BEA (exhibition)

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Logo of the BEA 2018
Outdoor area with Ferris wheel at BEA 2016
View of the alphorn makers in the special show “Pleasure & Tradition” at BEA 2011

The BEA is a Swiss exhibition for trade , agriculture and industry and takes place every spring in Bern . The BEA is organized by Bernexpo AG . In 2020, the BEA had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic .

Creation and concept

On December 7, 1949, Hermann Frey, Oskar Schenker, Richard Leutenegger and Hans Schmid, together with 12 people involved, founded the BEA Bern exhibitor cooperative , the forerunner of today's Bernexpo AG . The purpose of this cooperative was to promote and hold exhibitions and similar events.

The first BEA took place on September 1, 1951. The highlights of the first event were a housewives day , a large autumn and winter fashion show and a so-called BEA cabaret. In addition, there was a free cinema on the exhibition grounds and a balloon race for young people. 160 exhibitors took part in the first event.

In terms of visitors, the BEA is the second largest public exhibition in Switzerland after the OLMA . In terms of area and the number of exhibitors, it is even the largest public exhibition in Switzerland. In 2014, the 63rd edition of the BEA recorded over 950 exhibitors and over 300,000 visitors. The main focus of the BEA is still on the living cultural heritage of Bern and its surroundings. This includes the agricultural and traditional character as well as the homely atmosphere. In contrast, at certain special shows and as a main component in the exhibition areas, the focus is on innovative and novel topics.

After the Emmental (2011) and the Bernese Oberland (2012), the city of Bern presented itself at the BEA in 2013. From 2014 the BEA will take place under one motto. The motto in 2014 was “wild”, in 2015 “cow-colored and mega strong” and in 2016 “original and original”.

Exhibition areas

As an exhibition for trade, agriculture and industry, the following sectors are represented at the BEA:

  • Commercial and industrial
    • Living and building
    • Kitchens and bathrooms
    • Household and electrical appliances
    • Health and wellness
    • freetime and sports
    • Fashion, jewelry and cosmetics
    • Tasting
    • Food
    • Craft and tradition
  • Agriculture
    • Feed
    • Agricultural products and services
    • Building / construction
    • Animal associations
    • Animal shows and petting world with around 600 animals

Special shows

In addition to the commercial exhibition areas, several special shows are presented at the BEA, some of which are held over several years. The most important special shows are:

  • “Enjoyment & Tradition”: regional products and specialties, ancient sports and traditional handicrafts
  • BEActive: Interactive sports world with trend and outdoor sports
  • Green center: Zealand - Gmuesland
  • PFERD - The National Horse Fair: Parallel fair to BEA with tournaments, shows, specialist arena, exhibition
  • BEA Women

Web links

Commons : BEA  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Extract from the commercial register for BERNEXPO AG. Internet extract (not certified). (No longer available online.) In: Commercial Register of the Canton of Bern. Commercial Register Office of the Canton of Bern, July 5, 2011, formerly the original ; Retrieved September 2, 2011 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archivesInfo: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / be.powernet.ch  
  2. Swiss trade fair calendar: Messen_in_der_Schweiz. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on March 15, 2017 ; accessed on March 14, 2017 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bern.diplo.de
  3. Berner Zeitung Online: Visitor record equalized: 300,000 defied the constant rain Article from May 5, 2014