On September 27 and 28, 2026, the Idar-Oberstein Fair will serve as a hub for vocational training, higher education, careers, and career transitions. The career fair combines in-person interactions with new digital offerings and is aimed at high school students, those interested in vocational training or higher education, skilled workers, and people who are looking to change careers or return to the region.
Dates and Hours of Operation
The Idar-Oberstein Career Fair is open:
Sunday, September 27, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for families, those interested in training, professionals, and the general public.
Monday, September 28, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., for a visit by numerous students from the region.
The career fair turns career guidance into an experience: personal, direct, digital, and family-friendly. Which apprenticeship is right for me? Which career offers the best prospects? Is there an employer in the region that I haven’t even heard of yet? And how do I take the next step in my career? The Idar-Oberstein Career Fair 2026 provides answers to these and many other questions. Numerous companies and institutions will present their apprenticeship programs, dual degree programs, academic opportunities, and other career paths. The focus is primarily on personal interaction and the chance to speak directly with potential employers.
Digitally Prepared for the Right Career
New this year is digital trade show matching. At birne-einschalten.de, students and others interested in vocational training can answer questions about their interests, strengths, and career aspirations with just a few clicks. The site then displays suitable training opportunities and exhibitors as personalized matches.
The result is a personalized “trade show itinerary”: Instead of wandering aimlessly through the hall on the day of the trade show, visitors can specifically prepare to explore companies and career fields that interest them. At the same time, this matching process can open up new perspectives and draw attention to apprenticeship programs that may not have been known to them before.
The schools participating in the career fair are prepared for the event in advance, working together with the reCREWt team. During this process, the students also learn about the matching process and can create their own personalized fair itinerary.
The trade show continues online
Even after the two-day event concludes, the 2026 Career Fair will remain accessible: For the first time, the event will be supplemented by a digital 3D career fair. In the virtual fair environment, interested individuals can continue to learn about participating companies and their training and career opportunities even after the event ends. As a result, the digital platform is not limited to high school students. College students, professionals, returnees, and people seeking a career change can also get to know regional employers regardless of location or time. While the matching feature helps participants find suitable opportunities, the 3D fair allows them to continue exploring these career prospects even after their actual visit to the fair.
Career Fair Becomes an Experience for the Whole Family
Another new feature awaits visitors in the Family Event Area, which will open as part of the career fair. Sponsored by the deinBIR skilled workforce initiative, this area is designed to make the fair even more family-friendly while also serving as a long-term venue for future events. A dedicated play area will be set up for children under eight, where they can build, paint, play, and explore together with their parents or guardians. Various activities will also provide entertainment at the opening: Visitors of all ages can try their hand at archery, a photo booth invites visitors to take souvenir photos, and VR headsets will take them on a virtual tour of the copper mine, among other experiences. In this way, the career fair combines career guidance with an engaging experience for the whole family.
Even small businesses get a big stage
This year, special attention is also being paid to small companies in the district that offer apprenticeships. The Birkenfeld District Economic Development and Project Development Corporation (WFG BIR) provided up to five free exhibition booths for smaller companies that have not yet been represented at the career fair. Three regional companies are taking advantage of this offer. Small businesses in particular often offer highly personalized support, quick decision-making processes, varied tasks, and early opportunities to take on responsibility. The goal of this booth initiative is to make these opportunities even more visible to young people and to foster direct contact with potential apprentices.
Submit Your Application and Get Double the Benefits
There’s also a special incentive for those interested in apprenticeships: Anyone who submits their application directly to a participating company at the career fair can enter a drawing for MediaMarkt gift cards totaling 500 euros. The career fair thus offers numerous opportunities to actively take the next step—from getting to know a company for the first time, to a personal interview, all the way to submitting a formal application.
- For more information, visit www.deinBIR.de/karrieremesse.