Well prepared for SightCity
Visitor information & Q&A;
On 13 May 2026, Günter Hanke and Dagmar summarised all the key information about SightCity 2026 and answered questions during an online meeting.
Here you can find the recording as a video and a podcast – and below that, a clear summary of all the questions and answers from the evening.
SightCity 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions and Visitor Information
Summary of our online information evening on 13 May 2026
Here you can see all the topics at a glance – simply click to jump straight to the section you want:
Admission & Tickets
Anyone who registers online in advance gets in for free. Anyone who doesn’t want to or can’t do so pays €5 at the ticket office on the day. It’s not about the money for us – we’re required to keep track of how many people are in Kap Europa at any one time. That’s what Messe Frankfurt, the police and the fire brigade require of us. The registration data will be deleted no later than six weeks after SightCity. There is only one optional box you can tick: whether you would like to receive a feedback email later – nothing more.
The ticket should actually arrive within a few minutes. Our ticketing system is run by Leyline, a company based in Lithuania – which is exactly why the email sometimes ends up in your spam folder. Please check there. If the ticket still hasn’t arrived, simply send an email to info@sightcity.net, stating your name, email address, the number of people and your preferred dates. We will then create the ticket manually.
Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive a separate PDF file with a QR code for each person you’ve registered. Alternatively, the tickets are also available as a wallet file for the iPhone. There’s no need to print anything out – simply show the QR code on your mobile phone.
No, the QR code is scanned both when you enter and when you leave. It sounds more complicated than it is: if you pop out to Skyline Plaza to get something to eat, you can easily get back in with the same ticket. The only important thing is that each person has their own QR code with them whenever they move away from the group
If you all stay together, it’s enough to show all the QR codes on one mobile phone. As soon as someone from the group goes off on their own – for example, to pop out to the shopping centre for a bit – they’ll need their own QR code to get back in.
No need to panic. Just speak to reception – they’ll be happy to help and can issue a new ticket if necessary. For data protection reasons, we can’t retrieve your old ticket, but we’ll issue you with a new one.
Registration will remain open until shortly before the end of the fair – it will only be closed after that. Anyone who needs help with registration on the day can get it directly at reception.
Admission & Orientation
Bag checks now take place outside the building, rather than inside. There are two queues at the entrance: the left-hand queue is for anyone without a ticket – they will be directed to reception. The right-hand queue is for anyone with a QR code. Scanning takes place in the airlock between the outer and inner doors, either via a machine (simply hold your mobile phone close to it) or by a member of staff.
Not necessarily. You can go straight to the floors. However, if you need a catalogue, a tactile floor plan in Braille, a Braille list of exhibitors or any other information materials, you can pick these up at reception as usual – all free of charge. Reception is, of course, always on hand to answer any questions, provide power sockets or offer any other assistance.
No, there won’t be any day passes this year.
LiveVoice – Audio support for presentations
LiveVoice is a new partner of SightCity 2026. The system supports presentations on stage in two ways: the spoken words appear in real time as subtitles on a large screen by the stage – automatically in German and English. At the same time, you can stream the audio directly to your mobile phone, either in the original language or as an automatic translation. This is particularly useful for people with hearing aids or cochlear implants: Anyone who has connected their hearing aid or implant to their mobile phone via Bluetooth can stream the audio from the talk directly and without any delay to their hearing aid – even if they are sitting right in the middle of the room. This eliminates background noise from the hall, and you can hear the speaker as if you were standing right next to them. No additional transmission equipment is required for this.
The app is called LiveVoice – spelled L-I-V-E-V-O-I-C-E. You can find it in the App Store, the Google Play Store or the Huawei AppGallery. There are QR codes displayed at the stages: if you haven’t installed the app yet, the QR code will first take you to the store. If it’s already installed, the second scan will take you straight to the event. Alternatively, you can listen in directly via your browser: livevoice.io/listen/358139. Or you can enter the access code manually in the app – it is 358139.
Forum, workshop stage and gaming lab – all three. Simply scan a QR code once, and you can then switch between the stages within the app at any time without having to scan again.
Once you’re in, you’ll see a play button for the original audio, as well as buttons for German and English subtitles. You’re free to choose what you’d like to hear or read. You can listen via headphones or speakers.
No, the sports and music stage won’t be streamed and isn’t available via LiveVoice either. The focus there is on getting involved – square dancing, judo, yoga – and we didn’t want anyone to hold back because of the cameras rolling.
This year, German and English. LiveVoice currently supports up to 68 languages – what will be possible in future depends on feedback and available resources.
The SightCity app
The SightCity app (free, accessible with VoiceOver and TalkBack) – available from the App Store and Google Play Store – further information is also available at sightcity.net/sightcity-app – features 156 exhibitors and over 500 products. You can search, filter, view events and plan everything you’d like to see at the trade fair. The data is updated automatically – at least every eight hours or as soon as you open the app.
This year there’s a new tab: Plan. There you can bookmark companies, products and events. Each entry has three statuses: ‘I’d like to visit’, ‘I’ve already been’ and ‘not interested’. The bookmarked entries are sorted by stand number – so you’ll have a logical order to follow at the trade fair. The search tab remains sorted alphabetically.
Also: Events now appear on the Search tab too, and you can go directly to the relevant page on the website from there.
Favourited entries appear right at the top of the search list – even before the first letter – as well as in their usual place in the list. This means you always have the most important companies or products to hand, without having to search for them separately.
At the junctions of the tactile guide path, where the route leads to the respective exhibitors, QR codes are displayed as stickers on the floor. When you open the Scan tab and move your phone diagonally downward along the guide line, the app automatically recognises which stand it is and which companies are exhibiting there. It then reads out: Stand 2I02 – Kreye Siebdruck. A double-tap takes you straight to the company details, including address, products and dates.
New this year: QR code stickers are no longer just at the junctions leading to the stalls, but also at the intersections of the tactile paving – in other words, wherever the paving turns or splits. At these points, the app tells you which way to go – depending on how you’re holding your mobile. If you’re coming from the other direction, the voice prompt changes accordingly.
This isn’t possible at the moment, but we’ve made a note of it. Please send any feedback to info@sightcity.net.
Talks, workshops & live streaming
The Forum, the Workshop Stage and the Gaming Lab will be livestreamed directly on the website this year – so you don’t necessarily need to join via Zoom. The same applies to SightCity TV. However, the same rules apply to the Workshop Stage as for attending in person: advance registration is required. The exhibitors’ online presentations will continue to be accessible online only. The sports and music stage, on the other hand, will take place exclusively on-site, without streaming.
Yes, advance registration is required. The registration form goes offline the day before each workshop – and if there are still places available on the day, you can also register on the spot at reception. There is currently a good chance of getting a place, as there are currently more online participants registered than on-site participants. The only workshop that incurs a fee is the make-up course for women, as the materials used are included in the price. You can find an overview of all workshops under Workshops 2026.
Yes, in principle, that’s correct. However, we always need the approval of the relevant speakers or exhibitors. In the case of exhibitor presentations, the recordings are first sent to the exhibiting company, which then decides whether to publish them. This can take some time – some of last year’s recordings were only published a few weeks ago. The recordings are published on the SightCity YouTube channel and the SightCity podcast. Please refrain from making your own recordings.
This feature is currently being finalised. For some events on the website, it is already possible to download them as iCal or Google Calendar files, but not yet for others – we’re working on it. You can find the full 2026 programme on the website.
New for 2026
From this year onwards, a tactile floor plan – in black print and Braille – produced by Kreye Siebdruck (Stand 2I02) will be displayed outside every toilet block at Kap Europa. The plan shows what the inside of each toilet block looks like: where the cubicles are, where the washbasins are, where the toilet brush is kept and how the toilet seat is positioned. Each map also features a QR code that reads out the description as an audio text. As every toilet block at Kap Europa is laid out differently, each has its own map. Messe Frankfurt has decided to keep these maps permanently – so they will remain on display for other events held at the venue.
Previously, stand numbers such as ‘4.14’ simply indicated that the stand was somewhere on Level 4. It was not clear exactly where. That has changed. Each stand number now consists of three parts: the floor number, a letter denoting the area, and a sequential number. The entrance is in the north. Looking from the entrance, east is on the left and west on the right. The letters are: N for North, E for East, W for West, I for Indoor and U for the start-up area. Stand 2I02 would therefore be on Level 2, in the indoor area, stand number 2. There are a maximum of 10 to 19 stands per area – which makes finding your way around much easier. There are no exhibitors in the south, only administrative offices, so there is no S. A complete list of stand numbers can be found on the website.
The forum is still on Level 1, but in a different room: to the right of the lift, in a quieter area with fewer windows and no direct foot traffic. The light is less glaring, which also makes it more comfortable for presentations. There is a quiet area with tables right outside the room.
In the former Forum Room in the north wing, companies whose products or services are no more than three years old can exhibit. Not all start-ups have taken advantage of this opportunity – some can be found in the standard list of exhibitors – but it’s worth popping in there if you’re keen to discover fresh ideas.
Yes, three new offers on Level 0:
For the first time, there are three small quiet areas (each approx. 9 m², open at the top, with a table and benches). If you need a break, simply ask at reception if one is currently available. Use is free of charge, but donations are welcome.
There is also a charging station at reception: hand in your mobile phone, take an AirTag with you – it beeps when the device is fully charged. We would appreciate a small donation here too.
Plus: 10 power banks are available to borrow, subject to a deposit. The deposit will be refunded upon return.
On-site service
There is also a catering service on Level 4. We’ve stopped using the catering service on Level 1 because we’re tied to Messe Frankfurt’s caterer and the prices are simply very high. The Skyline Plaza is right next door – just step outside, turn left, and it’s no more than 20 metres away. By the way, you’re allowed to bring your own food and drink in.
Messe Frankfurt provides free Wi-Fi. However, the connection speed is rather slow. If possible, it’s better to use your mobile LTE or 5G – that works well in Kap Europa.
Dogs are always welcome on our premises – service dogs, of course, but other dogs are also allowed, provided they do not disturb anyone. The dog bar is on the ground floor, immediately to the right as you enter. There is also a small lawn near Kap Europa where dogs can relieve themselves if necessary – the Platz der Einheit is right nearby and is ideal for a quick break.
Yes, both can be left in the cloakroom on the ground floor. However, you can also easily take your walker or luggage up to the other floors.
Yes – Tower Assist will be exhibiting at SightCity and will be offering free live assistance via your mobile phone’s camera during the event. It works in a similar way to Be My Eyes, but with professional support staff on the other end. You can find out more about this and similar services under Accessible Services and Remote Assistance.
Getting here & parking
Our guides will accompany you from the main station via the U4 to the Festhalle stop; from there, it’s about 100 metres to Kap Europa. The service runs approximately every 15 minutes. No advance registration is required, and the service is free of charge for all visitors.
The meeting point is the Deutsche Bahn Info Point on platform 13. The guides are wearing sunny yellow T-shirts – if you aren’t approached, simply go over and speak to them. You can find all the travel information here
Yes. The Skyline Plaza car park right next door is also used for Kap Europa. If you show your parking ticket at reception, you’ll save €2. Further information on getting there and hotels.
Unfortunately, this is a well-known problem – the DB Mobility Service sometimes refuses to accept non-German nationals. Alternatives: a taxi (which is legally obliged to provide transport) or the Frankfurt Station Mission, which can often help in such cases
It’s not compulsory – but if you’d like some support, we have a range of options available. You can book a guide or find out more about our support services.
SightCity FeelVision Award & supporting programme
This is our People’s Choice Award. Twenty-six products, services and offerings have been entered this year. You can take a look at them in person, find out more directly at the stand – and then vote for the one that impressed you the most. You can vote using the QR code at each stand. Voting is deliberately only possible on site – those who have experienced the nominees for themselves should have the final say. You can find a description of all the nominees at www.sightcity.net/feelvision. Voting closes on Friday 29 May at 3 pm. We will announce the winner live on SightCity TV.
Last year, Blindshell’s Blind Shell Classic 2 won the FeelVision Award – and the company was delighted. You’ll find out what’s in store this year when the winners are announced.
Everyone who has voted will automatically be entered into the prize draw. Our exhibitors have made donations – and the results are impressive. As well as the usual trade fair giveaways, this year’s prizes include practical aids such as a Braille keyboard. We’ll reveal exactly what’s up for grabs when we announce the winner of the FeelVision Award on Friday 29 May, from 3 pm on SightCity TV. We’re also happy to post the prize to you – so no need for a lorry.
The symposium on Wednesday afternoon is aimed at decision-makers, developers and designers who wish to incorporate accessibility into their products and websites from the outset – rather than leaving it until the very end. The symposium is, of course, open to everyone, including visitors with disabilities. You can find the full programme and registration details on the website. Admission costs €49 at the door or €19 online.
You can find all opening times and information about the trade fair on the website. In a nutshell:
Friday, 29 May: 10 am–4 pm
Wednesday, 27 May: 10 am–6 pm
Thursday, 28 May: 10 am–6 pm
SightCity 2027 will take place from 19 to 21 May 2027 – once again during Whitsun week.
Tips for visiting the trade fair
Yes – Christian Stahlberg’s (BBSB) SightViews podcast comes highly recommended. Every year, he reports on SightCity, offers recommendations in the run-up to the trade fair, and interviews exhibitors about their products over the course of the three days. You can find it at sightviews.de. If you want to know which stands are worth a visit, this is the place to go.
Yes, the ‘Messekompass’ guide is available from the DBSV or the BBSH. It mainly contains a written description of the exhibition grounds – which is very helpful if you’re not yet familiar with Kap Europa. Please note: the stand lists in the guide may be slightly out of date compared to the app. For the latest stand information, the SightCity app is more reliable.
A tried-and-tested tip: if you arrive in the morning, start at the top – it’s quieter on Level 4 at the start of the day. If you arrive in the afternoon or later, start at the bottom and work your way up.
Any questions?
You can contact us by email at info@sightcity.net or by calling the number on our website. We look forward to hearing from you!