12th Leipzig Veterinary Congress Celebrates Record Numbers of Exhibitors and Visitors
Leipzig Veterinary Congress – Germany's Number One Event Gains Significance in Europe
After three days of intensive educational events, fascinating discussions and exciting product presentations, the 12th Leipzig Veterinary Congress has closed with record attendance. Despite the snow and ice, 6,900 (2022: 5,600) visitors from the veterinary care industry and 500 speakers from all across German-speaking Europe flocked to Leipziger Messe from 18 to 20 January. Participants were thrilled with the extensive content and superb quality of the congress programme. Many visitors also took the opportunity to attend the vetexpo and be inspired by new products and services for daily use in their veterinary practices. 329 exhibitors came to the trade fair, making it the largest of its kind in Central Europe. They showcased a wide range of innovations, products, trends and services for applications in veterinary treatment and care.
"It is overwhelming how fast the Leipzig Veterinary Congress has grown. This clearly shows how important the event has become for vets working in all fields of veterinary medicine", says Prof Dr Uwe Truyen, Congress President and Director of the Institute for Animal Hygiene and Public Veterinary Services at the University of Leipzig. "The recipe for success lies in the combination of CPD events and the opportunity to network at the vetexpo. Connecting with others, learning from each other, exchanging information and socialising are all aspects that contribute to creating a unique atmosphere that could clearly be felt again at this year's event."
Martin Buhl-Wagner, Managing Director of Leipziger Messe, adds: "The record number of visitors and the overwhelmingly positive response from both exhibitors and visitors are confirmation of the excellent standing of the Leipzig Veterinary Congress. What's more, the number of international exhibitors at the vetexpo is gradually increasing. This reflects the significance of the event at a European level. We look forward to continuing our work on further expanding this industry get-together in the future."
At the congress, over 500 talks and courses on the programme covered the latest developments and research in veterinary medicine. The event could accurately be described as highly relevant, scientific and forward-looking. Alongside specific topics on each species of animal, speakers also looked at subjects relevant to all vets including ethical and legal questions, animal protection and food safety. This wide variety meant that vets of every specialisation, veterinary assistants and students were all able to benefit from comprehensive professional development sessions.
The congress programme was hugely popular and resulted in full lecture rooms and top marks on the feedback questionnaire. 96 per cent of participants said they will be recommending the Leipzig Veterinary Congress to their colleagues and expect to return in 2026. Attendees travelled to Leipzig from all of Germany's federal states as well as from neighbouring countries.
Full Aisles, Fresh Inspiration and Fruitful Meetings
The mood at vetexpo was euphoric as participants soaked up fresh inspiration and enjoyed lively discussions. Professional visitors to the event made the most of the opportunity to find out all about current trends, new product innovations and the latest treatment methods in veterinary practice. The wide range of exhibitors ensured there were always big crowds at the stands. An additional highlight was the Vetjobs24 CAREER CORNER, where 35 companies presented themselves as potential employers to interested young visitors.
The response from exhibitors to the trade fair was tremendous. 95 per cent said they plan to return in 2026 to exhibit at vetexpo and would recommend the event to others. "As a Gold Sponsor, the Leipzig Veterinary Congress is always a special event for us. We were overwhelmed by the response to our stand. We had in-depth talks with customers and partners and had the opportunity to present our entire product portfolio. Visitors were particularly interested in our new oral medicine for cats with diabetes, and we expect it to revolutionise treatment in this area. We also took part in the CAREER CORNER as a prospective employer and very much enjoyed meeting the next generation of vets. In short, it was a successful event on all counts. We are looking forward to coming back to the 2026 edition of the Leipzig Veterinary Congress", says Betina Prestel, CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH Deutschland and Chairperson of the BfT (German Federal Association for Animal Health).
Tonja Grassmann, Head of Corporate Communications & Public Policy DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) at MSD Tiergesundheit was also delighted with the event. "As a company, you just have to be here. I can't think of any other event where we can reach out to so many vets of all ages, from students to experienced members of the veterinary care industry working with every kind of animal imaginable. Our exhibition stand was packed from morning til night. As always, the quality of conversations and the networking opportunities were fantastic. We used the occasion here at the Leipzig Veterinary Congress to present our latest vaccine for cattle to prevent cryptosporidia in young animals and received great feedback. For our company, the Leipzig Veterinary Congress is a fixed date on our calendar. This is where the German veterinary care industry gets together."
The Challenging Shortage of Vets
"In addition to highlighting professional topics, the congress is also taking a look at the critical issues our industry is facing. This is unique to the Leipzig event", says Dr Uwe Hörügel, President of the Chamber of Veterinary Medicine of Saxony, which is the patron of the 12th Leipzig Veterinary Congress.
In view of the current fall in the number of veterinary practices, several talks at the career forum looked into how to motivate more young vets to set up their own business. "We want to show the next generation of young professionals working in veterinary medicine that it is not only fun to run your own practice but also financially profitable. The economic conditions for setting up your own practice are excellent at the moment because the demand for veterinary services continues to grow", Dr Hörügel stresses. He goes on to explain that there are manageable financial packages available that enable vets to invest in a practice and cover the necessary repayments without the need for start-up capital.
The 13th Leipzig Veterinary Congress will take place from 15 to 17 January 2026 at Leipziger Messe at the same time as PARTNER PFERD.
About the Leipzig Veterinary Congress and vetexpo
The Leipzig Veterinary Congress and vetexpo trade fair are organised by Leipziger Messe GmbH, the University of Leipzig Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the six chambers of veterinary medicine of the German states of Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The 12th Leipzig Veterinary Congress from 18 to 20 January 2024 attracted 6,900 veterinarians, veterinary assistants and students of veterinary medicine as well as 500 speakers to Leipzig. At vetexpo, the largest veterinary trade fair in German-speaking Europe, 329 companies from 21 countries presented their products and services on 15,000 m² of exhibition space. The 13th Leipzig Veterinary Congress will take place from 15 to 17 January 2026.
