Guitar Summit Mannheim 2026

An industry trade fair with a festival character

Since its premiere in 2017, the Guitar Summit has become Europe's most important trade fair for guitars and basses — with a unique mix of B2B trade fair, end-consumer experience, and festival atmosphere. From Friday, September 25th to Sunday, September 27th, 2026, the tenth edition will take place at the Congress Center Rosengarten in Mannheim's city center. Across 4,000 square meters of exhibition space, 500+ exhibitors will present acoustic and electric guitars, basses, amplifiers, effect pedals, strings, pickups, speakers, and everything else that belongs to the guitarist's universe.

500+ exhibitors — the most important brands on-site

All major brands (Fender, Gibson, Martin, Taylor, Ibanez, Music Man, Marshall, Boss, Roland, Mesa Boogie) will be represented, as well as boutique manufacturers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, France, and the USA. A special feature: many stands allow you to try out every instrument. Guitar makers demonstrate their work live, pickup manufacturers explain the difference between P-90 and Humbucker, and custom shops showcase unique pieces in the six-figure price range.

Workshops with international top musicians

The workshop program is the second pillar alongside the exhibitor stands. International top guitarists and bassists give workshops on technique, improvisation, composition, songwriting, and sound design. Topics range from jazz harmony theory to blues phrasing, funk slap bass, and metal sweep picking. Each workshop lasts 45 to 60 minutes, and participation is included in the day ticket. Those who want to attend a specific workshop should register in advance — the most popular ones fill up quickly.

Live concerts on multiple stages

Three stages offer live concerts daily: the main stage in the Rosengarten foyer for the top acts, the acoustic stage for singer-songwriters and acoustic guitar concerts, and the Boss stage for electric guitar demos. The top acts come from all over the world — jazz guitarists like Jakob Bro, metal heroes like Kiko Loureiro (Megadeth), bass legends like Marcus Miller. Concerts start daily around 11:00 AM and run through the program until 7:00 PM.

Bass Forum and Guitar Maker Lounge

A dedicated Bass Forum floor is exclusively devoted to basses — from 4-string classics to 5- and 6-string models, and extended-range basses with 7 or more strings. A Guitar Maker Lounge brings manufacturers and interested parties together in a relaxed setting. Vintage dealers offer collector's items from the 1950s to the 1970s. Effect pedal manufacturers demonstrate their devices with headphones, allowing visitors to experience the sound in peace.

Mannheim as a city of music

As the home of the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg and the Mannheim University of Music, Mannheim has a special affinity for popular music. The Rosengarten am Wasserturm — one of the city's most famous landmarks — is excellently connected by subway, bus, and car. It's a 10-minute walk from Mannheim's main train station. Those arriving from further afield will find numerous hotels in all price categories around the Rosengarten.