IFA 2026: Inside the Opening Tour Showcasing Tomorrow’s Technology

The tour was led by Dr Karsten Wildberger, Federal Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation. Also taking part were Dr Silke Launert, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space; Stefan Evers, Mayor of Berlin and Senator for Finance, representing the Governing Mayor of Berlin; and Franziska Giffey, Mayor of Berlin and Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises. Together, the delegation explored the latest innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, consumer technology and home appliances.

The future of Technology is on display in Berlin from today

During the IFA Opening Tour, the political delegation visited several German and international exhibitors and learned about new product innovations. From artificial intelligence and robotics to connected technologies and intelligent home appliances, the tour demonstrated how companies are translating technological developments into real-world applications.

In his opening remarks at the start of the tour, Dr Karsten Wildberger, Federal Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation, highlighted IFA's importance to the industry, Berlin's strength as an innovation hub and the latest technology trends: “It is exciting to see these great products and how artificial intelligence is making its way into every technology product we use in our daily lives. Robotics is a particularly important trend. The combination of hardware, software and artificial intelligence is something that sets us apart here in Germany as an industrial nation.”

Another focus of the tour was the IFA Next show area. The area is under the patronage of Dorothee Bär, Federal Minister for Research, Technology and Space, and brings together start-ups, innovators and the international technology industry. The Opening Tour included visits to the following exhibitors: AMD, BSH/Bosch, Kärcher, Miele, Liebherr, JURA, AEG, Hama, Xiaomi, FRITZ!, Meta x CUPRA, Fix First, L’Atitude 52°N, Metz and LG Electronics.