With more than 600 exhibitors expected, preparation will determine whether your day at the fair gets lost in the hustle and bustle or delivers tangible results. This article provides the key facts, a clear preparation method, and shows how you can use wer liefert was (wlw) and europages to identify the right exhibitors now and prepare conversations in a targeted way. The platforms wer liefert was (wlw) and europages bring together detailed company profiles, filterable product data and contact information, so you can already see before the fair which exhibitors match your requirements. 

 

FENSTERBAU FRONTALE returns in 2026: the key facts at a glance 

In 2024, 973 exhibitors from 44 countries and around 75,000 trade visitors from 112 countries attended. A comparable format is expected for 2026. The exhibition areas cover innovations from industry, skilled trades and automation. 

Anyone looking to learn about current developments will find focused access to industry topics and practical solutions through the Architecture-Window-Façade Forum, the FENSTERBAU FRONTALE FORUM and several special shows. 

The most important details are available in the FENSTERBAU FRONTALE show details. Here is the compact overview for your calendar: 

 

  • Period: Tuesday, 24 March to Friday, 27 March 2026
  • Location: Nuremberg Exhibition Centre
  • Opening hours: Tue–Thu 10:00–18:00, Fri 10:00–17:00
  • Frequency: Every two years
  • Parallel event: HOLZ-HANDWERK

If you would like to combine both events, it is worth taking a quick look at the parallel event HOLZ-HANDWERK. This makes it easier to plan related topics and additional contacts in a meaningful way. 

 

What you will experience at FENSTERBAU FRONTALE: topics, trends and real conversations 

The trade fair is more than a product exhibition. Specific questions can be clarified directly here: Does this profile fit our project? How does the supply chain work if we place an order in the second quarter? Anyone who thinks of windows, doors and façades as a system will find not only the components at FENSTERBAU FRONTALE, but also the right contacts to go with them. 

Technology that works in real life 

The focus is on solutions for the building envelope, meaning all external building elements such as windows, doors, façades and their components. This also includes the processes behind them. 

For preparation, it is worth looking at your internal workflows: Where are there interfaces in your company that currently cost time, money or effort? Where do friction points arise between engineering, procurement, production and installation? And where do you need reliable alternatives so that processes remain stable and decisions can be made faster? 

Topics that set the direction 

At the fair, the key themes and challenges of the industry become tangible: sustainability, serial construction, renovation, skilled labour shortages. Not as buzzwords, but as questions that translate into material choices, process design and partner selection. If you use these questions as a guide, you will recognise more quickly which conversations are truly relevant. 

 

Plan beats luck: how buyers and suppliers benefit 

The same trade fair feels completely different depending on your role. Keeping that in mind leads to better conversations because goals are clearer. 

Procurement: clarity instead of catalogues 

In procurement, comparability matters. You want options that reduce risk and secure supply capability. Preparation starts with a guide for on-site discussions. If you formulate questions in advance, you steer conversations more purposefully and recognise faster which contacts are truly relevant. 

A practical approach is a mix of engineering and process: Which variants are possible? Which interfaces are critical? What does documentation look like? Who is the contact person if things need to move quickly after the project starts? If you ask these questions consistently, you separate interesting contacts from those that only sound good. 

Supplying: turning contacts into opportunities 

For suppliers, the goal is to turn contacts into concrete next steps. This works better if you can get to the point in two sentences and know how the relationship will continue after the fair. 
Clear role allocation at the stand is helpful. 

Who conducts initial conversations? Who steps in for technical questions? Who clarifies terms and conditions? Equally important is capturing information on the spot: Note down right at the stand what the discussion was about, which project is coming up, and who the right contact person is on your side. Otherwise, after four days of the fair you will have five business cards with no context in the pile and interest will not turn into anything concrete.  

 

Preparation that noticeably improves your trade fair experience 

A trade fair visit does not have to start with weeks of preparation. What matters is a structured approach. This gives your conversations more depth, helps you keep an overview, and creates the basis for tangible results. The goal is not to know everything. The goal is to ask the right questions and categorise contacts immediately. 

A shortlist in four steps 

If you create a shortlist of relevant exhibitors in advance, you can manage your time at the fair with focus rather than gut feeling. 

 

  1. Define criteria: what really decides. Application, materials, standards, service, delivery model, international coverage.
  2. Assess exhibitors: capture the name and focus first, then review the company’s products and services. Finally, note what you want to connect on in the conversation.
  3. Prioritise five to ten contacts: that is enough to create depth on site.
  4. Note two questions per meeting: one technical and one process-related. This keeps you out of small talk and gets you to the point faster.

As a next step, a quick cross-check via Inside Business on EUROPAGES can help. There you will find additional content and context that sharpens your on-site conversations and makes the results more precise in the end. 

Plan meeting windows realistically 

Instead of filling every minute, plan buffers deliberately A good conversation takes longer than you think. The walk to the next hall does as well. Anyone who builds in buffer time stays friendly, focused and receptive. 

Set a realistic goal per block: two conversations with substance rather than six short visits without results. If you are attending with colleagues, agree fixed time slots for internal check-ins so that important information does not get lost along the way. And at the end of each conversation, note the next action immediately. This way, a day at the fair does not become a collection of impressions, but a basis for concrete decisions. 

 

Get to know exhibitors: contacts that sharpen conversations 

At the fair, a single detail often decides whether a conversation stays superficial or actually helps. If you can place exhibitors before the first handshake, you get to the points that matter in your day-to-day work much faster. 

A first overview is available on wer liefert was (wlw) and europages. The company profiles show at a glance where the focus areas are, which products are offered, and where it becomes relevant for you. If you compile a list of relevant exhibitors in advance, you can also carry it digitally on your smartphone, tablet or laptop. This allows you to keep researching on the way to the fair or pull up a profile directly at the stand and refer specifically to what you read there and what you would like to learn more about. 

The following selection is for inspiration and as an example. You can compile your own list based on your criteria: 

 

If you sort this list according to your criteria, it becomes a schedule that does not feel random, but decision-driven. 

 

After the show comes the result: secure contacts and stay visible 

Whether a trade fair visit turns into a collaboration is decided in the days afterwards. Take a concrete step within 48 hours. Whether you request a quote, clarify samples, schedule a technical call, or align decision criteria internally is up to you. Those who follow up quickly stay in the conversation and turn interest into a collaboration. 

This also works the other way around: If you want to be present as a supplier yourself or are looking for specific partners for your next project, a company profile on europages helps. An up-to-date listing ensures you are also found online when someone searches for your service. At the same time, you will be approached in a targeted way by buyers who need your expertise, and by organisers who want to invite you to upcoming trade fairs. This creates reach that goes beyond a single day at the fair.  

For organisational information about the event, you can also refer to the organiser, NürnbergMesse.