CARAVAN SALON and boot are the international flagships
- Written by Portal Editor
Caravan Salon - Twice a year, the Düsseldorf exhibition centre transforms into a hotspot for leisure activities, whether on land or on water.
Düsseldorf has long been home to CARAVAN SALON and boot the number-one international trade fairs in their respective sectors.
Campervans are ideal for individualists and water sports enthusiasts
CARAVAN SALON looks back on a long and successful history. It debuted 65 years ago in Essen, a neighbouring city of Düsseldorf; after a few years, it outgrew that venue and moved to the exhibition grounds in the north of the North Rhine-Westphalian state capital, where it has been held since 1994.
boot also boasts a decades-long tradition in Düsseldorf; its enterprising founders launched the fair located far from the coast back in 1969, likely never anticipating the resounding success it would achieve. Within just a few years, boot became the world’s leading trade fair for all areas of water sports, and it continues to enjoy great popularity among international trade professionals and enthusiasts every January.
The two trade fairs complement each other perfectly. With its extensive range of campervans, camping buses, and panel vans featuring all the international market leaders CARAVAN SALON 2026, for instance, will showcase many vehicles of interest to water sports enthusiasts in Halls 12, 15, and 17. Campervans offer easy access to surfing hotspots, among other destinations, without requiring owners to sacrifice comfort for the sake of the vehicle's "cool factor." Entry-level models from the Stellantis Group (Hall 17: Citroën, Fiat, and Peugeot) are particularly popular among younger people. With the Citroën Jumper, Fiat Ducato, and Peugeot Boxer, the group offers a variety of affordable vehicles tailored to young water sports enthusiasts. Campervans also make excellent tow vehicles for boat trailers. This year, CARAVAN SALON is showcasing 93 exhibitors featuring panel van conversions including, of course, the iconic VW Bulli (Hall 16/E60), the practical Ford Nugget (17/B06), and the comfortable Mercedes Marco Polo (17/A09). You can find the campervans at the show here:
For campers interested in learning about and trying out trendy water sports, *boot Düsseldorf* (taking place from January 23 to 31, 2027) is the perfect destination. In Hall 12, the 60-meter action pool hosts exciting contests featuring professional surfers, alongside plenty of opportunities for visitors to try their hand at wing surfing, wing foiling, windsurfing, stand-up paddling, wakeboarding, kitesurfing, or skimboarding. Those looking for a more relaxed pace and a leisurely canoe trip shouldn't miss the new canoe course, which circles the artificial island. Furthermore, there are plenty of entry-level models to discover among both motorboats (Hall 3) boats with up to 15 hp can be operated without a license and sailboats (Halls 15 and 16).
Caravan Salon - The trade fair figures speak for themselves:
CARAVAN SALON shines in Düsseldorf every late summer, establishing the Rhine metropolis as the unofficial capital of caravanning. At the world’s leading trade fair for mobile travel, exhibitors showcase a vast array of motorhomes, caravans, campervans, vehicle technology, components and conversion parts, tents, mobile homes, caravanning and camping accessories, outdoor equipment, tourism destinations, and camping and pitch offers across more than 250,000 square meters of exhibition space. Every year, over 250,000 international trade visitors and enthusiasts travel to the event to experience trade fair premieres and innovations firsthand. The upcoming CARAVAN SALON is just around the corner, kicking off on August 28 with the Preview and Trade Visitor Day (the B2B program "Destination Future," running from August 31 to September 2, is also of interest to trade visitors); the fair is open to all camping enthusiasts from August 29 to September 6. Tickets and the latest information are available at www.caravan-salon.de.
Every January, around 1,500 companies from nearly 70 countries head to their "home port" in Düsseldorf for the *boot* trade fair, bringing with them the latest innovations in boating and water sports. The lineup includes more than 1,000 boats and yachts, many of which arrive under their own power via the Rhine, Europe’s largest waterway. Exciting destinations and marinas from around the globe are also on board. Beyond motorboats and sailboats, it is primarily diving, surfing, and canoeing that draw fans to Düsseldorf. More than 200,000 enthusiastic water sports fans gather here annually to celebrate the industry's highlight event together. The next *boot* Düsseldorf will open its doors from January 23 to 31, 2027. All the latest information can be found at www.boot.de.
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