interbad 2026: These Highlights Should Be on Visitors' Radar in Stuttgart

Among swimming pool technology, water treatment, and digital solutions, professional visitors at interbad learn about new products and concepts for pools, saunas, and wellness. Photo: Frank Eppler - Messe Stuttgart

At the beginning of October, Stuttgart will become a three-day hub for the international swimming pool, sauna, and spa industry. From October 6 to 8, 2026, interbad will bring together operators, pool builders, specialty retailers, planners, architects, and the hospitality industry. On more than 26,000 square meters, over 270 companies will present technologies and concepts related to pool construction, water treatment, saunas, spas, and wellness.

This year, visitors should particularly look beyond the classic product innovations. Energy efficiency and decarbonization meet digitalization, new operational concepts, and the question of how public pools can be operated economically in the long term. With the 71st DGfdB Congress, the interbad Innovation Award, and an excursion to a mobile indoor pool, the fair combines exhibition and practical application.

These highlights should be kept in view by visitors

interbad Innovation Award: Six companies compete with new solutions for swimming pool construction, water treatment, and energy efficiency. AQUABOX excursion: A mobile indoor pool made from prefabricated wooden modules presents a new approach for municipal renovation phases. DGfdB Congress: Digitalization, decarbonization, public service, and the future of public pools are the focus. Sauna from Finland: The network of about 200 companies introduces Finnish sauna culture and new products to Stuttgart. Pool technology: From smart filter technology to heat recovery, manufacturers display solutions for more efficient facilities. Spa and wellness: New design and operational concepts target hotels, spa operators, and planners among others.

Innovation Award presents concrete solutions

The interbad Innovation Award becomes particularly practical. Solutions that combine technical innovation with sustainability and energy efficiency are awarded. Among the submissions is SmartSlide, a water slide whose light, sound, and special effects can be configured by visitors via an app. Other entries deal with new filtering processes, pool linings, and biological water treatment. Moreover, nominated is AC Pool NEW, a technology that, according to the provider, should significantly reduce water and energy consumption associated with water exchange. This shows how broadly innovation in the pool sector is now understood. It is no longer just about attractions for visitors, but about water consumption, energy requirements, maintenance, and operating costs.

Pool Lighting at interbad — Technical components for modern pool lighting demonstrate at interbad how lighting systems combine function, safety, and atmosphere in swimming pools. Photo: Frank Eppler - Messe Stuttgart

Visitor rush at the interbad in Stuttgart — At the start of the fair, the interbad foyer fills up with trade visitors from pool construction, swimming pool technology, sauna, and wellness. Photo: Frank Eppler - Messe Stuttgart

A Movable Indoor Swimming Pool

An unusual project can be learned about by professional visitors outside the trade fair grounds. The AQUABOX in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen is a temporary indoor swimming pool made of prefabricated wooden modules. It bridges the construction period of the local indoor pool and can then be dismantled and rebuilt at another location. The building features a 25-meter pool with five lanes and a part-lift floor. During an excursion, architecture, timber construction and technical solutions are presented. The approach is particularly interesting for municipalities. When swimming pools are renovated or newly built, years of closure occur. A movable interim pool could cushion this and simultaneously demonstrate what modular construction methods can achieve in pool construction.

Public Pools between Digitalization and Public Service Provision

Parallel to the exhibition, the 71st DGfdB Congress takes place. The focus is on smartification and virtualization, green energy and decarbonization, as well as the future role of public pools in public service provision. Mental health, resilience, and the multi-use of public spaces are also on the agenda. This raises a question that many municipalities face: How can swimming pools be modernized and operated financially sustainably? Technical solutions can contribute to this. More efficient water treatment, heat recovery, or digital operation management save energy and resources. At the same time, investments must remain affordable, and facilities must fulfill their societal function.

Finnish Sauna Culture Meets Modern Wellness Concepts

Sauna and wellness remain central areas of the interbad. Sauna from Finland network, comprising around 200 companies, presents itself in 2026 under the theme of the forest, bringing products and concepts related to the Finnish sauna experience to Stuttgart. Additionally, manufacturers display new sauna, spa, and wellness solutions. For hotels and operators, it is increasingly interesting how design, energy efficiency, and experience can be combined. The interbad 2026 takes place from October 6th to 8th at the Messe Stuttgart site. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the fair is open from 9 AM to 6 PM, and on Thursday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Those who seek more than product innovations at the fair should look at energy concepts, digitalization, and new operational models. These factors increasingly decide how economically swimming pools, saunas, and spa facilities can be operated. What answers the industry has already found can be concretely reviewed in Stuttgart.