MEDICA and COMPAMED fill the Messe Düsseldorf grounds from Monday 16 to Thursday 19 November 2026. For the surgical instrument trade, these four days matter more than any other week of the year: distributors from dozens of countries walk the halls, manufacturers from clusters such as Tuttlingen and Sialkot meet existing and new customers, and suppliers of steel, coatings, machinery and packaging gather in the COMPAMED halls. This guide is written for two groups: buyers coming to source instruments, and instrument manufacturers coming to sell, whether they have a stand or are visiting. It covers what is where, tickets, travel, meetings and a practical plan for the week.
Facts in this guide were checked on the official MEDICA and COMPAMED websites on 30 October 2026. Messe Düsseldorf can still change hall allocations and programme details, so check the live hall plan before you go.
Key facts
| MEDICA 2026 | COMPAMED 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | 16–19 November 2026 | 16–19 November 2026 |
| Opening hours | Mon–Wed 10:00–18:00, Thu 10:00–16:00 | Mon–Wed 10:00–18:00, Thu 10:00–16:00 |
| Venue | Messe Düsseldorf, Germany | Messe Düsseldorf, Halls 8a and 8b |
| What it is | International trade fair for medical technology and healthcare | Trade fair for the medtech supply chain: components, materials, manufacturing |
| Official site | medica-tradefair.com | compamed-tradefair.com |
| SurgiFacts.com page | MEDICA 2026 | COMPAMED 2026 |
For the other November events, including dental shows in Mexico City, Paris and New York, see our overview of medical and surgical exhibitions in November 2026.
What is new in 2026, and what it means for instruments
MEDICA has a new structure this year. According to the organiser’s kick-off announcement, it is built around five main exhibition areas, “from clinical diagnostics and therapeutic technologies to digital medicine, data and artificial intelligence to integrated care, health infrastructure, education and global health”. The same announcement says Messe Düsseldorf is renovating Hall 9 and modernising the North Entrance, so regular visitors should expect a different layout from earlier years.
The hall and site plans page lists eight thematic focal points:
- Laboratory & Laboratory Diagnostics
- Sports, Prevention & Rehabilitation
- Home Care, Consumables & Hygiene
- COMPAMED Health Tech
- Healthcare Delivery & Clinical Excellence
- Healthcare Transformation Campus
- Internationalisation & Country Pavilions
- Digital Health, Innovation & Start-ups
There is no focal point called “surgical instruments”. In practice, instrument companies appear in several places: in national pavilions and joint stands (covered by “Internationalisation & Country Pavilions”), among clinical and hospital suppliers, and among consumables and hygiene exhibitors for single-use instruments. Hall 17 is being developed as a Digital Health Hub, and the “Hospital of the Future” special show presents an integrated hospital environment rather than individual stands. Neither is a core instrument area, but both are worth an hour if you sell to hospitals.
The practical answer: do not rely on hall themes. Use the official exhibitor and product search and the interactive hall plan, search for the product terms you care about (for example “surgical instruments”, “forceps”, “dental instruments” or “orthopaedic instruments”) and filter by country. Save the results to your favourites and plan walking routes hall by hall.
COMPAMED: why instrument makers should not skip it
Messe Düsseldorf describes COMPAMED, in Halls 8a and 8b, as focusing on “the high-tech supply expertise of the medical technology industry”, including manufacturing, lifecycle and obsolescence management, component modules and systems, materials, chemicals and surface technologies, and compliance, quality, regulation and market access. The COMPAMED site groups exhibitors under headings such as micro- and nanotechnology, medical and functional materials, and highly automated medtech manufacturing.
For a hand-instrument manufacturer this is where to look for:
- stainless steel and specialty material suppliers, and surface treatment or coating specialists;
- machining, laser marking, cleaning and packaging equipment;
- contract manufacturers and OEM partners for components or complete devices;
- regulatory, testing and quality service providers.
Three stages run talks throughout the fair: the COMPAMED Innovation Forum, the COMPAMED HIGH-TECH FORUM by IVAM and the COMPAMED SUPPLIERS FORUM by DeviceMed. The programme is on the COMPAMED programme page. If materials are on your agenda, our article on stainless steel grades and finishes is useful preparation.
Tickets and registration
- Buy online. The organiser says online tickets are cheaper than tickets bought on site and let you enter without queueing. Vouchers from exhibitors are redeemed in the online ticket shop with a registered account. Prices are shown in the shop, not on the information pages.
- Ticket types. MEDICA introduced a new ticket structure for 2026, with a standard ticket for the exhibition, a Premium Ticket and separately bookable conference tickets. The tickets page says the Premium Ticket includes “full access to MEDICA & COMPAMED throughout the entire event” plus selected conferences. When you buy a standard ticket, check in the shop that it covers the fairs you plan to visit.
- Public transport is separate. The arrival page directs visitors to Rheinbahn tickets (such as the eezy.nrw app tariff or a 24-hour ticket) and the DüsseldorfCard. Budget for local transport separately.
Visas
Many visitors from Pakistan, India, China, Africa and the Middle East need a Schengen visa. MEDICA’s visitor FAQ states that visitors do not need an invitation letter from the trade fair company: the purchased online visitor eTicket serves as proof of the visit. Exhibitors present their exhibitor authorisation. All other requirements are set by the German embassy or consulate responsible for you. Messe Düsseldorf also has international representatives in 141 countries whose country pages include visa information and travel contacts. With the fair less than three weeks away at the time of writing, anyone who still needs a visa should contact their visa centre immediately.
Getting there and getting around
The fairground lies in the north of Düsseldorf, close to the airport. According to the organiser’s arrival page:
- From the airport: light rail line U81 runs on selected event days and takes about seven minutes from the terminal to the MERKUR SPIEL-ARENA/Messe Nord stop. Taxis charge a fixed fare of €25 per trip between the airport and any fair entrance, taking about ten minutes.
- From the city centre: line U80 serves Düsseldorf Central Station and the city centre and runs to Messe Ost/Stockumer Kirchstraße. Central Station and Heinrich-Heine-Allee are the main transfer points.
- By train within Germany: Deutsche Bahn’s Event Ticket offers a fixed-price fare from any German station, including the onward trip to the grounds. This is useful for visitors flying into Frankfurt or Munich, or coming from Tuttlingen.
- By car: A44 motorway, exit 29 (Messe/Arena), to car parks P1 or P2, with free shuttle buses to the entrances. Parking is cashless only, so buy the parking ticket online in advance.
Hotels: the organiser’s hotel page says hotel bookings for the event are handled by KUONI Tumlare Congress through the HotelMap platform, and that Düsseldorf Tourismus offers free accommodation advice. Hotel ship cabins moored in the city centre are another option. Expect high prices in Düsseldorf during fair week. Some visitors stay in neighbouring cities and commute by train.
Meetings: Fair Match and direct outreach
MEDICA’s Fair Match service is free. You register with your email address, enter your interests and business goals, receive suggested partners, and use the chat in the MEDICA app to arrange appointments. The organiser says the tool stays available after the fair. Use it, but do not rely on it alone: the most productive meetings are usually booked by direct email two or three weeks ahead, with a one-page profile and a clear purpose.
For buyers: a sourcing plan for the week
- Before you travel, list the instrument families you need (for example general surgery sets, dental extraction forceps, orthopaedic sets), target prices, annual volumes and the documents your market requires. Search the exhibitor list and the SurgiFacts.com company directory, and book 6–10 meetings a day at most, leaving time to walk the halls.
- At the stand, examine finish, box locks, ratchets and jaw alignment yourself. Ask for item codes, the steel grade used and how the company describes its own role (manufacturer, exporter, OEM supplier or trader). Our explainer on manufacturer, supplier, exporter, OEM and ODM helps you read the answers.
- Ask for documents, not claims. Request copies of quality certificates and registrations and verify them with the issuing body afterwards. A logo on a banner does not prove a certification. Background on certifications is on our certifications hub.
- After the fair, order samples from your shortlist and evaluate them against the same checklist. Our guide on how to check a medical instrument supplier walks through the steps.
For instrument makers from Sialkot, Tuttlingen and elsewhere
MEDICA brings together companies from the two best-known instrument clusters. For German makers from the Tuttlingen area it is a domestic fair, reachable by train. Read our explainer on Tuttlingen’s surgical instrument cluster and our list of surgical instrument manufacturers in Germany to understand who you are standing next to. For Sialkot exporters, MEDICA is one of the main European opportunities of the year to meet distributors and private-label customers. See our background on the Sialkot surgical instrument industry.
If you have a stand
- Show fewer items, finished to a high standard, rather than every pattern in your catalogue. Buyers judge the whole range by the pieces they handle.
- Bring a catalogue with clear item numbers, sizes and materials, a price basis (for example by quantity) and realistic lead times.
- Have the documents you actually hold ready to share: quality management certificates, product registrations for the markets you serve, and material certificates. Do not show certifications you do not have. European buyers will ask about the EU Medical Device Regulation, and requirements depend on the product, its classification and who places it on the market. This is general information, not regulatory advice.
- Agree internally who follows up each lead, and reply within a week.
If you are visiting
- Book meetings with distributors ahead. A walk-in pitch at a competitor’s or distributor’s busy stand rarely works.
- Visit COMPAMED for machinery, materials and finishing suppliers. This is often the best value part of the trip for a factory.
- Note which products, finishes and packaging styles the leading brands show. They show you what European buyers expect.
A simple four-day plan
| Day | Buyers | Manufacturers visiting |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 16 Nov | Booked meetings with priority suppliers | Distributor meetings; walk the national pavilions |
| Tuesday 17 Nov | Walk the halls from your saved exhibitor list; new contacts | COMPAMED Halls 8a and 8b: materials, machining, packaging |
| Wednesday 18 Nov | Second meetings, price and sample discussions | Follow-up meetings, competitor research |
| Thursday 19 Nov (closes 16:00) | Final visits; agree sample orders | Short final visits; plan follow-up |
Frequently asked questions
When is MEDICA 2026 open?
From 16 to 19 November 2026, 10:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Wednesday and 10:00 to 16:00 on Thursday. COMPAMED has the same dates and hours, so plan Thursday as a short day.
Where are the surgical instruments at MEDICA?
The organiser does not designate a single instrument hall. Instrument companies are spread across national pavilions and clinical and hospital supply areas. Use the official exhibitor and product search and the interactive hall plan to locate them, then filter by country.
Do I need an invitation letter for a German visa?
According to MEDICA’s FAQ, visitors do not need an invitation letter from the trade fair company. The purchased online visitor eTicket is the proof of visit. Exhibitors use their exhibitor authorisation, which the FAQ says allows a free visa. Other requirements are set by the German mission.
How late can I still apply for a Schengen visa?
The European Commission says an application must be lodged at least 15 days before travel, with a normal decision time of 15 days that can extend to 45 days. With MEDICA opening on 16 November, the window is effectively closed for anyone who has not yet applied. Ask your visa centre directly rather than booking flights on the hope of a fast decision.
Is public transport included in the ticket?
The organiser’s arrival information sends visitors to Rheinbahn’s own tickets and the DüsseldorfCard, so plan to buy local transport separately.
Can I cancel a MEDICA ticket or transfer it to a colleague?
No. Messe Düsseldorf’s FAQ states that purchased tickets cannot be cancelled or returned, and that the name on an eTicket cannot be changed once issued. Buy tickets in the name of the person who will actually travel, and only once their visa is in hand.
How do I use an exhibitor’s voucher?
Register in the online ticket shop and enter the voucher code there to get your eTicket. Exhibitors pay only for vouchers that are used, so suppliers you already deal with are often willing to send one. Ask them a few weeks before the fair.
What does the Premium Ticket add?
According to the tickets page, it gives full access to MEDICA and COMPAMED for the whole event, entry to several conferences (including the German Hospital Conference and the MEDICA MEDICINE + SPORTS CONFERENCE), masterclasses, a VIP lounge in Hall 1 and entry one hour before opening via the South Entrance. Most instrument buyers who come to meet suppliers do not need it.
Can I bring samples or a suitcase into the halls?
Messe Düsseldorf’s FAQ says suitcases and trolleys are permitted and that cloakrooms at the entrances are free, opening 1.5 hours before the fair and closing an hour after it. Visitors may also carry their own food and drink in a backpack. Exhibitors shipping stand goods must follow the separate delivery rules for Gate 1.
Is there an app for MEDICA?
Yes. The free official app for iOS and Android has the interactive hall plan, a full-text search of exhibitors and products, and Fair Match built in. MyOrganizer, the personal area on the website, lets you star exhibitors and products and add notes, which is useful when you need to remember which of thirty stands had the right needle holders.
How does Fair Match work in practice?
Visitors and exhibitors registered in the ticket shop can use it free of charge. You search or receive recommendations, propose a one-to-one appointment, and the slot is blocked for both sides once confirmed. Times are shown in German time, the chat is text only with no file sharing, and the organiser says the tool stays available after the fair.
Can I contact an exhibitor before the fair through the MEDICA site?
Yes. Exhibitor profiles carry an “Exhibitor may contact me” button for registered users. It is a useful first step, but a direct email with a clear purpose, your product list and proposed meeting times usually gets a faster answer.
Is COMPAMED worth it for a surgical instrument buyer?
Usually only if you are developing your own brand or private label and want to understand materials, coatings or packaging. For buying finished instruments, MEDICA is the main fair. For manufacturers, COMPAMED is often essential.
How many days do I need?
Two full days is the minimum for a focused buyer with booked meetings; three or four if you also want to walk the national pavilions and COMPAMED. Thursday closes at 16:00, so leave it for short final visits rather than first meetings.
Is the fairground accessible for wheelchair users?
Messe Düsseldorf says the grounds are barrier-free. Standard wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge, and a limited number of electric wheelchairs can be rented and pre-booked a few days ahead. Holders of the relevant German disability parking badges can park free in car parks P1 and P2.
What should I check at a stand before I order samples?
Handle the instruments: joint action, ratchet engagement, jaw alignment, tips, finish and marking. Then ask who makes them, which steel grade is used and which certificates the company holds. Our guides to haemostatic forceps and Metzenbaum and Mayo scissors are handy references for pattern names you will hear at the stands.
Can a Sialkot manufacturer still get a stand?
Stand space at MEDICA is normally booked many months in advance, so ask Messe Düsseldorf directly whether anything is left. For future editions, Pakistan’s Trade Development Authority (TDAP) says it supports participation in international exhibitions, and joint or national stands are a common way for smaller exporters to exhibit. For this year, visiting with pre-booked distributor meetings is the realistic option. Other Pakistani firms are listed on the Pakistan country page.
Does a CE mark on a stand banner mean the product can be sold in the EU?
Not on its own. Ask which products the CE marking covers, who the legal manufacturer is, who the EU authorised representative is for non-EU makers, and, for reusable instruments, whether a notified body was involved for the reprocessing aspects. Our certifications hub explains how QMS certificates differ from product marking.
Is there a fair like MEDICA closer to the Gulf or South Asia?
The nearest large international option is WHX Dubai 2027 (formerly Arab Health), from 25 to 28 January 2027. Pakistan’s next major healthcare fair on our calendar is Healthcare Expo Karachi in April 2027. Neither replaces MEDICA’s European reach, but both are cheaper and simpler to reach for many Asian and Middle Eastern companies.
What if I cannot attend at all?
Use the exhibitor search to build a list, contact companies directly, and ask for video calls in the weeks after the fair, when sales teams have time again. You can also search the SurgiFacts.com company directory or describe your requirement in the free request form linked below.
Before you go
Check the MEDICA 2026 and COMPAMED 2026 pages, browse companies in Germany and other countries in our directory, and book your meetings. If you would rather have suppliers come to you, describe your requirements through the free manufacturer request form.