Press Release from 10.07.2026: The countdown is on!
24th FASZINATION MODELLBAU Friedrichshafen with Echtdampf-Hallentreffen & Internationale Modellbahn-Ausstellung (IMA), 30 October to 1 November 2026
It’s the biggest event of its kind anywhere in the world: from 30 October to 1 November 2026, an incredible 70,000 m² will bring together the entire world of functional model building, model railways and steam engines in the tri-border region on Lake Constance. For three days, visitors will immerse themselves in a top-class programme of breathtaking demonstrations, lovingly detailed layouts and thrilling events – and with countless hands-on activities, they can even be right in the middle of the action themselves.
Stars of the Year: Airshow Spectacle at Bodensee-Airport
This is an experience you’ll only find in Friedrichshafen: a major model flight show on the grounds of an international commercial airport! Against the magnificent backdrop of Bodensee-Airport and the majestic Alpine panorama, the year’s top pilots will demonstrate the outer limits of what’s possible today. Already confirmed is an appearance by record-holding champion Gernot Bruckmann with his new Yak 54 XXL in the giant 1:1.6 scale. World, European and German champions will push the boundaries of the achievable here, sending every spectator’s pulse racing.
And every discipline is represented: turbine jets, faithful large-scale models, punchy 3D helicopter aerobatics and dynamic sailplane events. Also returning are the manufacturers’ demonstrations, offering the first live look at the coming season’s new releases in the sky. From Friday to Sunday, this airshow spectacle organised by FMT magazine will draw all eyes to the skies above Lake Constance – a highlight not to be missed.
Flying Model Exhibition, Forum and FMT Indoor Action
While outside the FMT Stars of the Year conquer the sky, things are no less exciting inside Airport Hall A3. Specialist exhibitors will take the time to explain their product ranges and pass on first-hand tips, while the Modellbau Forum offers top-tier talks that dive deep into the hot topics of the scene. The heart of the hall, however, is the central flying-model exhibition: a line-up of sensational scratch-builds – highly detailed scale models, curious exotics, imposing large-scale aircraft and coveted collector’s pieces from every branch of model flight.
And indoors, the flying action really takes off too! On the 30 x 30 m flight arena in Foyer West, huge scratch-built Depron models and even ducted-fan jets will whoosh through the light-flooded hall – a real thrill under a glass roof. But FMT Indoor Action also showcases the quiet, delicate side of the hobby: feather-light indoor models weighing just one or two grams, seemingly floating weightless through the air. The manufacturers’ demonstrations also feature production models that make indoor flying affordable for everyone – even complete beginners will feel the urge to give it a try themselves.
At Last, Back Again: Internationale Modellbahn-Ausstellung
Every two years, the great world of model railways gathers in Friedrichshafen – and in 2026 the time has finally come again! The 41st Internationale Modellbahn-Ausstellung fills the vast Halls A1 and A2. More than 200 exhibitors and the builders of stunning layouts will conjure up miniature worlds in every gauge: replicas of legendary stations and historic bridges, enchanted Alpine passes and dioramas packed with small everyday stories that invite wonder and admiration.
Children and adults alike will find themselves lost in daydreams here – and they can get creative themselves too. Hands-on stations and the Junior-College Europa turn the hobby into something you can literally touch, while the Modellbahn Forum presents the latest news and developments in the industry. Everyone can dive deep into this fascinating hobby, exchange ideas with friends and experts, and get sound, knowledgeable advice.
Hissing and Thumping at the Echtdampf-Hallentreffen
In Halls B2 and B3, things are once again smoking, steaming and thumping in grand style! The 28th Echtdampf-Hallentreffen is a spectacle unique in the world: on the largest 5-inch and 7¼-inch track network anywhere, elegant locomotives and traction engines puff through the exhibition halls in a not-so-small small format – a feast for the eyes, ears and nose.
But these fascinating iron horses aren’t just there to be admired: visitors can climb aboard and take a lap around the circuit themselves. It’s just as gripping away from the tracks, where stationary steam engines toil away, steam-powered road vehicles glide past, and handsome steamboats trace their paths across the water. Inventive spirit and craftsmanship from bygone times – close enough to touch.
Trucks, Construction Machinery and Piste Bashers
Hall A4 is where the really big beasts roll in. On the sprawling courses in 1:8 and 1:16 scale, truck enthusiasts will find everything their hearts desire: heavy lorries, cranes, tracked vehicles and hydraulically controlled construction machinery. Excavators shovel earth, bulldozers level the terrain, and in the truck trial, multi-axle rigs navigate rocks and bridges with the help of winches.
In a completely different scene, piste bashers work their way through glittering artificial snow, laying down flawless ski runs – captivating to watch. And at many stands, the next generation gets to take the controls themselves – the little ones’ eyes light up like the headlamps of the models!
Windjammers and Screaming Racing Boats
On the large indoor water pool in Hall A5 and outside on the exhibition lake, elegant RC sailing boats majestically glide across the deep-blue water. And that’s not all: racing boats tear past in a shower of spray, and gripping demonstrations even show how ships in distress are rescued.
Aspiring captains will get their money’s worth too, earning the coveted licence at the children’s driving station. Another must-see is the large exhibition of historic ship models and the fascinatingly detailed plastic and card model building – handcraft of the very highest order, where every detail holds up even under a magnifying glass.
Need for Speed with RC Cars, Bikes and Copters
Genuine racing action awaits visitors in Hall B1: RC cars thunder around the circuit as the scene’s top pilots battle for every position across nine classes at the German Open RC-Car Masters. During the racing breaks, large-scale models, dragsters, RC bikes and monster trucks add extra thrills.
In stark contrast, Foyer East offers a virtually weightless spectacle: radio-controlled airships drift elegantly through the hall, jockeying for pole position at the Open International Competition F7B. High-frequency racing sound, meanwhile, pours out of Hall A6 – where race copters dart like insects around the pylons, competing at the FPV Drone Championship Finale for a place on the podium. An experience that really gets under your skin.
Address
Messe Friedrichshafen GmbH
Neue Messe 1
88046 Friedrichshafen
Opening hours (30 October to 1 November 2026)
Friday–Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thank you for your reports and announcements.
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https://www.ima-friedrichshafen.de/presse
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