Munich Show & Gemworld 2026: An Overview of the Supporting Program
The Munich Show and Gemworld are more than just a marketplace for minerals, fossils, gemstones, and jewelry. From October 22 to 25, 2026, an extensive program will complement the five exhibition halls—featuring lectures, competitions, events for young talent, country pavilions, art, collections, and hands-on activities. A central gathering place is the Forum in Hall A2, where expert knowledge in gemmology, mineralogy, paleontology, jewelry design, and related fields will be shared on all four days.
Four-Day Forum in Hall A2
Under the theme “Collecting Requires Knowledge,” the forum program will run throughout all four days of the trade show. The following events are of particular interest to the jewelry and gemstone industry:
Thursday, October 22
- 11:00 a.m.: Archaeopteryx and the Altmühl Valley
- 12:30 p.m.: Update on the market situation for synthetic diamonds
- 3:30 p.m.: Electroforming in Jewelry
- 4:00 p.m.: Young Designers Corner Award Ceremony
Friday, October 23
- 11:30 a.m.: Larimar – News from the Mine
- 12:30 p.m.: The Latest on Detecting Synthetic Diamonds
- 1:30 p.m.: Paraíba tourmalines from Ethiopia
- 2:30 p.m.: RayCarve and Fantasy-Cut Diagrams
Saturday, October 24
- Articles on Archaeopteryx
- Meteorites
- German Gemstone Route
- Mineralogy
- Numismatics
- historical topics
Sunday, October 25
- 11:00 a.m.: Awards Ceremony for the Collectors' Display Cases
- 12:00 p.m.: RayCarve and Fantasy-Cut Diagrams
- 1:00 p.m.: Paraíba tourmalines from Ethiopia
- 2:30 p.m.: European Open Awards Ceremony
https://munichshow.com/de/highlights/2026/forumsprogramm
Young Designers Corner
The Young Designers Corner Award has been part of Gemworld Munich since 2012. A jury selects eight finalists, who present their work during the trade show. Criteria for evaluation include innovation, suitability for everyday use, and technical and artistic execution. In addition, there is a public vote held in advance of the event. The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, October 22, at 4:00 p.m. in the Forum in Hall A2. Munich Show
A larger area dedicated to emerging talent has now developed around the Young Designers Corner. Schools and continuing education institutions from Pforzheim and Idar-Oberstein are represented, as are gemological institutions. A team from Pforzheim is bringing workbenches and machinery and will demonstrate goldsmith training right at the trade show. Munich Show
Future Forum
New for 2026 is the Future Forum. It is aimed at young jewelry designers, goldsmiths, retailers, and independent labels. Participants will showcase their work in their own booths and will be able to sell their pieces directly at the trade show.
The Future Forum is deliberately located between the New Design Area, the Young Designers Corner, and the training area. This creates a space that brings together training, a designer’s first collection, and the transition to an independent brand.
More information about the Future Forum:
Ten Years of the European Open
The European Open, organized by the Swiss Facetters’ Guild, will celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2026. The focus is on the quality of the cut: precision, symmetry, creativity, and overall impact are showcased and can be compared.
The competition complements the technical presentations on modern grinding techniques and digital development. The awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, October 25, at 2:30 p.m. in the Forum in Hall A2.
National pavilions from Pakistan and Malawi
In 2026, two important regions of origin—Pakistan and Malawi—will be represented with their own national pavilions. Pakistan will showcase companies from the gemstone, mineral, and jewelry industries. The Malawi pavilion will also focus on small-scale mining.
For trade visitors, this provides direct access to the countries of origin and to the people involved in extraction, processing, and trade. Especially when it comes to gemstones and minerals, this complements the traditional product perspective by addressing the questions of where the material comes from and under what conditions it is extracted.
Collector’s Display Cases
Private collections have traditionally been a part of the Munich Show. In 2026, collectors will once again showcase their own themed displays featuring minerals, fossils, gemstones, and historical objects.
The spectrum ranges from regional fossil sites to unique mineral specimens and petrified wood, as well as historical and scientific topics. On Sunday at 11 a.m., awards will be presented for the most beautiful collector’s display cases in the Forum.
Art Corner
At the Art Corner, minerals, fossils, and gemstones meet art. International artists draw inspiration from natural forms, geological structures, and materials, translating them into a variety of artistic works.
In this way, the Munich Show expands the traditional collector’s perspective to include a creative dimension and demonstrates just how powerful minerals and fossils can be even outside their scientific context.
Design Your Own Jewelry
The program also includes a hands-on section focused on jewelry design. Visitors can learn about various techniques and create their own pieces. This activity complements the display of finished jewelry by offering a firsthand look at the materials and craftsmanship involved.
This provides an easy way for visitors—especially those who are exploring the world of jewelry craftsmanship for the first time—to experience the practical side of Gemworld.
Program for Children and Families
On the weekend, the Munich Show is specifically geared toward families. Among other activities, children and teens can cut gemstones, pan for gold, crack geodes, split fossils, search for pyrite, carve soapstone, sift through shark teeth and gemstones, or take part in a geocaching rally. Various activities for school groups are already available on Thursday and Friday.
Here are a few examples that illustrate the program’s structure: Gemstone cutting takes about ten minutes and costs about three euros per stone; gold panning and the meteorite obstacle course are free; and visitors can uncover fossils themselves in limestone slabs. The booth numbers, duration, and costs of the individual activities have also already been published.
That’s why having a complete overview is especially helpful for families:
2026 Children’s and Family Program
Trade Show and Public Event
Gemworld occupies Halls A1 and A2, while the sections featuring minerals, fossils, and meteorites are located in the other halls of the Munich Show. Thursday and Friday are reserved for trade visitors; on Saturday and Sunday, the event is also open to the general public. The fair runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on all four days; access is via the West Entrance of Messe München.
More Than Just a Side Event
At Munich Show and Gemworld, the supporting program is closely integrated with the trade show itself. Expert presentations, competitions, programs to support emerging talent, country pavilions, collections, art, and hands-on activities are all interwoven.
For visitors from the jewelry and gemstone industry, this offers an unusually broad perspective. Within just a few halls, the focus is on synthetic diamonds and new gemstone deposits, as well as cutting and design, emerging designers, countries of origin, minerals, fossils, and scientific collections.
It is precisely this connection that gives the event its added value: in addition to shopping and commerce, there is an opportunity to learn more about materials, origins, craftsmanship, and design.
