NEW HOUSING successfully evolves into a platform for investors and homebuilders alike (long version)

The tiny house scene in Germany and Europe is becoming more professional, and with it NEW HOUSING, its most important event of the calendar year. With the accompanying Business Day, Messe Karlsruhe, as the organiser, has created a new format specifically for investors, local authorities and leisure operators – and with great success.

Right from the start, the strategic direction of NEW HOUSING 2026 became clear: the event kicked off with a panel discussion entitled “Campsites and Tiny Houses – the perfect symbiosis?!”. Industry experts discussed how leisure facilities can use tiny houses to attract new target groups, extend the tourist season and generate additional value. The discussion made it clear: tiny houses have long since become more than just a trend; they are a key component of modern location and tourism development.

“Tiny houses, modular homes and the like have long been lucrative for investors and the leisure sector alike. In many local authorities across Germany and throughout Europe, tiny-house communities are springing up that are economically viable. At the campsite in Karlsruhe-Durlach, for example, the first tiny house was recently made available for rent following a trial period. We heard this impressively during our panel discussion on tiny houses and campsites. NEW HOUSING is Europe’s leading platform for small-scale housing and compact living and is responding to this trend accordingly. The Business Day and the further development of the event were a step in the right strategic direction. “Both developments show that Karlsruhe remains – and is now more so than ever – the centre of Europe’s tiny house movement,” says Britta Wirtz, Managing Director of Messe Karlsruhe.

Business Day: Concept Proves a Success

The Business Day, offered and held for the first time, provided an exclusive platform on the Friday of the trade fair for in-depth discussions, project initiations and investment models. More than 120 representatives from local authorities, project development, tourism and the financial sector made extensive use of the format. Visitors to Business Day came from 13 countries, including the USA, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Estonia. Alongside best-practice examples, the focus was on questions regarding planning permission procedures, operational concepts and financing.

However, it didn’t stop at theory. As part of the Business Day, exclusive projects were offered in which participants could invest whilst still on site. Interested parties had a choice of eight different projects across Germany. The Self-Guides Tours were also part of the Business Day. These offered direct contact with various manufacturers and service providers.

High-end holiday resort

Participants at the Business Day gave a positive assessment of the event. “My aim is to set up my own tiny house business. That’s why I’m here. I want to create a high-end holiday resort. Virtually all the questions I had about my project have been answered. I feel much more confident about my plan to bring my idea to life,” says Johanna Sontheimer from Munich.

Fabian Müller, co-organiser and speaker, is also pleased: “This is the first time we’ve organised the Business Day together, and I’m absolutely delighted with the level of interest. We had guests from the business sector, as well as from local authorities. There were also many property developers there to gather comprehensive information. This demonstrates the full breadth of the tiny house industry. During the many technical discussions that the speakers and visitors were able to hold, it became clear that tiny houses, modular homes and the like are no longer just a trend. On the contrary, the sector is becoming increasingly professional. I’m therefore already looking forward to next year’s event in Karlsruhe.”

99 exhibitors on site

Alongside the business focus, the Tiny House Fair impressively showcased the full spectrum of small-scale living solutions. 99 exhibitors from 13 countries presented products, services and concepts centred on living in small spaces. Once again, the centrepiece of the event was the exhibition of almost 40 walk-in houses – ranging from classic ‘Tiny Houses on Wheels’ to modular system homes in a wide variety of construction methods and fit-out options.

“We’re exhibiting here for the first time this year, though I’ve been here as a visitor for the past two years. When talking to visitors, it quickly becomes clear that their level of knowledge has increased. People come well-informed and ask very specific questions. Most often, these relate to topics such as transport and planning permission procedures. There’s still a great deal of uncertainty in these areas. “As an exhibitor, I’m very satisfied and constantly engaged in discussions with interested parties,” says Rolf Hene, owner of Systema Bau.

A particular crowd-puller was the accessible tiny house from the BOSCH Health Campus. The model provided a practical demonstration of how inclusion, well-thought-out spatial planning and a high quality of life can be combined in a small space. Many visitors took the opportunity to seek detailed advice on accessible housing concepts on site.

“This is our first time exhibiting at NEW HOUSING. There’s huge interest in our house. Visitors are very keen, and we’re receiving a great deal of positive feedback for our accessible house. Some of them are coming straight to us – partly because they were directed to us during the Tiny Talks here at the fair, and partly because a few have also heard about our concept in the press,” says Florian Burg, responsible for digital health and care technologies at the Bosch Digital Innovation Hub. He continues: “There is still room to improve knowledge about accessible tiny houses. There are simply no models on the market yet. “

A private project or a major investment

NEW HOUSING 2026 demonstrated just how versatile tiny houses are. Whether on wheels or on a bolted foundation, whether accessible or fitted with a loft bed, tiny houses are as unique as their residents. Visitors were thus given an overview of the industry’s portfolio, which is unrivalled anywhere else in Europe. Anyone attending NEW HOUSING can plan and realise their own individual tiny house project from start to finish – from financing and the plot of land to the house itself and the interior design.

Member of the State Parliament, master joiner and tiny house resident on site

One of around 6,000 visitors who turned up despite the record-breaking heat was Jens Metzger. The 36-year-old is a member of the Baden-Württemberg State Parliament for the Green Party, a master carpenter and himself a resident of a tiny house – along with his family. He says: “New Housing in Karlsruhe impressively demonstrates how manufacturers, service providers, associations and many other stakeholders come together to further develop innovative housing concepts and exchange ideas on the future of living. As a joiner who lives in a self-built tiny house myself, I know just how much potential lies in this form of construction and living. I’m delighted to take the many ideas and insights from these discussions back to Stuttgart and into my political work in the state parliament.”

The extensive supporting programme was very well received. The workshops were almost completely sold out. In in-depth sessions, participants explored topics such as ‘Five-figure additional income from short-term rentals of tiny houses’. Equally popular was the workshop ‘Preliminary planning enquiry and planning application – how to obtain planning permission for your tiny house’, which offered concrete insights into legal and administrative processes.

The high demand underlines that: aside from inspiration, many interested visitors are primarily seeking reliable information and economic prospects for their very own tiny house project.

The fair as a knowledge platform

Another successful format was the Tiny Talks. The compact 30-minute talks were almost always attended to full capacity. Experts shed light on ecological construction methods, financing options, self-sufficient energy concepts and the social aspects of living in small spaces. The open-stage format encouraged direct interaction and was made full use of by the community.

Svenja Jordan from Karlsruhe attended the talk ‘The prospects for floating homes as alternatives in water-based tourism’: ‘I’m interested in campervans and tiny houses. Learning about the tiny house concept on water was really exciting for me. I’ve started building a tiny house myself and am therefore very interested in different materials. Fundamentally, I’m taking away some cool furniture and interior design ideas from my visit to the fair. I find it particularly exciting when a property has multiple uses.”

For the 99 exhibitors at NEW HOUSING, the 2026 concept was a resounding success.

Preparations for 2027 are already underway

“By combining a specialist platform with a public festival, NEW HOUSING 2026 has further cemented its role as the industry’s key event. The successfully established Business Day adds a strategic dimension to the tried-and-tested festival format and opens up new perspectives for investment, local authority projects and tourism concepts. The strong response from investors, local authorities, leisure operators, exhibitors and the community shows that the tiny house sector is continuing to professionalise – and NEW HOUSING remains its central meeting place,” says Florian Klag, project manager for NEW HOUSING, adding: “For next year, we are optimising and expanding both the Business Day and NEW HOUSING as a trade fair. This is based on the fact that the first stands for 2027 have already been sold.”

The next NEW HOUSING will take place from 25 to 27 June 2027.