Photokina ends after 70 years

[Michael Pritchard]

Photokina, the world's largest and most important fair for the photographic trade and consumers is to end after seventy years. In an email to the trade the organisers state: 'it is an extremely difficult step for us to have to suspend implementation of photokina at the location in Cologne for the time being, in light of the continuing steep decline in the markets for imaging products and the increasingly heterogeneous needs of the different market segments.

After decades of shared history, this deep cut is a painful one indeed. Nonetheless, we must face the situation and the trend in the industry and take a clear, honest decision against continuing this event – a decision to which, unfortunately, we have no alternative'

Photokina was first held in 1950 in Cologne and acted as a biennial showcase for manufacturers, along with a supporting exhibition and cultural programme.  At its height major manufacturers such as Leica and Kodak would occupy a whole hall changes to the industry from the early 2000s saw a contraction in its size. 

The full statement can be read here: https://www.photokina.com/

A short history of Photokina can be found here: https://kwerfeldein.de/2012/09/05/die-geschichte-der-photokina/