World Money Fair in Berlin Records Highest Visitor Numbers in its 20 Year History
World Money Fair Berlin records its highest visitor numbers since its inception.
Berlin, February 3, 2026 – The World Money Fair took place in Berlin for the 20th time and broke all previous records: from 29 to 31 January 2026, more visitors than ever before came to the Estrel Congress Centre to see more than 320 exhibitors from 50 nations. The fair attracted a wide audience from all over the world, from young to old, from beginners to experienced collectors. Every day, visitors waited outside the doors to sprint in at 10 a.m. sharp and get their hands on the coin or banknote they wanted.
Successful start: Künker auction and Technical Forum set the tone for the trade fair
The day before the fair, the Künker auction house kicked things off with its premium auction: historical rarities with a total value of €9.5 million were auctioned off. Lot 376, Leopold I, 1657-1705, achieved one of the highest hammer prices at €200,000. "The Berlin auction is our start to the year with the highest-quality pieces – and a real experience. With up to 150 customers in the room at times, there is a special atmosphere that characterizes the auction at the World Money Fair and that can only be experienced live," enthuses Fabian Halbich, Director of International Business at Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG. The first interested collectors were already flocking to Berlin at this point, immersing themselves in the fascinating world of numismatics.
22nd Technical Forum
The 22nd Technical Forum of the World Money Fair 2026 also took place on Wednesday. With 14 specialist presentations, it offered a comprehensive overview of current innovations in the coin industry. The focus was on AI-supported minting, automation, modern coating technologies, and security and surface processes, among other topics.
More than 275 participants learned about the latest technical developments. The forum was moderated by Dieter Merkle (Andritz Schuler) and Thomas Hogenkamp (Spaleck Oberflächentechnik). Marc Schwartz, CEO of Monnaie de Paris, and Frane Maroevic, Director General of the International Currency Association, also gave statements on the importance of cash.
The event concluded with the traditional get-together, sponsored by Andritz Schuler and Spaleck Oberflächentechnik, which provided an opportunity to take an initial tour of the technical exhibition while enjoying snacks and drinks.
Berlin as a fixture in the international trade fair calendar
After moving from Basel, the World Money Fair has been based in Berlin since 2006, and over the past 20 years, the capital has developed into the undisputed world capital of numismatics. ‘With the Estrel Congress Centre & Hotel, Berlin offers the ideal infrastructure and internationality for our trade fair,’ says Goetz-Ulf Jungmichel, Managing Director of the World Money Fair. ‘With this year's expansion of a total of 500 square meters of exhibition space, we are demonstrating that Berlin is and will remain the international center of the coin and banknote world.’
The entire industry comes together at the World Money Fair: state mints, private mints, dealers, accessory suppliers, and technology providers. They all presented their latest products and rarities. ‘The mood was consistently positive, and there was a palpable desire to buy – a sign that the passion for collecting coins and banknotes remains unbroken,’ said Jungmichel.
Guest of Honor from London: Tower Mint presents royal treasures
One of the absolute highlights of the fair was this year's guest of honor, Tower Mint Limited, a private mint and the last minting facility in London. To mark its 50th anniversary, Tower Mint presented the impressive collection ‘The Unseen Effigies’ by British sculptor and medalist Raphael Maklouf, featuring previously unpublished portraits of Queen Elizabeth II. The exclusive coins attracted collectors from all over the world and caused eyes to light up and lively discussions to ensue at the stands.
Hands-on activities and special exhibition attract visitors
The interactive formats once again proved to be a magnet for visitors: the Minting Experience Centre celebrated its premiere last year and attracted interested visitors of all ages once again this year. Visitors passed through seven stations and minted their own personal World Money Fair collector's medal from a blank coin. ‘An unforgettable experience that brings the fascination of coin craftsmanship to life for children,’ said one visitor. This year's series comprises 1,800 pieces.
‘The World Money Fair was once again packed with highlights and beautiful coins. Hopefully, the Minting Experience Centre is something we will now be able to enjoy every year. Once again, there was a beautiful medal on display. I have been to every fair in Berlin since the beginning, and there is something new to discover every year,’ raved Michael G., a long-standing club member and regular visitor to the World Money Fair.
Collectors particularly appreciated the staggered timing of the various highlights by the exhibitors: this gave every guest the opportunity to queue up for different coin attractions without missing out on important new releases. This well-thought-out organization ensured that everything ran smoothly and that visitors to the fair were completely satisfied.
The popular Coin Passport and the new Convention Hall 2 Rally offered a playful treasure hunt through the halls. Families with children, along with collectors and investors, used the fair as an exciting weekend destination and discovered the fascinating world of numismatics together.
Exhibition of the banknote collection of the Giesecke + Devrient Foundation
The banknote exhibition ‘The World of Music on Banknotes – A Visual Concert’ by the Giesecke + Devrient Foundation attracted large crowds. The exhibition presented around 50 banknotes and invited visitors on a journey of discovery through sounds, cultural heritage and national identity.
New Live Stage brings expert knowledge to the podium
The new Live Stage in Convention Hall 2 offered a continuous program of presentations throughout the fair, which attracted large crowds. It began with the Media Forum, a platform for presenting new coin products, followed by experts sharing surprising facts about euro coins and banknotes, as well as topics such as coin preservation, the precious metals market, and numismatic innovations, providing information for long-time collectors and investors as well as newcomers.
World Money Fair Award: The audience has decided
A highlight of the fair was the presentation of the newly launched World Money Fair Award on the last day. It is the first and so far, only award in which the public decides and votes both online and on site which new releases of the year (2025) they like best – recognition that comes directly from collectors.
In the gold coins category, the South African Mint secured first place with ‘2025 Big 5 Series III: Lion’, followed by CIT Coin Invest in second place with ‘60 Years of Self[1]Government’ and the Lithuanian Mint in third place with ‘Year of the Horse 2026’.
In the silver coin category, CIT from Liechtenstein took first place with ‘Repubblica Italiana’, PowerCoin impressed with ‘Paper Boat’ and secured second place, and the Swiss Federal Mint, Swissmint, completed the podium with ‘Pioneers of Swiss Aviation’. The winners accepted their awards with obvious delight – a moving moment that reflected the passion and creativity of the industry.
The voting audience was also rewarded for its efforts in the election. Those who attended the award ceremony on Saturday afternoon and had voted beforehand had the chance to win one of nine high-quality coin mintings donated as prizes in a lottery. The enthusiasm among the winners was boundless.
Preview: CIT from Liechtenstein to be Guest of Honour in 2027
One thing is already certain: in 2027, the renowned CIT Coin Invest AG from Liechtenstein will enrich the fair as Guest of Honour. ‘The overwhelming success of the World Money Fair 2026 sets new standards for the coming years. We are therefore delighted that CIT, a pioneer in innovative and technologically groundbreaking coin minting, will be inspiring our guests next year,’ says Jungmichel.
The World Money Fair 2027 will take place from 28 to 30 January at the Estrel Congress Centre in Berlin.
About the World Money Fair
The World Money Fair is the world's largest coin fair. It takes place annually in Berlin at the end of January/beginning of February. It is the most important leading event in the international coin industry. Dealers, suppliers of accessories, and auction houses from all over the world present their numismatic range to collectors, while state mints and private mints showcase their latest products. In the technology section, a wide variety of machine manufacturers and suppliers to the coin industry meet and showcase the entire manufacturing process for coins and medals, from blank production and minting to packaging and the corresponding tool technology. The World Money Fair has continued to evolve since January 1972, when it was first held in Switzerland as the ‘International Coin Exchange’. Today, more than 300 exhibitors, including mints and national banks from around 50 countries, present their products at the three-day fair, which has been held in Berlin since 2006 at the Estrel Congress Centre. The World Money Fair also offers investors an excellent opportunity to learn about precious physical metals and their importance as an investment. The exhibition includes coins from numerous countries, special mintings and high-caliber commemorative coins, as well as special fair editions and various commemorative coins
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