The anniversary edition of ITB Berlin from 3 to 5 March 2026 will open on 2 March with an opening gala featuring this year’s Host Country, Angola. Official speeches, cultural performances and visual presentations will provide insights into the destination’s rich heritage, vibrant culture and impressive natural beauty.
The rhythm of Angola will set the tone for the start of ITB Berlin’s sixtieth anniversary. With a colourful show programme featuring dances, Angolan music and other cultural elements, the Official Host Country will open the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show on 2 March 2026. Under the heading ’The Rhythm of Life’, around 700 to 800 invited guests from politics, the tourism industry, the media and international institutions can look forward to an artistic journey through Angola.
High-ranking representatives from politics and the international tourism industry are expected to attend the opening event, including Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin, Dr. Christopher Ploß, Federal Government Coordinator for Maritime Economy and Tourism, Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), and Shaikha Nasser Alnuwais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism. Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO of Messe Berlin, will represent ITB Berlin. The hosts for the evening will be H.E. Márcio Daniel, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Angola, and H.E. José de Lima Massano, Minister of State of the Republic of Angola.
“We are very excited to be the Official Host Country of ITB Berlin 2026. This partnership offers a unique opportunity to showcase Angola’s cultural diversity, natural beauty and uniqueness on one of the most important international platforms,” said H.E. Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Angola. “With our new brand identity, ‘Visit Angola – The Rhythm of Life’, we not only want to show how vibrant and authentic Angola is, but also to invite the international travel industry to experience the rhythm of the country with all their senses.”
“It is a special privilege for us to present Angola as the host country on the international stage at ITB Berlin 2026,” said Julia Kleber, CEO of the KLEBER GROUP and official representative of the Angola Tourism Board. “The country combines impressive natural worlds – from spectacular coastlines and vast deserts to imposing waterfalls and ancient rock landscapes. The Rhythm of Life stands for this energy, diversity and openness. We are all the more delighted and proud to raise Angola’s profile as an authentic new destination in global tourism.”
A cultural journey from tradition to modernity
The opening gala will focus on Angola’s cultural identity: Travessia – From Traditional to Modern, composed especially for the evening, is conceived as a sequence of artistic moments leading from the country’s musical origins to a contemporary interpretation.
The starting point is the dikanza, played by Dr. Raul Tolingas, a prominent figure in traditional Angolan music. The rhythm permeates the entire performance and stands for memory, cultural heritage and telling of history. Congas, guitars and percussion build on this. A young musician continues the rhythm – symbolising the dialogue between generations. The striking guitar solos by Dr. Teddy Nsingui give a characteristic note to the musical story, before a piano and violin mark the transition to the present. Traditional styles such as semba, rebita and rumba unfold in a contemporary interpretation.
The transition from tradition to the present is also visible in the choreography: folk elements merge into a modern idiom, bringing Angola’s cultural diversity to life. Large-scale LED installations pick up on this artistic storytelling throughout the evening, bringing the country’s landscapes and moods to life – from the Kalandula Falls and vastness of the Namib Desert to the Atlantic coast. The result is a production that showcases Angola’s cultural heritage, the passing on of tradition and its creative dynamism on the international stage
Cuisine as an expression of identity
The evening’s culinary highlights also follow the theme of the host country’s appearance: Michelin-starred Angolan chef Helt Araújo interprets traditional ingredients in a contemporary manner, translating the flavours, colours and textures of the country into a modern menu.
Host Country Report: Angola- an insider tip for adventurers and Africa Lovers
During the trade show, Angola will offer a comprehensive insight into the country’s natural beauty, cultural diversity and hospitality, positioning itself as an authentic destination with great tourism potential for adventurers, nature lovers and culture enthusiasts. The Host Country Report provides wide-ranging background information on Angola’s diversity.
