ABENTEUER & ALLRAD 2026: THE WORLD'S LARGEST OVERLAND EVENT

I recently had the opportunity to travel across the Atlantic to experience Abenteuer & Allrad with HEIMPLANET in Bad Kissingen, Germany. Widely recognized as the largest overland event on the planet, this show is a bucket-list event for anyone serious about vehicle-based adventure travel.

Whether you are dreaming of a global overland expedition or just looking for build inspiration, you'll definitely want to make the trip to Germany at least once.

55,000 ENTHUSIASTS IN ONE PLACE

The size of the crowd is a notable difference from events in the US. The organizers estimate attendance between 50,000 and 55,000 people over the course of the long weekend.

Every morning when the gates opened, a steady stream of people flooded the grounds. It was pretty much non-stop foot traffic until closing each afternoon. The enthusiasm for off-grid travel is clear, with a large mix of travelers from all over Europe.

LARGE EXPEDITION RIGS OF ABENTEUER & ALLRAD

My observation from the show floor was that the European crowd is really into big trucks. While our market in the US relies mostly on mid-size and full-size trucks or SUVs, about half of the Abenteuer Allrad expo was dedicated to large, heavy-duty vehicles.

There were rows of trucks built on MAN or Mercedes-Benz Unimog platforms, outfitted with large, custom living boxes on the back. These rigs are built for long-term global travel where self-sufficiency is the main goal.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS: DIY CUSTOM BUILDS

While the commercial trucks were interesting, my favorite part of the show was looking at the DIY custom builds.

Because they have access to a different pool of utility, military, and commercial vehicles that we don't get in the States, the variety was great. I spent a lot of time checking out how everyday builders repurposed these foreign platforms into functional, home-built overland rigs, which gave me a lot of practical design ideas to bring back to my own projects.

LOOKING AHEAD: RETURNING AS A SPEAKER FOR 2027

The trip also resulted in an opportunity. While I was at the show, I was offered a spot to speak at one of their educational workshops next year. I am looking forward to returning next summer as a speaker and possibly a vendor to share some of our trail experiences.

Overland vehicles on display at Abenteuer & Allrad. The sky is grey and cloudy.

If you ever have the chance to make the trip over for Abenteuer Allrad, it is worth the time. It gives you a different perspective on how people approach vehicle-dependent travel around the world.