Fun and Action in the Family Adventure Area

In the IAA Experience Area, children and families enjoyed a wide range of hands-on activities, including the IAA bounce house, an XXL tubing slide, a bungee trampoline, giant human foosball, and an Aerotrim astronaut trainer. All activities were available throughout the day.

In front of Hall 26, kids learned how to operate a forklift in a fun way on a special forklift course and earned their personal "forklift driver's license." Over at the Blicki giant human foosball game, it was "Kids vs. Truckers" as children teamed up to take on professional drivers.

An outdoor stage provided entertainment with live music, panel discussions, and informative programming. Right next door, a beer garden and a chillout area with comfortable seating and lounge chairs invited guests to take a break.

Exploring with Willi Weitzel

Reporter and presenter Willi Weitzel guided guests through numerous program highlights on Saturday, bringing the world of commercial vehicles to life, especially for young visitors.

At 10:45 AM, he explored how art and commercial vehicles come together in a special truck project. Afterward, he spoke with Christina Scheib about the driving profession and the people who transport goods every day to keep our supply chains running.

At noon, Willi gave the signal to start the massive mini-truck convoy. Over 30 detailed and fully functional model trucks built on a scale of approximately 1:13 then drove through the grounds together, accompanied by the Drumtrainer marching band.

New technologies were also on Willi's itinerary. At Stellantis Pro One, he took a look at automated driving and the "Box on Wheels" concept study. After that, kids had the chance to turn the tables and explain their own perspectives on trucks, transport, and logistics to him.

Later, he took a journey back in time through the evolution of commercial vehicles among the classic trucks. He also had Mercedes-Benz Trucks explain megawatt charging in heavy-duty transport to him. The final stop of his discovery tour featured an engaging demonstration on blind spots and overall safety around trucks.

Racing Trucks and Truck Art

Four teams from the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship brought a true motorsport atmosphere to IAA TRANSPORTATION. In the IAA Experience Area and the paddock, visitors were able to get an up-close look at the racing trucks. The teams shared insights into technology, aerodynamics, telemetry, safety features, and their everyday life on the racetrack. Among the visitors were some of the "Trucker Babes," including Katrin "Tinka" Oschmann and Mona Krafthöfer.

At the Actros L Art Edition, automotive engineering met art. Visitors could step inside the artistically designed truck for a tour. Hannover-based artist Sven Liesy worked on additional designs live on-site and invited the crowd to help style a ProCabin.

More than 80 Vehicles at the Test Drives

During the IAA Test Drives, visitors also had the opportunity to experience the latest commercial vehicles and new powertrain concepts firsthand on the road. Plenty of current truck models were also available for close-up inspection off the test tracks. For many of the vehicles, visitors could climb right into the cab to explore modern drive systems, driver assistance systems, digital features, and automated concepts.

Historic Trucks and Detailed Scale Models

On the Show Truck Mile in front of Hall 26, more than 20 historic commercial vehicles were on display, including classics from Büssing, ERF, Hanomag, Henschel, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Neoplan, and Volvo. Historic IAA photos and chats with the vehicle owners rounded out the exhibition.

In Hall 22, the International Truck of the Year 50th Anniversary Exhibition showcased the evolution of the modern commercial vehicle across five decades with around 20 award-winning trucks.

Miniature vehicles took center stage at the Automania model car collectors' fair in Hall 14/15. The selection ranged from model cars and model trucks to construction machinery and slot cars, as well as pins, automobilia, and specialized literature.

Altogether, Saturday at IAA TRANSPORTATION 2026 offered a special mix of technology, entertainment, and shared experiences. The daily schedule lists all program items and any last-minute updates.