That’s the elevator pitch. But honestly? It’s so much more than that.
The Guitar Summit is the annual class reunion for the global guitar and bass community. It’s the place where guitar heroes, legendary brands, tiny boutique workshops, and thousands of dedicated gearheads and music fans collide. We’re not just about the gear; we’re about the connection, the inspiration, and that shared, slightly obsessive love for all things strings.
We’re not your typical corporate event agency that plans a sock-knitting convention one day and a frozen food seminar the next. Our team consists of the editors from Gitarre & Bass magazine, industry veterans, and—first and foremost—active musicians. We design the floor plan, book the artists, manage the stages, and during the show, you’ll likely find us everywhere at once.
The idea for the Guitar Summit was born — and this is the truth — in a burger joint in Cologne. We sketched out the vision for a show we’d actually want to attend ourselves on a simple paper napkin. We started as underdogs in 2017. Today, we’re Europe’s biggest guitar show, often mentioned in the same breath as NAMM. That makes us a little proud, a little disbelieving, but mostly motivated to make it better every single year.
Let’s be real: We love the sound of a cranked Plexi blowing your hair back and rearranging your internal organs as much as the next person.
BUT: : Imagine standing in a hall where ten people are simultaneously trying to break world volume records by hammering out their personal rendition of “Smoke on the Water.” That’s not a trade show; that’s acoustic assault. After 20 minutes, your brain is mush and you just want to run. That’s why the Guitar Summit is a “Silent Show”:
Don’t worry, though—we haven’t forgotten the volume junkies. We have the Ampfinity (where you can let those amps roar), soundproof rooms for “loud” workshops, and in the evenings, we let the amps off the leash at the Mozartsaal anyway.
Guitars and amps at the booths are tested almost exclusively via high-quality headphones.
We have several dedicated headphone stages right on the expo floor for workshops and demos.
You can actually have a normal conversation at the booths and talk shop without screaming at the top of your lungs. Plus, you’ll head to bed with a massive grin instead of a ringing Tinnitus.
Three days, four levels, a mountain of gear—and even more people who are just as crazy about it as you are.
At the Mannheim Rosengarten, right in the heart of the city, global players stand shoulder-to-shoulder with innovative luthiers and high-end custom shops. Everything is there to be seen, touched, and played.
Get inspired and level up your playing by learning from the people who actually know how to make a fretboard smoke. With countless workshops across our various stages, there’s something for every style.
At the evening concerts in the Mozartsaal, you’ll experience curated line-ups and legendary all-star jams with the stars of the scene—up close, personal, and loud.
Sure, we could throw stats at you: 600+ brands from 50 countries, or over 100 workshops on 7 stages. That’s all true, and it’s what makes us Europe’s biggest guitar show.
But what truly defines the Guitar Summit is that unmistakable community vibe. Despite the scale, it’s still incredibly intimate. It’s that moment when you’re admiring a handcrafted masterpiece at a tiny boutique stand and suddenly Paul Gilbert or Phil X is standing right next to you, talking pickups. Or finding yourself grabbing fries and a cold beer at the food trucks and ending up in a chat with Tommy Emmanuel or Nita Strauss.
At the Guitar Summit, world-class stars meet gear nerds, and global corporations meet one-man shops—all at eye level, united by a pure passion for the instrument. Whether you’re an exhibitor, a visitor, or an artist: We’re all part of the band.
THAT IS THE GUITAR SUMMIT!
The Guitar Summit will take place in the Rosengarten in Mannheim.
The traditional concert location, with a total area of 25,000 square meters in the heart of the city, is only a 5-minute walk from the main train station and is located directly in front of the Mannheim shopping area in between hotel and restaurant periphery. Those arriving by car can use the parking garages directly below the Rosengarten.
Of all places, why Mannheim?
Mannheim is a city of music! The Pop Academy located there with its renowned teachers and constantly expanding range of courses, along with the Musikpark as the only German start-up center for the music industry, is known far beyond Germany’s borders. Since 2014 Mannheim is Unesco City of Music! By the way, the legendary instrument maker Friedrich Gretsch was born in Mannheim, whose instruments were or are played by icons like Chet Atkins, Brian Setzer and many others. Well, if that doesn’t fit…
Address
m:con Congress Center Rosengarten Mannheim
Rosengarten Square 2
68161 Mannheim
