INTERFORST 2026

Overview

INTERFORST is a leading international trade fair for forestry and forest technology, held every four years at Messe München in Munich, Germany, bringing together the entire forestry value chain from afforestation and timber harvesting through to sawmilling and wood energy. The next edition, INTERFORST 2026, is scheduled for October 15–18, 2026, and remains confirmed as a live, in-person event at the Munich exhibition grounds.

Organized by Messe München, the show serves as a key meeting point for manufacturers, forest owners, contractors, policymakers, researchers, and service providers to explore machinery, digital solutions, sustainable forest management concepts, and wood-based energy technologies. Alongside the exhibition, an extensive supporting program of specialist forums, conferences, and practical demonstrations focuses on current challenges such as climate-resilient forestry, skilled labor shortages, safety at work, and the role of forests in climate and energy policy.

With its mix of indoor displays in Hall B6 and large outdoor demonstration areas, INTERFORST offers decision-makers a dense overview of new products, industry trends, and investment options in professional forestry and timber logistics on approximately 75,000 square meters of space.

What to Expect

At INTERFORST 2026, visitors can expect a comprehensive international showcase of forestry and forest technology across the entire value chain, from forest establishment to wood processing and energy use. The trade fair brings together machinery manufacturers, technology providers, service companies, forest owners, public institutions, and associations on around 75,000 square meters of exhibition space, including Hall B6 and an extensive outdoor area for machinery and live demonstrations. Exhibitors span harvesting machines, forwarders and skidders, transport and logistics systems, GIS and digital planning tools, silvicultural equipment, safety and personal protective equipment, wood chipping and biomass technology, sawmill equipment, and wood energy systems. In addition to the product and machinery presentations, INTERFORST features a strong technical and knowledge-transfer program. Visitors can participate in specialist forums, conferences, panel discussions, and presentations that address key challenges such as climate-resilient forestry, sustainable forest management, digitalization, automation, and workforce and safety issues. The event actively promotes exchange between practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and industry suppliers, offering opportunities to discuss evolving regulatory requirements, funding frameworks, and new business models in the forestry and timber sectors. The show’s outdoor areas allow for practical, hands-on demonstrations of forestry machines and equipment under near-real operating conditions, enabling investment decision-makers to compare technologies directly and explore productivity, ergonomics, and safety features. Networking is a central element: national and international delegations, associations, and working groups meet at INTERFORST to build partnerships, explore export opportunities, and benchmark practices across regions. With its four-year cycle, INTERFORST tends to gather a concentration of new product launches and strategic announcements, making the 2026 edition an important milestone for companies planning investments in machines, digital systems, and infrastructure. For first-time visitors, the organizer provides planning tools, travel and accommodation information, and ticket services via the official website, enabling efficient preparation of meetings and stand visits. Overall, attendees can expect a dense, trade-focused environment where product innovation, policy debate, and practical know-how are closely interlinked.

Who Should Attend

INTERFORST 2026 is aimed at professional stakeholders across the forestry and forest technology ecosystem rather than the general public. Core target groups include owners and managers of public and private forests, forestry enterprises, contractors and service providers engaged in planting, tending, harvesting, and forest road construction, as well as companies operating along the timber and wood energy value chain. Decision-makers and technical specialists from forest machinery and equipment purchasing—such as fleet managers, operations managers, and procurement officers—will find a broad overview of harvesting machines, transport and logistics solutions, digital tools, and safety equipment for evaluating future investments. The event is equally relevant for the wood industry and sawmills, including those involved in primary processing, biomass utilization, and wood energy generation, who are seeking technologies to optimize raw material flows and increase efficiency. INTERFORST also addresses public authorities, municipalities, and policymakers concerned with forest and land management, nature conservation, and climate adaptation, providing them with a marketplace of solutions and a platform for dialogue with practitioners and industry. Researchers, consultants, and educators in forestry, environmental sciences, and rural development benefit from access to current technologies, demonstration projects, and specialist conferences that highlight emerging trends and applied innovation. Industry associations, chambers, and training institutions use the fair as a meeting point for members and as a venue to discuss training, recruitment, and skills development in the forestry workforce. For international delegations, INTERFORST offers a compact opportunity to engage with the German and European forestry sectors, explore partnerships, and gain insight into regulatory and market conditions. Overall, the show is essential for anyone professionally involved in managing forests, supplying forest machinery or services, processing roundwood, or developing policy and research around forest resources and climate-related issues.

Why It Matters

INTERFORST plays a significant role for the forestry and wood sectors because it serves as a central platform for innovation, coordination, and strategic decision-making in a field that is critical to climate protection, biodiversity, and renewable raw materials. Forests and wood-based value chains are central to carbon storage, renewable energy, and sustainable construction, while also facing increasing pressure from climate change, pests, and competing land uses. INTERFORST brings together the stakeholders who must respond to these challenges with practical, economically viable solutions. By covering the entire forestry value chain—from afforestation and forest management through harvesting, logistics, sawmilling, and wood energy—INTERFORST helps align technology development with policy and on-the-ground practice. Manufacturers present new machinery, digital systems, and safety technologies, while forest owners, contractors, and sawmills assess which solutions best fit their operational realities. This direct feedback loop accelerates the adoption of efficient, low-impact technologies and helps ensure investments support long-term forest health and productivity. The fair’s extensive specialist program is equally important: conferences, forums, and expert talks create a space where policy, research, and practice converge. Topics such as climate-resilient species mixtures, risk management in storm and beetle-damaged stands, sustainable biomass use, and workforce safety are discussed from multiple perspectives. This supports evidence-based policymaking and encourages forestry strategies that balance ecological, economic, and social objectives. For companies, INTERFORST offers access to international buyers, partners, and distributors, enabling them to expand market reach and benchmark against global competitors. For public authorities and research institutions, it offers an efficient means of gathering market intelligence and connecting with innovators who can implement pilot projects or support funding programs. In a sector characterized by long investment cycles and strong regional differences, the four-year rhythm of INTERFORST concentrates key decisions and product launches, making each edition a strategic moment for shaping the future of forestry and wood use.