75th Spielwarenmesse 2026: I was there!

In Part 1 of our visitor profiles, trade visitors share what draws them to Nuremberg and how they celebrated the 75th anniversary edition of the fair. Experience personal stories, diverse motivations and fascinating insights into the international toy industry!

By Peter Budig
 

Marco Rafailovic and Martin Koßatz

Collectibles-Team from eBay Germany

Why is eBay, a global online marketplace that does not operate its own warehouses, at the Spielwarenmesse? It mediates purchases and sales between buyers and sellers. Marco Rafailovic and Martin Koßatz from the Collectibles team are on site from Germany, focusing on collectibles such as LEGO, Playmobil, trading cards, toys, and model-making supplies. "Not only private individuals, but also professional dealers use eBay as a marketplace where people connect and trade collectibles," says Martin Koßatz. "We call it 'pre-loved': things that have been loved and continue to bring joy," adds Marco Rafailovic, who collects historic video games in his free time. Martin Koßatz, passionate about LEGO and trading cards, sums up why eBay is indispensable for dealers. “We provide the place, clear guidelines, and support services. eBay is not the only place for collectors, but it is an extremely important one. The Spielwarenmesse, with its focus on Kidults, brings together exactly the people we are looking for.”
 

Lukas Boch 

Historiker von Boardgame Historians, Deutschland  

Having just completed his doctoral thesis on "The Middle Ages in Board Games," Lukas regularly attends the Spielwarenmesse. As a board game nerd in an otherwise well-networked scene, Spielwarenmesse is a necessity and a pleasure.
Lukas Boch is one of the founding members of the Boardgame Historian project. He is also a board member of the Working Group on Historical Studies and Digital Games and is co-responsible for the Mittelalter Digital project. After successfully defending his dissertation, he accepted a permanent position as a research associate at the University of Münster. 

He describes the content of his doctoral thesis as follows: "In books, the Middle Ages often appear dark, dangerous, and violent. Games, on the other hand, tend to depict the era's more cheerful aspects. I examined and evaluated this thoroughly." In addition to his academic work, he is curating an exhibition at the wonderful European Hanseatic Museum in Lübeck called Let’s play Mittelalter. He recommends: "Don't miss the museum or the exhibition, which will be open from October 9, 2026, to October 31, 2027! We also regularly organize gaming events in museums to introduce people to scholarship through the joy of play."
 

Nazli Kalsin

Marketing and Communications Manager at tirtilkids.com, Turkey

Nazli Kalsin comes from Istanbul to the Spielwarenmesse. She travelled via Paris and enjoyed two days sightseeing in the French capital as a pleasure trip. That was a good start for the vibrant international Spielwarenmesse, where she is looking for goods for children, toys, clothing and electronic toys: “I’m looking out for new brands,” she reveals. That is her role as Marketing Manager for the online portal tirtilkids.com, for which she works. This is her third time in Nuremberg and she stays for five days.
 

Kathi Kappler and Johann Rüttinger

Verleger Drei Hasen in der Abendsonne, Germany

The legends of the board‑game industry looking for a buyer for their publishing house

The life’s work of trained graphic designer Johann Rüttinger stretches back decades and includes Drei Magier Spiele, Drei Hasen in der Abendsonne, and countless board games offered by other publishers. He first exhibited at the Spielwarenmesse in 1995 and continued to do so until 2024. Since the 1990s, he and his wife have lived in a historic mill in Uehlfeld, central Franconia, where they run the imaginative publishing house, Drei Hasen in der Abendsonne. This job allows them to manage all stages of game production; however, it is very time-consuming. For this reason, and because Johann will turn 80 in 2026, they are attending this year's Spielwarenmesse as trade visitors. They are visiting old and new board game publishing contacts with a clear objective: "We want to sell the publishing house, the brand rights, and the product line. As individual game designers, we will continue and want to collaborate with others. But we want to hand the publishing house over to the right people,” Johann explains of his well-considered plan. 
 

Julia Meier and Doris Herzog

Ballonkunst Herzog, Germany

Doris Herzog discovered her love for inflatable balloons of all kinds and sizes. Her employee Julia Meier shares the passion. Together they run Ballonwelt Herzog in Lahr. “Balloons are so versatile. As party décor, birthday gifts (preferably with money inside), as themed event items. They can be printed and designed on request, and they simply bring joy,” is their credo. They visit longstanding suppliers and keep an eye out for new ideas. Doris Herzog has been attending the Spielwarenmesse since 2007.
 

Inka and Markus Brand

Creators of Exit – the game at KOSMOS Verlag, Germany

They are undisputed stars of the board‑game scene. With „Exit – the Game“ the Brand couple has reached new heights: their team, which now includes their 23-year-old daughter, is celebrating its tenth Exit anniversary at the Spielwarenmesse. In Exit games, a team of players tries to escape a situation or room as quickly as possible by solving various tasks or puzzles. In the board game version, the Brands—who still enjoy visiting escape rooms and testing themselves on the challenges—use all the game materials, including the packaging, as the playing field for solutions. These materials are usually destroyed while solving the puzzles. The Brands' Kosmos Exit games hit the zeitgeist with their concept, suspense, and design, appealing to players of almost all ages. In ten years, 30 million (!) games have been sold in 35 countries worldwide. For the Brands, this is both a blessing and a curse. "With the goal of producing roughly four games per year plus the advent calendar, you hardly think of anything else. Every route and encounter in daily life is checked for suitability as an Exit puzzle. It's fascinating, but also sometimes exhausting," says Inka Brand. Exit games are available for beginners, advanced players, and professionals. However, according to Markus Brand, that doesn't change the task for the creators. "We simply change the type and amount of hints that lead to the solution. Every story works for all difficulty levels.”