If you're familiar with the biggest motorcycling expos in the world, Intermot (International Motorcycle & Scooter Fair) will be all too familiar to you. If you're not, then know it's one of the most important motorcycle trade shows in Europe, which showcases every aspect of the two-wheeled industry. The event is for industry professionals and the public, and the annual show is usually held toward the beginning of December in Cologne, Germany. But not in 2026.
Intermot 2026 has been canceled, and the expo is now scheduled to take place on February 12-14, 2027. This will be the first time the event has ever taken place toward the start of the year, as this doesn't allow it to get ahead of new model releases for the year. That's not the only change coming for the international trade fair, which usually runs for four days but will only run for three in 2027, down from an all-time high of six days as recently as 2022.
In 2027, the event will use four halls instead of two, so although it's losing a day, it could theoretically be twice as big. And although the show won't get ahead of the new models following it, the new February schedule is backed by several OEMs, including Royal Enfield, Honda, and Yamaha.
The reason behind the backing of industry-leading manufacturers is that February is traditionally a low-sales month for motorcycles due to poor weather and the fact that it's the shortest month. But Intermot could offer a welcome boost in consumer interest during this period.
Albert Erlacher, Head of Motorcycles at Honda in Germany, had this to say, "Honda expressly supports the Intermot reboot, because we are convinced that the motorcycle industry needs a united, strong presence, right now. The new start in the spring offers the chance to bring together the entire industry at an early date for the start of the season and to show unanimously what motorcycling stands for today - as a culture, economic factor, and mobility form of the future."
The new schedule moves Intermot away from arguably the biggest motorcycle expo in the world, EICMA, which happens every November in Milan, Italy, and Motorcycle Live, which takes place the same month in Birmingham, England. But Intermot now runs almost directly against Germany's largest spring motorcycle fair, Motorräder Dortmund, which takes place around 60 miles away, each March. How this plays out for the expos and motorcycle sales in general remains to be seen.
