UNITI expo 2026

Europe’s Leading Trade Fair for Gas Stations, Convenience Stores, and Future Mobility
Advertorial
© UNITI expo
© UNITI expo
22. March 2026

When the international energy, gas station, and car wash industry gathers in Stuttgart in May 2026, the sector will be on the cusp of one of its most exciting transformations. UNITI expo 2026 has long been regarded as Europe’s leading trade fair for gas stations, car washes, retail & convenience, and future mobility solutions—and it continues to grow.

From May 19–21, 2026, the Landesmesse Stuttgart will once again transform into the premier meeting place for operators, oil companies, retail operators, technology providers, and mobility innovators from around the world.

With over 500 expected exhibitors, approximately 45,000 square meters of exhibition space, and visitors from more than 110 countries, the trade fair builds on the record-breaking year of 2024—while simultaneously providing new impetus for an industry in transition.

The Future of the Gas Station: From Fueling Point to Multifunctional Service Hub

The traditional gas station is undergoing a major transformation. Alternative powertrains, new customer needs, and the boom in the convenience segment are fundamentally changing the business model.

This is exactly where UNITI expo comes in: The trade show covers the entire value chain of modern gas stations and mobility hubs—from energy supply to retail and food service to digital infrastructure.

Four clearly structured theme areas ensure that trade visitors can quickly discover the relevant innovations:

  • Shop & Convenience
  • Oil Companies & Oil Retail
  • Car Wash & Car Care
  • Technology, Payment & Logistics

This compact concept makes the trade show one of the most efficient industry platforms in Europe.

Shop & Convenience is booming – the largest exhibition space in the history of the trade show

One of the most dynamic areas of the industry is the Shop & Convenience sector. Gas stations are increasingly evolving into modern convenience stores, quick-service restaurants, and local retailers. UNITI expo is responding to this trend with a massive expansion: 13,000 square meters of exhibition space dedicated solely to Shop & Convenience—more than ever before.

Around 150 exhibitors will present new concepts and products in areas such as:

  • Foodservice & restaurant concepts
  • Shop equipment and store design
  • Digital self-service solutions
  • Beverage and snack innovations
  • Grab-and-go formats
  • Vending machine solutions
  • New retail technologies

A new exhibition area is also dedicated to vapes and e-cigarettes as well as accessories, a growing revenue driver for many gas station shops. Industry experts agree: The convenience sector is increasingly becoming the strategic heart of modern gas stations.

GenussGARTEN Food Court: Networking Meets Culinary Delights

The GenussGARTEN FOOD COURT remains a special highlight of the trade show in 2026. The concept: free meals for trade show visitors combined with high-quality culinary offerings and a networking atmosphere.

For the upcoming edition, the area will even be expanded:

  • two-story food court in Hall 1
  • additional catering areas on the Carwash Piazza
  • new food court in Hall 5

This makes the gastronomic concept one of the fair’s central meeting places—ideal for conversations, business networking, and spontaneous encounters.

Future Mobility Lounge: Experience tomorrow’s mobility firsthand

Another highlight of UNITI expo is the Future Mobility Lounge, which has become one of the fair’s most important innovation hubs. The special exhibition area has doubled in size for 2026:

  • 2,000 square meters of exhibition space
  • around 50 companies

Here, the focus is on alternative fuels and new mobility solutions. Topics include, among others:

  • Electric mobility and charging infrastructure
  • Fast-charging technologies
  • Hydrogen
  • Synthetic fuels (e-fuels)
  • Alternative energy supply
  • Digital mobility services

International industry leaders will present their innovations, including:

  • Tesla
  • Shell
  • Q1
  • Avia
  • Elli (Volkswagen Group Charging)

Tesla, for example, will showcase its latest Supercharger generations, which are designed for both passenger cars and trucks and will also be offered as white-label hardware for gas stations in the future.

Specialized Forums: Knowledge, Trends, and Industry Strategies

In addition to the exhibition, UNITI expo offers an extensive conference and lecture program. Visitors have access to three specialized forums:

  • UNITI expo Forum
  • Carwash Forum
  • International Forum

Here, experts discuss current topics such as:

  • The future of energy supply
  • The transformation of the gas station industry
  • Retail innovations
  • Digitalization of gas stations
  • Sustainable mobility solutions
  • E-fuels and new fuels
  • Car wash technologies

The forums are directly integrated into the exhibition and are freely accessible at all times.

International Industry Gathering

UNITI expo has long since established itself as a global platform for the fuel station and mobility industry. In 2024 alone, the event attracted:

  • over 18,000 visitors
  • from 110 countries
  • with 470 exhibitors

For 2026, the organizers anticipate further growth—both in terms of exhibitors and international visitors. For operators, investors, and technology providers in particular, the trade show is one of the most important platforms for:

  • business development
  • innovation transfer
  • strategic partnerships

Visitor Information: Dates, Registration, and Benefits

Date: May 19–21, 2026
Location: Landesmesse Stuttgart, Messepiazza 1, 70629 Stuttgart
Hours: 3 days
Admission: Free for trade visitors

Visitors also benefit from:

  • Free access to the entire conference program
  • Free food and beverages in the food courts
  • Networking with international industry experts
  • Direct access to the latest innovations

Online registration is now open.

Why a visit to UNITI expo 2026 is worthwhile

The gas station industry is at a turning point: electrification, new energy sources, digitalization, and retail innovations are transforming business models faster than ever before.

UNITI expo 2026 offers a unique overview of precisely these developments:

  • new mobility concepts
  • the future of energy supply
  • next-generation convenience retail
  • technologies for efficient gas stations
  • innovations in the car wash sector

This makes the trade show not just a platform for products—but a strategic compass for the future of the mobility and gas station industry.

More information and registration:
www.uniti-expo.de

A la table, s'il vous plaît! A la table, s'il vous plaît! A la table, s'il vous plaît! A la table, s'il vous plaît!
Copyright for the featured images used:
© UNITI expo

Book tip: HADN – The Buckwheat Cookbook

A local supergrain that bridges tradition, modernity and the future

Buckwheat, affectionately known as ‘Hadn’ in Southern Carinthia, is one of those products that quietly disappeared – and is now making a natural comeback. HADN – The Buckwheat Cookbook is dedicated to this almost forgotten powerhouse grain with remarkable dedication: rooted in culinary, cultural and regional traditions.

Together with the Klopeiner See – South Carinthia – Lavant Valley tourism region, food expert and editor cookingCatrin (Catrin Ferrari-Brunnenfeld) embarks on a journey to the roots of Carinthian ‘Hadn’. The book combines over 55 creative sweet and savoury recipes with in-depth background knowledge – from cultivation and history to its modern-day significance as a gluten-free, nutrient-rich superfood. Buckwheat is not only presented as flour, but also as semolina or rice: given a modern twist, suitable for everyday use and surprisingly versatile.

INFO
HADN – The Buckwheat Cookbook
Authors: Catrin Ferrari-Brunnenfeld (cookingCatrin)
Publisher: Klopeiner See Tourism Region – Southern Carinthia – Lavant Valley / KSL Tourismus Marketing GmbH
Length: 180 pages
ISBN: 978-3-200-09933-3
Price: €24.90
Publication date: September 2025

The Personal Touch

Italian rituals, as told by the people behind Portrait Hotels

With its new ongoing editorial series ‘The Personal Touch’, Portrait Hotels turns its attention to the individuals who shape the character of its properties in Milan, Florence and Rome: hosts, concierges, chefs, bartenders and members of the lifestyle team, whose stories, rituals and local perspectives become part of the Portrait Experience.

The focus is on personal insights, everyday Italian culture and those small gestures that turn a stay into more than just a trip. Rather than simply showcasing places, the series tells the stories of the people, memories and traditions that define the Italian way of life.

George Papazacharias at Restaurant Ikarus

The Delta Effect reaches Hangar-7

In July 2026, George Papazacharias, head chef at the acclaimed Delta restaurant in Athens, will bring his interpretation of modern Greek cuisine to Salzburg. At Restaurant Ikarus in Hangar-7, he will demonstrate why, in culinary terms, Greece has long been more than just moussaka, souvlaki and holiday memories, and how radically contemporary local produce can taste.

quick & dirty
© UNITI expo
UNITI expo 2026

When the international energy, gas station, and car wash industry gathers in Stuttgart in May 2026, the sector will be on the cusp of one of its most exciting transformations. UNITI expo 2026 has long been regarded as Europe’s leading trade fair for gas stations, car washes, retail & convenience, and future mobility solutions—and it continues to grow.

From May 19–21, 2026, the Landesmesse Stuttgart will once again transform into the premier meeting place for operators, oil companies, retail operators, technology providers, and mobility innovators from around the world.

With over 500 expected exhibitors, approximately 45,000 square meters of exhibition space, and visitors from more than 110 countries, the trade fair builds on the record-breaking year of 2024—while simultaneously providing new impetus for an industry in transition.