Spiel Essen, the world’s largest board game fair, stepped up its game this year with a larger exhibition space and a new slate of programming. The dice roll paid off, breaking records and earning the event its highest visitor turnout since 2019.
From Oct. 23-26, 948 exhibitors from 50 countries showcased over 1,700 new products. More than 220,000 visitors from around the world attended the event, surpassing its 2019 record and marking its third consecutive year of major growth. Although tickets were sold out all four days, its upgrade to Hall 7’s 77,500-square-meter exhibition space ensured the crowds never felt overwhelming.
Spiel Essen upgaded its exhibitor space to 77,500 square feet. | Source: Spielwarenmesse eG
The stage area is Hall 4 drew large crowds to its panels, live shows, and activities. | Source: Spielwarenmesse eG
Kosmos broke the world record for the largest game of Catan ever played. | Source: Spielwarenmesse eG
The event recognized the winners of the German Game Award. | Source: Spielwarenmesse eG
Visitors could attend a wide variety of supporting programming during the trade fair. | Source: Spielwarenmesse eG
The new stage area in Hall 4 attracted a higher level of visitors to the event’s panels, lectures, discussion forums, live shows, and other supporting programs. One highlight from the lineup was Kosmos Verlag’s mass Catan game, which hosted more than 1,170 players and broke the world record for the largest simultaneous round of Catan ever played. Games Workshop once again hosted the Golden Demon painting competition, judging more than 1,000 submitted miniatures with awards spanning 14 different categories.
Lastly, Spiel Essen recognized the winners of the 2025 German Game Award. This online fan vote invites players from across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to pick their favorite board game of the year. CGE and HeidelBär Spiele’s SETI: Auf der Suche nach außerirdischem Leben took home first place, while Frosted Games and Board Game Circus’ Endeavour: Die Tiefsee won second, and Pegasus Spiele’s Bomb Busters placed third. The winner of this year’s Best Children’s Game was CGE and HeidelBär Spiele’s Die kleinen Alchemisten.
“At the fair, the exhibitors also focus on the joy of gaming. At the same time, an incredible number of effective business developments take place here. I don’t know of any other event that is such a powerful springboard for launching a business as SPIEL,” said Florian Hess, Managing Director of Merz Verlag and Member of the Spielwarenmesse eG Executive Board.
The trade fair may have just ended, but Spielwarenmesse eG and Merz Verlag are already hard at work on next year’s event, taking place Oct. 22-25, 2026. Learn more about the 2026 Spiel Essen on its website.
