Information for visitors to #fbm23
Arrival and admission
We recommend using public transport to get to the fair, which is included in trade visitor and exhibitor tickets. The "Messe" stop is served by S-Bahn trains and buses, the "Festhalle/Messe" stop by underground trains, trams and buses. You can find all connections in the app RMVgo. https://sites.rmv.de/de/rmvgo
On the Sunday of the trade fair, some S-Bahn lines will run differently than usual. On its website, the RMV provides information on how to get to and from the fair: https://www.rmv.de/c/en/informationen-zum-rmv/der-rmv/rmv-aktuell/freizeittipps/frankfurt-book-fair
Purchase of online tickets shortens wait times
Purchasing book fair tickets online is recommended to avoid queuing at the ticket counters. "Particularly at peak times, there can be waiting times at all the box offices and admission controls, especially when the Fair opens to the general public from Friday afternoon onwards," says Gabi Rauch-Kneer, Exhibition Management Director at Frankfurter Buchmesse. "We would also ask visitors to note that only card payments are possible at the box offices for tickets to the fair. Fast lanes have been set up for exhibitors and journalists with valid tickets.”
Bag checks
Visitors should be prepared for bag checks at all entrances to the exhibition grounds and take this into account in their time planning. Pocket knives, weapons, replicas of weapons ("dummy weapons") and irritant sprays are prohibited on the exhibition grounds. Visitors are also advised to leave bulky items of luggage such as rucksacks or trolleys at home in order to reduce the extent of bag checks.
Security
Security is a top priority at Frankfurter Buchmesse. To ensure security at the largest international book fair, the Frankfurter Buchmesse team coordinates closely with various partners: the Hesse Police, Messe Frankfurt and a security company commissioned by it, as well as the municipal fire brigade and rescue services. The security arrangements are always adapted to the current situation in order to regulate coexistence on the exhibition grounds.
Emergency forces and Operation and Security Center
Police officers and the security service will be on duty in all exhibition halls during opening hours. Medical care will be provided by the medical station on the exhibition grounds (German Red Cross/DRK, entrance: Hall 4.0 South/West, Operation Security Centre, OSC, phone +49 (0) 69 7575-6500). The OSC is located at a central point on the exhibition grounds, where representatives of the police, Messe Frankfurt, the public order service, the fire brigade and the emergency services will monitor the course of the fair, also via video cameras. They are in close contact with the emergency services in the halls and on the grounds and, of course, with the Exhibition Management Office. The police (110) and fire brigade (112) can be reached via the usual emergency numbers. The emergency numbers can also be used from foreign mobile devices without area code.
Cosplay: ban on all mock weapons, compulsory labelling of cosplay weapons
In order to avoid problems during the fair, special precautions apply with regard to cosplay weapons. The security service is responsible for the admission controls and also controlling the weapons of the cosplayers that are allowed to be brought in. Their instructions must be followed. In contrast to many other major events, there is no general ban on cosplay weapons at Frankfurter Buchmesse.
However, all mock weapons are prohibited. This refers to objects that look deceptively similar to real weapons, especially functioning firearms, e.g. soft air weapons, dummies of all kinds, etc. These weapons will all be required to be handed in at the entrances.
All other cosplay weapons will receive a conspicuous marking from the staff at the entrances, which must also be recognisable from a distance for trade fair visitors and security personnel. This marking may not be removed on the exhibition grounds.
Book sales from fair Friday to fair Sunday
This year books and publishing products may be sold to the general public at the stands during events and on the last three days of the Fair (Friday, 20 October from 2.00 p.m. to Sunday, 22 October), subject to retail price maintenance. Again, please refrain from bringing large bags and other luggage.
We provide further practical information about visiting Frankfurter Buchmesse in our fair guide and in our Buchmesse app: