What MCH Group does

MCH Group AG is a Basel-headquartered, publicly listed (SIX: MCHN) experience marketing company operating three integrated segments. The Art Basel segment runs premier contemporary art fairs in Basel, Hong Kong, Paris, Miami Beach, and (as of February 2026) Qatar, connecting galleries, collectors, and artists globally under one of the most recognized brands in the international art market. The Exhibitions & Events segment organizes Swiss industry trade fairs (Swissbau, Igeho, IFAS, ILMAC, Giardina, health.tech global summit) and owns and operates major event venues including Messe Basel, Messe Zürich, Congress Center Basel, and the MesseQuartier Basel urban development initiative. The Live Marketing Solutions segment provides end-to-end brand experience services through three agencies — MC² (USA), MCH Global (Dubai/Zurich), and Expomobilia (Switzerland/China) — delivering trade show exhibits, pop-ups, immersive activations, and event production for enterprise clients such as Porsche, Samsung, AARP, and UBS.

The company monetizes through booth/exhibitor fees, attendee registration, venue rental, agency professional services, and sponsorships. Its proprietary technology stack centers on the Art Basel App (built with Microsoft, incorporating AI-powered Companion and Lens features), the CO₂ Infrastructure Report and Hydrus.AI carbon accounting tools, the Art Basel Awards program, and the Art Basel Shop. Distribution is direct, enterprise field sales targeting galleries, brands, and trade professional associations across Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East, supported by subsidiaries in 13+ countries.

Ownership is unusually concentrated for a public company: Lupa Investment Holdings LP holds 41.94% and Canton Basel-Stadt holds 37.52% as of December 31, 2025, with 1,940 remaining shareholders holding the balance. Leadership is being refreshed: Andrea Zappia serves as Group CEO ad interim, Eleonora Gennari (ex-Capgemini) as CFO, and Daniel Marion (ex-UEFA) as newly created CIO. FY2025 results showed operating income of CHF 429.5 million, EBITDA of CHF 51.2 million (up from CHF 34.5M in 2023), and net profit of CHF 18.6 million (up from CHF 3M in 2024), reflecting post-pandemic margin recovery and cost discipline following the 2022 CHF 76.9 million rights offering.

Name

MCH Group

Legal name

MCH Group AG

Website

https://mch-group.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1916

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

MCH Group AG is a Basel-headquartered public company operating Art Basel global art fairs, Swiss trade fairs (Swissbau, Igeho, IFAS, ILMAC), owned event venues, and live marketing agencies (MC², MCH Global, Expomobilia), serving galleries, collectors, brands, and industry trade professionals worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Marketing and Event Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers (THAHABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food, Beverage & Hospitality Trade Shows Organizers (THAHABAI), Construction, Building Materials & Real Estate Shows Organizers (THAHABAG), Manufacturing, Industrial Equipment & Automation Shows Organizers (THAHABAF), Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK), Pavilion & Country/Group Exhibit Build-Outs (THAHAHAD)

Keywords

• Art fair exhibitions
• Live marketing solutions
• Event venue management
• Trade fair organization
• Brand experience services

Headquarters

HQ city

Basel

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Art Fairs and Exhibitions: Revenue from organizing and hosting Art Basel fairs in Basel, Hong Kong, Paris, Miami Beach, and Qatar, as well as own trade exhibitions in Switzerland including Swissbau, Igeho, ILMAC, and others. Includes exhibition fees, booth rentals, and attendee fees.
2. Live Marketing Solutions: Revenue from experience marketing agency services including MC², MCH Global, and Expomobilia, providing tailor-made brand experiences, immersive brand worlds, pop-ups, and international trade show appearances for corporate clients.
3. Event Venue Management: Revenue from operating event venues including Messe Basel (5 halls, 25 conference rooms) and Messe Zürich (7 halls, 7 conference rooms), hosting guest events, congresses, and corporate events.
4. Sponsorships and Partnerships: Revenue from strategic partnerships including UBS as Global Lead Partner for Art Basel, and other sponsorship arrangements across events.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MCH Group organizes and operates Art Basel, the world's premier contemporary art fair, in Basel, Hong Kong, Paris, Miami Beach, and Qatar. It also runs Swiss trade fairs (Swissbau, Igeho, ILMAC, IFAS, Giardina) and manages exhibition venues including Messe Basel and Messe Zürich. Through its Live Marketing Solutions division (MC², MCH Global, Expomobilia), the company delivers brand experience campaigns, trade show appearances, and immersive activations for global corporate clients.

Product overview

MCH Group is a leading global experience marketing company operating three interconnected business segments: Art Basel (premier global art fair platform with events in Basel, Hong Kong, Paris, Miami Beach, and Qatar), Exhibitions & Events (organizing trade fairs and managing venues including Messe Basel, Messe Zürich, Congress Center Basel, and MesseQuartier Basel), and Live Marketing Solutions (providing brand experience services through MC², MCH Global, and Expomobilia). The company offers both physical event platforms and digital products including the Art Basel App with AI features, CO₂ Infrastructure Reports, and the DARE sustainability framework. New initiatives include Basilia Jewellery & Watch Fair (launching 2027), health.tech global summit, and partnerships like Jupiter Festival Miami.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Art Basel: Leading global platform connecting collectors, galleries, and artists through art fairs in Basel, Hong Kong, Paris, and Miami Beach
• MC²
• MCH Global
• Expomobilia
• Art Basel Awards
• Art Basel Shop
• MesseQuartier Basel

Products and services

• Art Basel Fairs Leading global art fair platform connecting collectors, galleries, and artists through flagship fairs in Basel, Hong Kong, Paris, Miami Beach, and Qatar. Features 290+ leading galleries and 4,000+ artists at Art Basel Basel.
• Art Basel App Digital companion app for the Art Basel fair experience with AI-powered features.
• Messe Basel Venue Flagship exhibition venue in Basel offering five halls and 25 modern conference rooms for trade fairs, congresses, and corporate events. Attracts 900,000+ visitors annually.
• Messe Zürich Venue Major exhibition venue in Zurich with seven halls and seven conference rooms across 30,000 m², ideal for trade fairs, corporate events, and congresses.
• Congress Center Basel Conference venue in Basel with extensive meeting and congress facilities complementing Messe Basel.
• Swissbau Switzerland's leading platform for the construction and real estate industry, held every two years at Messe Basel.
• Igeho Switzerland's leading international platform for the hotel, catering, take-away, and care sectors.
• IFAS Largest meeting point for the healthcare sector in Switzerland, held at Messe Zürich with digital platform Community 365.
• ILMAC Largest meeting place for the chemical and life sciences industry in Switzerland, held at locations in Basel and Lausanne.
• Giardina One of Europe's leading indoor events for garden living, showcasing new products and trends in garden design.
• MC² Brand Experience Agency Global brand experience agency based in the USA offering turnkey solutions for trade shows, exhibitions, pop-ups, and immersive brand activations.
• MCH Global Brand Experience Agency Leading agency for brand experience and culture marketing with locations in Dubai and Zurich, specializing in strategic storytelling, experience design, and event production.
• Expomobilia Trade Show Construction Leading force in trade show construction, retail environments, road shows, museums, art fairs, and temporary/permanent structures since 1973.
• health.tech global summit Healthcare industry conference organized by MCH Group in partnership with Bits & Pretzels, bringing together international healthcare industry professionals.
• Basilia Jewellery & Watch Fair New international B2B platform for the jewellery, gemstone and watch industry. Joint venture between MCH Group and Informa Markets debuting April 8-11, 2027 at Messe Basel Hall 2, with 400+ expected exhibitors.
• Art Basel Awards Annual program recognizing individuals and organizations shaping contemporary art, honoring 36 Medalists worldwide across nine categories with 12 Gold Medalists selected through peer-driven process.
• Art Basel Shop Innovative concept store showcasing selected lifestyle products designed to enhance the Art Basel experience and capture the spirit of the contemporary art world.
• Jupiter Festival Miami New-wave global festival for leaders across media, entertainment and sport, with AI-powered matchmaking. Debuting October 6-9, 2026 in Miami through MCH Group's 20% stake partnership.
• Masterpiece London Art Fair Leading fair for collectible design, fine art, and antiques held annually in London, operated through Masterpiece London Ltd. (67.5% stake acquired in 2017).
• Art Basel Qatar Fifth premier Art Basel event, launched in partnership with Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and QC+. First edition held February 5-7, 2026 at M7 creative hub and Doha Design District in Msheireb, Doha.

Quantifiable outcome

• CHF 18.6 million net profit in 2025, up from CHF 3 million in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.

• Jupiter Festival MiamicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026MCH Group acquired 20% stake in Jupiter Festival Miami and entered strategic partnership. MCH Group brings expertise in building international platforms and global network to support Jupiter Festival as a central meeting point for media, entertainment, and sport industries. Jupiter Festival debuts October 6-9, 2026 in Miami.
• Informa MarketscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Joint venture between MCH Group and Informa Markets to launch Basilia Jewellery & Watch Fair. First edition April 8-11, 2027 at Messe Basel Hall 2. Informa brings global jewellery sector reach; MCH Group provides trade fair expertise. Expected to host 400+ exhibitors.
• Boston Consulting GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Founding sponsor of inaugural Jupiter Festival Miami (October 6-9, 2026).
• Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and QC+coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2025Art Basel Qatar announced as a dynamic long-term partnership with QSI and QC+. Art Basel Qatar debuts February 5-7, 2026 at M7 creative hub and Doha Design District in Msheireb.
• IWB (Industrielle Werke Basel)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2025Sustainability partnership focused on improving energy efficiency. IWB supplies electricity and provides consulting services for consumption optimization. Aims to halve energy-related emissions by 2030 and support Canton Basel-Stadt climate targets.
• HRS Real EstatestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject developer and general contractor for Rosentalturm development at Messe Basel (with full cost, quality, and schedule guarantees). Project includes residential and commercial space above existing parking garage.
• UBScoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal Lead Partner of Art Basel. Provides sponsorship and support for art fairs. Art Market publication published in collaboration with UBS highlights commitment to transparency in art market.
• MicrosoftstrategicTechnology or IntegrationTechnology collaboration for Art Basel App, integrating AI-powered features including Art Basel Companion and Art Basel Lens.
• Gallery Climate Coalition (GCC)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt Basel actively participates in GCC, which aims to minimize waste in landfills and incineration plants. Supports decarbonization goals.
• Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCH Group membership supporting commitment to decarbonize business operations by 2050 and achieve net zero emissions.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Informa Markets: The world's largest B2B events organizer and a direct competitor across trade fairs and exhibitions. Informa Markets is also MCH's JV partner in Basilia Jewellery & Watch Fair, making it both peer and partner with directly comparable trade fair operations.
• RX Global (RELX/Reed Exhibitions): Division of RELX organizing hundreds of B2B trade shows worldwide across industries comparable to MCH's Exhibitions & Events portfolio. Closest direct competitor in B2B exhibition organizing at global scale.
• Messe Frankfurt: One of the world's largest trade fair companies, headquartered in Germany, operating flagship venues and global trade shows across consumer goods, textiles, and technology—directly comparable in scale, venue ownership, and exhibition organizing model.
• Fiera Milano: Italian trade fair operator running Milan Rho exhibition complex and organizing major B2B shows; comparable to MCH's mix of owned venues plus proprietary trade fair brands.
• Koelnmesse: German trade fair organizer operating Cologne's major exhibition complex with strong verticals (food, furniture, leisure); comparable as a venue-owning, industry-specific trade show organizer.
• GL Events: French live event services group operating exhibition venues and providing event services globally. Direct competitor across MCH's Live Marketing Solutions and venue management segments.
• Freeman: Largest brand experience company in the US, providing event design, exhibit construction, and trade show services—directly comparable to MCH's MC² and Expomobilia agencies.
• George P. Johnson Experience Marketing: Global experience marketing agency specializing in brand activations, exhibitions, and events; directly comparable to MCH Global and MC² within the Live Marketing Solutions segment.
• Messe Düsseldorf: German trade fair company with strong global footprint and proprietary leading exhibitions; closely comparable as a venue-owning organizer of industry-specific B2B trade shows.

Broad incumbents

• Sotheby's: Global art auction house and broader incumbent in the art market; adjacent rather than directly competitive with MCH's Art Basel fairs, but serves the same collector base and competes for art-world mindshare and sponsorship dollars.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A4 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MCH Group