HOLZ-HANDWERK 2028 in Nuremberg

HOLZ-HANDWERK is the European trade fair for machine technology, tools, and manufacturing supplies for the woodworking trade. It will take place again at the Nuremberg Exhibition Center from March 28 to 31, 2028—concurrently with FENSTERBAU FRONTALE, with a single ticket valid for both trade fairs.

We’ve had our own booth there since our founding in 2000. On this page, you’ll find not only the key facts, but also what we’ve learned over the years: which hall to visit for which topic, when one day is enough and when you’ll need two—and where you can save on admission.

RUWI Exhibition booth at HOLZ-HANDWERK in Nuremberg with visitors at the router table

Our booth at HOLZ-HANDWERK in Nuremberg

HOLZ-HANDWERK 2028 at a Glance

HOLZ-HANDWERK 2028 will take place from Tuesday, March 28, through Friday, March 31, 2028, at the Nuremberg Exhibition Center. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The trade show is held every two years in even-numbered years.

Dates: March 28–31, 2028
Location: Exhibition Center 1, 90471 Nuremberg
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; Friday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Frequency: every two years, held concurrently with FENSTERBAU FRONTALE
Organizers: NürnbergMesse and VDMA Woodworking Machinery; the event is sponsored by the Bavarian Carpenters' Trade Association

The most recent edition, held in March 2026, attracted approximately 75,000 trade visitors from 117 countries. This figure applies to the two-part trade show series featuring FENSTERBAU FRONTALE, which together drew 1,022 exhibitors from 47 countries—of which HOLZ-HANDWERK alone accounted for approximately 340 exhibitors.

Who should visit?

HOLZ-HANDWERK brings together everything a woodworking shop needs in four halls—from routers to the “ sliding table saw ” to industry-specific software. Short distances, hands-on machine demonstrations, and conversations on equal footing: that’s what sets it apart from the major industrial trade shows.

As a woodworking shop, you’ll find your main focus in Hall 12.0—hand tools, power tools, hardware, fastening technology, and materials. Medium-sized businesses with five to twenty employees can compare machines and tools in Halls 9 and 10.0 and check out software in Hall 11.0 that saves time in the office.

Larger interior finishing companies use the trade show to make investment decisions—with one caveat that we’ll be upfront about: Homag and Biesse did not exhibit in 2026, and SCM was represented only through its partner Stürmer. If you want to compare large CNC or edge-banding machines across different manufacturers, LIGNA in Hanover is the better choice. However, Felder, Altendorf, Otto Martin, Weinig, and Holz-Her cover this machine segment in Nuremberg.

Apprentices and master craftsman trainees will find the HOLZ-HANDWERK Campus in Hall 11.0 well worth a visit, where vocational and master craftsman schools present their training programs. Children up to and including age 15 may attend the trade show free of charge when accompanied by a trade visitor.

And let’s be honest: HOLZ-HANDWERK is a trade show. While visitors aren’t required to provide proof of industry affiliation, the event is geared toward businesses. As a hobbyist woodworker, you’ll get less out of it than someone who comes with specific questions from the workshop.

HOLZ-HANDWERK or LIGNA—which trade show is the right fit for your business?

The two major German woodworking trade shows complement each other rather than replacing one another. HOLZ-HANDWERK takes place in Nuremberg in March during even-numbered years, featuring around 340 exhibitors and focusing on the skilled trades. LIGNA takes place in May in Hanover in odd-numbered years, featuring 1,433 exhibitors from 49 countries and a strong industrial segment—ranging from sawmill technology to networked production lines.

Here’s a rule of thumb based on our experience: You go to Nuremberg for workshop supplies, short travel distances, and face-to-face conversations. You go to Hanover when you’re planning a major investment and need an international perspective. Many companies do both and alternate between the two—that way, you won’t miss out on the latest innovations any year. You can find out what to expect in Hanover in our LIGNA Guide.

Two notes: For carpenters specializing in roofs and building envelopes, DACH+HOLZ is the more specialized trade show. Those primarily looking for hardware, finishes, and materials will find a wider selection at interzum in Cologne.

Tickets: How Much Admission Costs and How to Save Money

Tickets are available exclusively online—you can no longer buy tickets at the fair itself. For the 2026 event, a one-day ticket cost 50 euros and a multi-day pass cost 70 euros. Prices for 2028 have not yet been set.

There are two things you should know before you pay. First, your ticket is also valid for FENSTERBAU FRONTALE—one purchase, two trade shows. Second, many exhibitors offer free coupon codes in advance; in 2026, these included Leitz, Häfele, Weinig, and the trade magazines BM and dds. Checking your suppliers’ websites before buying a ticket can often save you the entire admission fee. You can find all official information at holz-handwerk.de.

Directions and Parking

Your trade show ticket includes a VGN KombiTicket: During the trade show, you can use it to ride buses and trains for free within the Nuremberg-Fürth-Stein fare zone, in second class, zones 100 and 200. From the main station, take the U1 subway line toward Langwasser Süd; it will take about eight minutes to reach the “Messe” stop.

You can reach the convention center by car via the A3, A6, A9, and A73—once you’re on the outskirts of the city, follow the “Messe” parking guidance system. There are approximately 13,500 parking spaces available; the daily fee in 2026 was 14 euros. If you’re staying overnight, book early: Hotels in Nuremberg are scarce and expensive during the trade fair, so the surrounding area—a 35- to 45-minute drive away—is the quieter alternative.

Which Hall for Which Question

In 2026, HOLZ-HANDWERK occupied four halls, each with a clear focus. If you know where to go, you’ll save yourself half a day. The exact hall assignments for 2028 will be listed in the hall map as soon as NürnbergMesse publishes it.

Halls 9 and 10.0 – Woodworking machinery, tools, abrasives and polishing agents, surface treatment technology, and dust extraction systems. In 2026, exhibitors here included Felder, Altendorf, Otto Martin, Mafell, and Leitz, among others.
Hall 11.0 – Software and Business Organization, plus the HOLZ-HANDWERK Campus featuring vocational and master craftsman schools, and the booth of the Bavarian Carpenters’ Trade Association.
Hall 12.0 – Fastening technology and hardware, wood and wood-based materials, electric, pneumatic, and hand tools. In 2026, exhibitors will include Bessey, Häfele, Hettich, and OPO Oeschger, among others.

Those who also work in the window manufacturing industry should be sure to include FENSTERBAU FRONTALE in their plans: hardware and doors in Halls 1 and 4, and machinery and tools in Hall 3. The “Focus on Interior Doors” guided tour connects both trade shows and is well worth attending for those in the interior finishing industry.

Visitors at the RUWI booth in Hall 12.0 at HOLZ-HANDWERK

On busy trade show days, it gets crowded—scheduling appointments in advance saves you waiting time

Three things that have worked well for us: Go over the hall map and the exhibitor directory in advance, and create a list of booths in the order you’ll visit them. Schedule appointments with the exhibitors you’re really interested in—otherwise, you’ll run into colleagues who are constantly on the go at the booth instead of your designated contact person. And if you’re coming as a group: Divide up the halls and agree on a meeting spot. One day is enough for a focused tour. If you’re comparing machines and attending FENSTERBAU FRONTALE, plan on two days.

A Look Back at 2026: The Issues That Endure

If you want to know what to expect in 2028, look to 2026. The last edition focused on four themes: digitalization and AI in day-to-day operations, recruiting the next generation of talent, sustainable materials, and serial construction. New additions included the HOLZ-HANDWERK Arena as the central stage and the Future Room, featuring presentations on topics ranging from AI to the search for skilled workers.

In the machine section, safety systems for panel saws took center stage—Felder with its Preventive Contact System (PCS) and Altendorf with its camera-based Hand Guard. These were complemented by compact, modular sanding and edge-banding machines for workshops that don’t have a full-sized production hall. In the tools category, Leitz showcased the FineCut, a saw blade with an integrated scoring blade, while Bessey presented the EZR360 one-handed table clamp.

The direction for 2028 is thus clear: more software in day-to-day operations, safety technology as standard rather than an add-on, and machines built for smaller workshops rather than industrial facilities. If you want to continue developing your milling technology regardless of the trade show calendar, our milling tool advisor will guide you to the right tool for your application.

RUWI at HOLZ-HANDWERK 2028

We’ve been exhibiting at this trade show since our founding in 2000. In 2026, in Nuremberg, we showcased, among other things, the prototype of our organizational cart—an MDF back panel with dovetail grooves that lets you position brackets freely without drilling. That’s exactly what the trade show is for: We bring what we’re working on, and you tell us if it works in your workshop.

Reiner Ruggaber demonstrates the " RUWI " clamping technology to visitors at the booth

Reiner Ruggaber at the booth

In 2028, you'll find us again in Hall 12.0. Everything at the booth will be up and running—nothing will just be sitting around:

RUWI router table – Multiple milling tools on call—you save yourself the trouble of changing tools between operations.
RUWI lifting table – Height-adjustable work surface with a capacity of up to 400 kg, featuring tool-free clamping technology.
RUWI Sawing System – the safety upgrade for your sliding table saw.

To that end, we'll show you what our development workshop in Fluorn-Winzeln is currently working on.

"We'd love for you to stop by our booth."

— Reiner Ruggaber, Managing Director of RUWI

Would you like to discuss a topic at your leisure instead of rushing through it between conversations at the booth? Email us in advance at info@ruwi.de —and we’ll make time for it at the booth.