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Angola and The Rhythm of Life
ITB celebrates host country Angola and 60 years of the travel trade show. The opening gala shines with local music and stunning images of nature. Speakers stress the importance of tourism for peace.
On Monday evening, ITB Berlin 2026 had two reasons to celebrate: its 60th anniversary and the multimedia presentation of the host country Angola. The country in the southwest of Africa was able to promote itself not only as a destination for adventure travel, but also as a future conference venue. In view of the war in the Middle East, Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner and the Federal Government Commissioner for Tourism, Christoph Ploß, emphasised the peace-building function of travel and expressed their hope for a speedy end to hostilities.
Speaking to around 700 invited guests, Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO of Messe Berlin GmbH, emphasised that, especially in such difficult times for tourism, platforms such as the World's Largest Travel Trade Show were important and necessary for reaching out between countries and peoples and living together as peacefully as possible. Dr. Tobias accepted the UN Tourism Award from UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Nasser Alnuwais at the event.
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Kai Wegner meets José de Lima Massano at ITB Berlin 2026 during the opening gala.
It all started with nine exhibitors
Wegner and Ploß recalled the beginnings of ITB in 1966 with nine exhibitors from five countries. Its rise to become the World's Largest Travel Trade Show also reflected ITB's resilience as a testing ground for developments and trends over the years. With regard to the war, Wegner emphasised that Berlin stood side by side with the Iranian people. Ploß expressed his hope that tourism could serve as a kind of quiet diplomacy.
Angola’s Minister of State for Economic Development José de Lima Massano said the time had come for the country to become a global player. He pointed out that Africa had the highest tourism growth rates of any continent. His country was well equipped for both adventure tourism and nature-based travel. Beach holidays on the long Atlantic coastline were also a great experience, he added.
Angola recommended for business travel
The minister also recommended Angola for business travel. A convention centre was currently being built in the capital Luanda, which would create an international business hub unrivalled in Africa. The opening gala concluded with a multimedia show about the rise of the country, its work in preserving natural resources, and the historical legacy of the struggle for freedom under the slogan "The Rhythm of Life".