BEFA FORUM 2026
75 YEARS OF INNOVATION
AND PROGRESS IN THE FUNERAL INDUSTRY
BEFA FORUM – the funeral industry trade fair,
was launched over 75 years ago in 1949 by the
German Federal Association of Funeral Directors
(BDB) at the ‘Ehrenhof Düsseldorf’. From 1970
onwards, the exhibition was held at the Düsseldorf
Exhibition Centre, initially every five years. Later,
the frequency was reduced to every four years.
The Largest and Most International
Edition in BEFA History
BEFA FORUM has developed into a mega-event
for the international funeral industry throughout
Europe. The anniversary BEFA from 4 to 6 June
2026 will be the largest and most international
BEFA FORUM ever and is one of the largest
trade fairs of its kind worldwide. For three days,
over 250 national and international exhibitors
will present their products and services in an
area of around 25,000+ square metres. "This
breaks our previous records – both in terms of
the number of exhibitors and the exhibition space,"
say Udo Gentgen and Stephan Neuser, the two
managing directors of BEFA FORUM Messe
GmbH. The interest of the public is likely to
be correspondingly high – more than 10,000
trade visitors from over 40 countries on all five
continents are expected.
Innovation, Sustainability and Market
Transformation
The exhibition spectrum covers the entire range
of innovative products and services. Classic
and modern funeral items such as coffins
and urns, funeral stationery, cemetery and
tombstone technology, decoration, vehicle and
equipment solutions, but also digital products
for administrative optimisation and customer
communication. The topic of animal funerals
will also be represented, because "the bond with
pets is becoming increasingly important for many
people, and so is saying goodbye to them," says Udo
Gentgen.
The funeral industry is also changing in Germany.
New materials, technical innovations and
sustainable concepts, as well as advancing market
concentration, are very important topics. The
wide variety of exhibitors will meet these visitor
expectations.
Global Industry Networking
The supporting programme of the trade fair,
running parallel to the exhibition, will once again
offer a comprehensive specialist programme with
04/05/06 June 2026
17th International Funeral Exhibition
Düsseldorf, Germany
10
No. 113 – 1/2026 | THANOS MAGAZINE
MEMBERS’ NEWS