MEDICA started in 1969 as the “Diagnostikwoche” (Diagnostics Week) in Karlsruhe, Germany. It soon moved to Düsseldorf, took the name MEDICA in 1974 and grew into the world’s largest medical trade fair.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2026 | MEDICA runs 16 to 19 November with a new Standard and Premium ticket structure |
| 2025 | About 5,500 exhibitors from 72 countries and 78,000 visitors from 165 countries; Health IT topics merged into the MEDICA Innovation Forum |
| 2020 | Held online only, because of the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2009 | 40th anniversary, with more than 4,000 exhibitors |
| 1992 | COMPAMED, the supplier fair, first held alongside MEDICA |
| 1974 | The fair is renamed MEDICA |
| Early 1970s | The fair moves from Karlsruhe to Düsseldorf |
| 1969 | First held as the “Diagnostikwoche” in Karlsruhe |
Sources differ slightly on the exact year of the move to Düsseldorf, between 1970 and 1972.
From doctors’ meeting to global marketplace
The early fair was mainly a meeting for doctors, with a congress at its centre. Over the decades the exhibition grew faster than the congress. Manufacturers from Asia, the Americas and the rest of Europe began to see MEDICA as the place to meet buyers from every continent.
What changed over time
- More countries: Today most exhibitors and visitors come from outside Germany.
- More product areas: From diagnostics to instruments, disposables, imaging, lab, physiotherapy and IT.
- New topics: Digital health, AI and start-ups now have their own forums.
Tata Surgical and MEDICA
Tata Surgical, founded in Sialkot in 1984, is proud to be part of this story. See us at Hall 10, Stand C32 at MEDICA 2026.
Looking for instruments like these?
Browse our catalogue or send us your drawing. We reply with prices, lead time and shipping terms.
