VeggieWorld Düsseldorf

VeggieWorld is the grandparent of Europe's vegan fair circuit. The concept was born in Wiesbaden in February 2011 with just 21 exhibitors and has since grown, under Wellfairs GmbH, into a touring event that crosses Germany, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and beyond. The Düsseldorf edition has run annually at Areal Böhler since 2015, and the 2026 show on 28-29 March marks its 13th outing at the venue.

The setting is a big part of the appeal. Areal Böhler is a former Rheinmetall steelworks on the northern edge of the city, and VeggieWorld takes over the Kaltstahlhalle, a 6,500 m² heritage-listed cold-steel hall with daylight flooding in through industrial windows and the original riveted girders still overhead. It's the kind of space that makes a trade fair feel like an event rather than a convention.

Inside, expect over 150 exhibitors across food, drink, cosmetics, fashion, household goods and zero-waste supplies. The catering area is genuinely substantial, food trucks and hot-food stalls sit alongside the sampling booths, so you can turn a browse into lunch without leaving the hall. You'll find everything from plant-based schnitzel and cheese brands courting the German mainstream to small-batch chocolate, fermented drinks, raw cakes and sustainable sneakers. A Rahmenprogramm of talks and panels runs across both days, and Tierschutzverein Düsseldorf typically hosts a children's programme, making this one of the more family-friendly VeggieWorld stops.

Opening hours are 10:00-18:00 on both Saturday and Sunday. The hall is fully indoor and well-heated, which matters in late March in the Rhineland. Getting there is straightforward: tram line U78 or U79 from Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof drops you at Reeser Platz, a short walk from the Hansaallee 321 entrance, and there's parking on site for drivers.

Practical tips: arrive early on Saturday to beat the sampling queues at the bigger brand stands, bring a tote bag for the inevitable haul of samples and specialty groceries, and pace yourself on the free tastings, they're calorie-dense. Tickets historically sit around €14-16 on the door with cheaper advance rates, though 2026 ticket sales were not yet open at the time of writing. If you're building a vegan Germany itinerary, this is the spring anchor.