Europe’s Leading Medical Tourism Events: ITB Berlin, Les Thermalies Paris & Lyon, London International Health Tourism Expo, Crikvenica, CIHT Croatia, REHAB Karlsruhe, Therapie Leipzig and World Health Summit 2026

Medical tourism has emerged as an important part of Europe’s tourism and healthcare economies. Travellers often cross borders for high‑quality treatment, spa therapies or rehabilitation, and European governments and official trade bodies have responded by creating specialized events that promote this sector and set standards for quality and patient safety. The following overview highlights officially recognised or government‑supported medical‑tourism events scheduled from 2026 onwards. It shows how European countries and cities are using trade fairs, congresses and exhibitions to position themselves as leaders in health and wellness travel.

The Internationale Tourismus‑Börse (ITB) Berlin is the world’s largest travel trade fair and remains a platform for health‑tourism providers. In 2026 the fair will run 3–5 March at Berlin’s exhibition grounds. Organiser Messe Berlin devotes a dedicated Medical & Health Tourism segment where clinics, hospitals, wellness hotels, destinations and tourism specialists present healthcare services[1]. This pavilion offers trade visitors direct access to international providers and is backed by a government‑supported trade‑fair structure. The programme includes a Medical & Health Tourism Stage featuring lectures, interviews and panel discussions, a Media Reception that encourages journalists to network with officials and exhibitors, and a Medical & Health Tourism Night during which awards are presented to industry leaders[2]. By hosting this specialised segment, Berlin continues to nurture a regulated health‑tourism marketplace and integrates medical travel into Germany’s national tourism strategy.

France’s water‑therapy tradition is showcased at Les Thermalies, the country’s leading thermal and wellness exhibition. Two editions are planned in January 2026. Les Thermalies Paris returns to the Carrousel du Louvre from 22 to 25 January 2026[3]. Organised with support from the French spa industry and tourism authorities, the fair has six themed pavilions: French thalassotherapy, French thermal springs, international thermal & thalasso spas, luxury spa breaks, balneotherapy design and urban spa[4]. Visitors follow curated trails such as the “health trail” or “new exhibitors’ trail” to discover medical spa treatments, hydrotherapy devices and wellness tourism services. Workshops and massage areas provide hands‑on experiences, while competitions encourage innovation in spa design.

The regional edition, Les Thermalies Lyon, will be held at Lyon’s Cité Internationale – Centre de Congrès from 16 to 18 January 2026[5]. Marketed as “the meeting to discover the virtues of water and trends in wellness tourism,” the show offers a similar mix of thermal‑spring specialists, spa resorts and balneotherapy equipment suppliers[6]. The fairs, backed by French regional councils and health‑tourism organisations, strengthen France’s position as a leading destination for hydrotherapy and therapeutic spa travel.

The 3rd London International Health Tourism Expo will take place at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster on 14–15 February 2026. This expo, organised by ALZ Group and promoted through the Azerbaijan Health and Thermal Tourism Supporters Association, is recognised by the Global Healthcare Travel Council. The exposition describes London as Europe’s largest outbound health‑tourism market and encourages hospitals, clinics and tourism boards to reach UK patients[7]. Exhibitors use B2C sessions to offer consultations and treatment packages and B2B appointments to negotiate partnerships with facilitators and health‑tourism agencies[7]. The UK’s Department for Business and Trade supports the broader trade‑fair sector, and holding the expo at the government‑owned QEII Centre gives the event an official platform. By promoting cross‑border health care, the expo aims to connect British patients with accredited providers from Turkey, Eastern Europe and the Middle East and contributes to London’s strategy to remain an international hub for specialised travel.

Croatia’s Kvarner region has become a leading destination for health tourism thanks to its Adriatic climate and modern clinics. The Crikvenica International Health Tourism Conference (CIHT), hosted by the Crikvenica Tourist Board and the Kvarner Health Tourism Cluster, serves as the sector’s annual policy forum. The 2025 conference will take place on 22–23 October 2025 and will host clinicians, economists and policymakers[8]. Importantly, the event is sponsored by the Croatian Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Ministry of Health, giving it official status[9]. The organisers have already announced that they look forward to seeing participants again in 2026[10], indicating that the conference continues annually. Past editions have launched initiatives such as the Kvarner Health Tourism Strategic Plan, which integrates quality standards, rehabilitation programmes and spa tourism. Delegates also visit local hospitals and thalassotherapy centres to understand how Croatia markets its healthcare services to international patients. For the 2026 edition, organisers plan to expand B2B matchmaking and highlight new rehabilitation technologies, emphasising Croatia’s commitment to medically supervised wellness tourism.

Travel medicine addresses the health of people on the move, including medical tourists, expatriates and travellers requiring vaccination or specialised care. The 10th Northern European Conference on Travel Medicine (NECTM10) will convene 3–5 June 2026 at the ICC Belfast. According to the official sponsorship brochure, NECTM was founded by thirteen travel‑health organisations and societies in nine countries to meet educational needs in this expanding field[11]. The 2026 conference expects 500–600 delegates[12] and will be organised by MKON AB as the professional congress organiser[13]. Sessions will cover travel‑medicine science, vaccination, digital health and the logistics of cross‑border care. While not strictly a medical‑tourism fair, NECTM10 is important because it trains healthcare professionals in ensuring patient safety when people travel for treatment or leisure. The event’s official partnerships with national travel‑health societies and the British National Travel Health Network underscore government engagement in this field.

As demand for rehabilitation and preventive care grows, Germany has invested in specialised trade fairs. therapie Leipzig is the leading trade fair and congress for therapy, medical rehabilitation and prevention in German‑speaking countries. The 2027 edition will run 22–24 April 2027 at the Leipzig Trade Fair[14]. Organised by Leipzig Trade Fair GmbH and supported by regional authorities, this biennial event draws physiotherapists, occupational therapists, sports therapists and specialists in medical training therapy. The fair combines product exhibitions with an interdisciplinary congress that features digitalisation in patient care, robotics‑based neurorehabilitation and the integration of therapy into telematics infrastructure[15]. A new Health Campus introduces daily activity classes, hands‑on demonstrations and an interactive stage programme[16]. By hosting the German Rehasport Congress and the Quality Conference of the German Podiatrists Association alongside the trade fair[17], therapie Leipzig 2027 promotes cross‑sector collaboration and highlights Germany’s role in therapeutic tourism.

Another major German event, REHAB Karlsruhe, is Europe’s premier trade fair for rehabilitation, therapy, care and inclusion. The 24th edition will be held 13–15 May 2027 at Messe Karlsruhe. The official event page describes REHAB Karlsruhe 2027 as a European trade fair where “everything will revolve around interaction, innovation and exchange”[18]. Both private and professional visitors from fields such as therapy, medicine, rehabilitation and orthopaedic technology attend to discover the latest technical aids and mobility devices[19]. The 2025 edition hosted 400 exhibitors from 16 countries across three halls[20], demonstrating the fair’s international scope. The event is supported by Messe Karlsruhe and regional government partners, ensuring accessibility and adherence to Germany’s strict standards for assistive technology. REHAB Karlsruhe 2027 will continue to feature themed marketplaces, expert forums and inclusive sports demonstrations, thereby promoting inclusive tourism and attracting visitors seeking rehabilitation services abroad.

Though not a trade fair, the World Health Summit 2026 in Berlin is a crucial policy event that influences health‑tourism strategies. The official website announces that the 2026 summit will be held 11–13 October 2026 in Berlin[21]. Organised by the M8 Alliance of leading academic health centres and the World Health Summit Foundation, and held under the patronage of the German Chancellor and the World Health Organization, the summit convenes over 4,000 participants from science, politics, industry and civil society to discuss global health priorities[22]. The 2025 summit generated partnerships and commitments to strengthen health systems and advance equity[23]. For 2026, topics are expected to include digital health, pandemic preparedness and equitable access to care[24]. While it does not directly market treatments, its emphasis on cross‑border cooperation, data interoperability and sustainable financing shapes the regulatory environment in which medical tourism operates. Germany’s federal government hosts and funds the summit, underscoring Berlin’s ambition to lead international health diplomacy.

The events listed above illustrate how Europe is formalising medical tourism through government‑supported fairs and conferences. Germany and France dominate the calendar with multiple trade fairs and congresses, reflecting robust support for wellness, rehabilitation and travel‑health initiatives. Croatia’s CIHT demonstrates how smaller countries can leverage government sponsorship to build a niche health‑tourism brand, while the UK’s London expo shows how outbound markets create opportunities for overseas providers. Northern Ireland’s NECTM10 and Germany’s therapy‑focused fairs emphasise professional training and patient safety, key components of sustainable medical travel. The World Health Summit underscores that high‑level health diplomacy and medical tourism are interconnected, as policies on digital health, interoperability and global equity directly influence the ease with which patients can seek care abroad.

As medical tourism continues to grow, these events will play an essential role in shaping standards, facilitating networking, and ensuring that patients receive safe, high‑quality care when travelling. European countries are not only showcasing their clinics and spas but are also institutionalising best practices through officially sanctioned events. Travellers seeking wellness in thermal springs, complex surgery in accredited clinics, or rehabilitation using cutting‑edge technologies can look to Europe’s calendar of medical‑tourism events as a guide to trusted providers and emerging trends.

References

1. ITB Berlin 2026 details and Medical & Health Tourism segment information[1][2].
2. Les Thermalies Paris 2026 date, venue and thematic pavilions[3][4].
3. Les Thermalies Lyon 2026 dates and event description[5][6].
4. London International Health Tourism Expo 2026 description (AHTTSA)[7].
5. Crikvenica International Health Tourism Conference (CIHT) organisers, government sponsors and continuation in 2026[25][10].
6. NECTM10 conference background and 2026 details[26][13].
7. therapie Leipzig 2027 dates, organiser and event description[14][15].
8. REHAB Karlsruhe 2027 dates and European trade fair description[27].
9. World Health Summit 2026 dates and summary of 2025 summit impact[21][23].