Olma Messen St.Gallen
Eastern Switzerland’s leading events venue
The Olma trade fairs centre in St.Gallen is Eastern Switzerland’s top venue for gatherings of all kinds. Every year, it attracts around 800'000 visitors attending trade fairs, conferences and cultural events. The company Olma Messen St.Gallen is one of the largest and most important trade fair organisers in Switzerland today, offering a varied programme of events. It has also become an important part of St.Gallen’s identity – and not only because of the legendary OLMA trade fair. Many visitors are also drawn to the Olma exhibition halls by other trade fairs, such as OFFA, OBA, Gastia, Tier & Technik, Immo Messe Schweiz and other in-house and guest exhibitions. Every year, more than 100 major events, conferences, banquets and cultural events are held here, from Christmas dinners and the Day Dance music festival to medical conferences and annual general meetings.
How the «Eastern Switzerland Agricultural and Dairy Exhibition» became
Olma Messen St.Gallen
The company as we know it today originated with the OLMA trade fair itself. The very first «Eastern Switzerland Agricultural and Dairy Exhibition» was held in 1941. Various agricultural and dairy industry groups wanted the opportunity to proudly display and compare their products and services, so it was agreed that an agricultural trade fair would be held in St.Gallen at the same time as the autumn fair. A second agricultural exhibition was held from 10 to 21 October 1942, followed by the first actual OLMA trade fair in 1943. The concept was to combine the «presentation of products, educational information and the sale of goods». This basic concept is still part of OLMA’s DNA today.
The «Eastern Switzerland Agricultural and Dairy Exhibition» was recognised as a national exhibition by the Swiss Federal Council in 1946 and from then on it was known as the OLMA Swiss Agricultural and Dairy Trade Fair (until 2004). In 2004, the official name was changed to OLMA Schweizer Messe für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (OLMA – Swiss fair for agriculture and food).
From the very first annual OLMA trade fairs to the present day, the event has been remarkably popular with the public. Between 370'000 and 390'000 people visit OLMA every year, making it Switzerland’s largest public trade fair.
Stay in fantastic accommodation
Book your perfect accommodation
Book a fantastic stay in the St.Gallen-Lake Constance region now and enjoy an upcoming trade fair or event at Olma Messen St.Gallen!
