Quick answer: To exhibit at IFEMA Madrid you need to book space through the fair’s organiser, contract mandatory insurance and minimum electricity, submit your stand design for approval if it is a free-design build, and respect the venue’s height limits (4 m at the perimeter, up to 6 m set back 1 m, 7 m for double-deck stands). Build-up windows open roughly a week before each fair. Metro Line 8 connects the venue directly to Madrid-Barajas Airport in about 10 minutes. Below is the full guide with the current published rates and deadlines, using FITUR 2027 as the worked example.
Last updated: July 2026. Rates and rules cited from IFEMA’s published FITUR 2027 Exhibitor Guide and venue documentation; each fair publishes its own guide, so always confirm against your event’s specific documents.
IFEMA Madrid at a glance
IFEMA Madrid is Spain’s largest trade fair venue, reporting 240,000 m2 of exhibition space across 13 halls, 85 rooms and two convention centres (some IFEMA documents cite 200,000 m2, so treat the exact figure as venue-reported). Halls range from 5,400 to 21,600 m2, and Halls 2, 6 and 12 are column-free, which matters if your stand design needs long uninterrupted sightlines. The venue hosted more than 34,400 exhibiting companies and over 4 million visitors in 2024, and a PwC study put its 2024 economic impact at 5.78 billion euros, sustaining 47,691 jobs.
In 2026 IFEMA’s calendar covers 72 fairs, 20 congresses and 15 indoor leisure events, and the venue’s global profile jumps in September 2026 when the MADRING circuit hosts the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix (11-13 September 2026), a race Madrid keeps through 2035.
Getting there: the airport is 10 minutes away
Metro Line 8 stops at Feria de Madrid station by the South Entrance and links the venue directly to both Barajas Airport stations (T1-T2-T3 and T4) and to the Cercanias interchange at Nuevos Ministerios. The airport is roughly 10 minutes away; the city centre is 12 km. By road, use the M-11 (exits 5 and 7), M-40 (exits 5, 6, 7) or A-2 (exit 7). EMT buses 73, 112 and 122 serve the venue, and taxi ranks sit at the South, North and East entrances.
Parking at the Recinto Ferial costs 2.95 euros/hour with per-minute billing, a 15 euro prepaid day rate and a 21 euro daily cap (VAT included). Note that IFEMA itself currently recommends public transport because of ongoing facility improvement works.
What it costs to exhibit (FITUR 2027 published rates)
Every fair sets its own rates, but FITUR 2027’s published exhibitor guide is the best current benchmark for a flagship IFEMA event. All figures are plus VAT:
- Space only: 197.40 euros/m2
- Turnkey “SOLID” 16 m2 stand: 4,498 euros (extra m2 at 272.30)
- Turnkey “LIGHT” 16 m2 stand: 5,367 euros (extra m2 at 326.30)
- Second-floor (double-deck) space: 98.70 euros/m2
- Mandatory digital pack (CONECTA): 736 euros
- Mandatory liability insurance: 74.30 euros, plus multi-fair insurance 70.53 euros
- Minimum electricity: 0.13 kW/m2 at 7.88 euros
Space reservation fees run 450-1,500 euros depending on stand size and are deducted from the final invoice. For a realistic total budget, a custom free-design stand adds design, construction and assembly-rights costs on top of space; see our IFEMA stand costs and deadlines guide for full worked budgets.
Stand rules every exhibitor must know
Height limits
Free-design stands may build to 4 m on the perimeter line. Decorative elements can rise to 6 m only if set back 1 m inside the whole stand perimeter (not permitted in hall connecting nuclei or on the entrance sides of Halls 9 and 10). Double-deck stands are capped at 7 m, with the second floor set back 1 m from the entire perimeter.
Perimeter walls
Blind walls facing an aisle can cover at most 50% of each side. Longer walls must be set back at least 3 m and may cover at most 80% of the facade. Above 2.5 m height, no element may protrude more than 50 cm beyond your contracted space.
Assembly rights
If you bring your own stand builder (you can – IFEMA permits free-design builds by any contractor), the fair charges assembly rights per m2: Type A (no decoration/flooring) 2.80 euros; Type B (aluminium modular) 5.62 euros; Type C (carpentry and other materials) 8.94 euros. Contract 30+ days before build-up for a 5% discount; leaving it to the last 7 days triggers a 25% surcharge.
Rigging
Hanging structures require a separate application to [email protected]. For FITUR 2027, rigging applications must be filed before 13 December 2026 – one of the earliest deadlines in the whole project timeline.
Build-up and dismantling windows (FITUR 2027 example)
Free-design stands in Halls 1-10 build up on 13, 14, 15 and 18 January (6:30-21:30) and 16-17 January (6:30-19:30). IFEMA modular stands are delivered on 19 January from 8:30. Dismantling runs 25-26 January (6:30-21:30) and 27 January until 15:00. No badges are needed during assembly, but hard hats and safety footwear are compulsory and a Health & Safety protocol must be completed before any work starts. Maximum noise on stands: 60 dB. Under Article 35 of IFEMA’s General Rules of Participation, the exhibitor or their assembler is legally the waste generator and responsible for its removal – build waste management into your contractor agreement.
Exhibitor badges
Badges scale with contracted area: 7 badges up to 24.5 m2, 15 for 25-49.5 m2, 18 for 50-99.5 m2, 28 for 100-249.5 m2, up to 120 badges for 1,000 m2+. Extra badges cost 21.60 euros/day or 32.50 euros permanent (plus VAT).
Sustainability at IFEMA: what is actually verified
IFEMA runs on 100% certified renewable electricity, recycles 100% of the aisle and common-area carpet into raw material for new products, and holds ISO 9001, 14001, 20121, 50001 and 27001 certifications plus “Calculo” and “Reduzco” carbon-footprint seals. Its modular stands use aluminium that is 78.5% recycled, and the venue reports a 58.8% waste reduction over seven years. If your company reports Scope 3 event emissions, IFEMA publishes a Guide to Sustainable Participation worth requesting before you brief your stand builder. For stand-level sustainability options, see our sustainable exhibition stands service.
Key IFEMA fairs: late 2026 and 2027 calendar
- FIAA 2026 (bus & coach): 22-24 September 2026
- Fruit Attraction 2026: 6-8 October 2026 – targeting 2,200 exhibitors and 117,000 visitors, over 90% of space already booked
- Construtec / Veteco / Piscimad / Smart Doors: 10-13 November 2026
- SIMO Educacion 2026: 11-13 November 2026
- Genera + Matelec 2026 (electrification week): 24-26 November 2026
- FITUR 2027: 20-24 January 2027 – 47th edition, expanding by two halls, partner country Puerto Rico
- ARCOmadrid 2027: 3-7 March 2027
- MOTORTEC 2027: 7-10 April 2027 – six halls, 100,000+ m2 expected
Booking timeline rule of thumb from our 20+ years building at IFEMA: reserve space 6-9 months out for flagship fairs, lock your stand design 4 months out, and file rigging and technical dossiers at least 6 weeks before the fair’s own deadline to keep a safety margin.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my own stand builder at IFEMA?
Yes. IFEMA permits free-design stands built by any contractor. You pay assembly rights per m2 (2.80-8.94 euros + VAT depending on construction type) and your design must be approved against the height and perimeter rules above.
What is the maximum stand height at IFEMA Madrid?
4 m at the perimeter, 6 m for set-back decorative elements, and 7 m for approved double-deck stands.
How do I get from Barajas Airport to IFEMA?
Metro Line 8 runs from both airport stations to Feria de Madrid station in about 10 minutes.
Is insurance mandatory for exhibitors?
Yes – liability insurance (74.30 euros) and multi-fair insurance (70.53 euros), both plus VAT, are billed to every exhibitor automatically.
When should I book my stand builder for an IFEMA fair?
For flagship fairs like FITUR or Fruit Attraction, brief your builder 4-6 months before the event. Assembly-rights discounts reward contracting 30+ days early, and rigging deadlines can fall 5+ weeks before the fair.
Do my build crew need badges during assembly?
No badges are required during build-up, but PPE (hard hat, safety footwear) is compulsory and a Health & Safety protocol must be completed before work starts.
Sources: IFEMA Madrid official venue documentation, FITUR 2027 Exhibitor Guide and Specific Rules of Participation (ifema.es), IFEMA Tarifas Recinto Ferial 2026, IFEMA press office (2024 results, 2025 growth figures, PwC socioeconomic impact study 2024), madring.com. All rates are event-specific and exclude VAT unless stated.
Planning to exhibit at IFEMA Madrid? Adam Expo Stand has built stands at the venue for 20+ years, with 639+ projects delivered across Europe. Request a free 3D design within 24 hours or explore our IFEMA Madrid stand building services.
Also Read
- FITUR 2027 Madrid (IFEMA): Exhibition Stand Builder Guide – Dates, hall changes, real stand costs and an 8-16 week planning timeline for FITUR 2027.