Dates: Friday, 2 September, Monday, 5 and Tuesday, 6 September, from 1 to 5 p.m. on the Summer Garden stage

Ich & Herr Meyer are currently one of Germany’s most popular music bands for children. Their hits Alles ist Drin!, OFFline and ViVaWasser have long since made a big splash on the children’s music scene. They will present a programme for the whole family. The songs of Ich & Herr Meyer draw on a whole variety of modern pop influences from the Eighties as well as rap and reggae beats.

The songs that musician and born-and-bred Berliner Anton has in store are by his own description “for the passengers in both the front and back of the family car“. Family pop is the name of this new genre. On his debut album ’ertappt‘, Anton presents lyrics in both a carefree and pensive mood together with music that lets listeners smile, celebrate but also reflect.

The programme will be presented by Patricia Parisi of Initiative Milchsalon, which organises concerts that encourage children to play music, dance and freak out. Milchsalon wants to let people discover what “good“ music feels like.

Date: Saturday, 3 September, 3 p.m., Summer Garden stage

You either love them or hate them. Rarely has a podcast duo polarised and fascinated Germans to such a degree. Fest und Flauschig with Jan Böhmermann and Olli Schulz, manage to present difficult and controversial topics with the ease of a weather forecast in the middle of summer. Visitors will be able to make sure of their own culinary treats, as bringing one’s food to the afternoon event is expressly permitted. Glass containers and glass bottles are however not allowed. Separate tickets are required for the Fest & Flauschig performance at IFA, which is available from the IFA Ticket Shop.

Date: Sunday, 4 September, 3 p.m., Summer Garden stage

Young IFA featuring chef Mori, musician Tim Schultheiss, green gaming and cosplay

Young IFA in Hall 7.2c is the event area devoted to young people. On a display that resembles a flatshare, young people can explore each of the various rooms for a different attraction on the subjects of gaming, choosing a career, manga and cosplay, sustainability, e-sport, nutrition and lifestyle.

In the flatshare kitchen chef Mori, a star on YouTube and Twitch, will be mixing fresh ingredients to conjure simple, tasty and sustainable dishes. The games room contains more than 30 gaming stations. Those who find Rocket League battles too competitive can help each other out by playing It Takes Two. And if that is not romantic enough then 'Dorfromantik' lets you make advance plans. On stage, musician and presenter Tim Schultheiss will get the flatshare occupants into the right musical mood. Maria Wagner of the GameForest.Club will demonstrate the power of green gaming and how it can make the world a better place. She will offer an insight into the regenerative future of the gaming industry and present current examples of green gaming.

Creatives can delve into the world of cosplay when IFA opens the eleventh Berlin Individual and Group Cosplay Championships. On 3 September from 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., admission to the fair will be free for all cosplay contestants arriving at the south entrance. Attractive prizes await the winners.

IFA partner events SHIFT Mobility and BERLIN PHOTO WEEK

Parallel with IFA the partner events SHIFT Mobility and BERLIN PHOTO WEEK will also be taking place. SHIFT Mobility is a convention, content hub and exhibition which, taking as its slogan ’mobility meets tech’ is focused on the shape that mobility will take in the future. This year, the exhibition area is open to IFA visitors. Exhibits will include a fully electric Bus ID Buzz from Volkswagen, which is not due to arrive on the German market until this autumn.

The BERLIN PHOTO WEEK augments the Imaging section at IFA, and from 2 to 4 September 2022 will present the power of photography at Arena Berlin and numerous satellite venues around the city. Attractions for visitors will include fun places, where photo enthusiasts can try out their skills with a camera or smartphone, as well as exhibitions by international world-class photographers.

You can find the IFA ticket shop here. Tickets to the event are only available online.

Day ticket to IFA (during IFA) 17.50 euros
Reduced-rate ticket to IFA (advance sale only) 13.00 euros
Fest&Flauschig-Ticket (advance sale only) 13.00 euros
Family ticket (advance sale and during IFA)
2 adults and three childrien 36.00 euros
3 for 2 group ticket (advance sale only) 26.00 euros
Reduced-rate student ticket
(advance sale and during IFA) 9.00 euros
IFA is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from 2 to 6 September.

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