Aquafun | TradeShowIntel

Event overview

Overview

Aquafun is the pool, spa, wellness and water-attraction hall of the ATRAX exhibition in Istanbul, running from 28 to 30 January 2027 at the Istanbul Expo Center in Bakırköy. Turkish and international manufacturers show pool construction systems, filtration and disinfection plant, sauna and steam cabins, water-park hardware, wellness equipment, and landscape or outdoor living products.

Buyers are hotel and resort developers, municipal project teams, pool contractors, spa operators, architects and distributors working across Turkey, the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. The hall sits inside a five-hall trade platform, so a visitor can cross-source water technology with attractions, urban design and outdoor leisure in one trip.

TL;DR

1Pool, spa, wellness and water-attraction hall inside ATRAX, Istanbul.
2Runs 28–30 January 2027 at the Istanbul Expo Center in Bakırköy.
3Built for hotel developers, pool contractors, spa operators and municipal project teams.
4Turkish manufacturing strength in pool plant, sauna cabins and water-park hardware.
5A five-hall platform, so water technology sits beside attractions and outdoor living.

Why visit

One trip covers pool plant, water treatment, sauna and wellness equipment, water-park hardware and the landscape products that surround them. The hall sits inside a larger five-hall exhibition, so a hotel or municipal project team can hold supplier meetings across water, attractions and outdoor leisure on the same day, then compare Turkish factory pricing against European brands without a second flight.

Why exhibit

Türkiye is a low-cost, high-volume manufacturing base for pool and spa equipment, and this hall puts regional distributors, hotel groups and municipal buyers in front of those factories. Exhibiting inside ATRAX adds cross-over traffic from attractions, parks and urban design, so a pool or wellness brand meets buyers who are already budgeting for a facility project rather than browsing a consumer show.

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

Who this event is for

Visitor profile

Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.

Hotel and resort developers — owners and technical directors specifying pools, spas and wellness areas for new or renovated properties.

Pool and spa contractors — installers and engineering firms sourcing plant, liners, heating and water-treatment systems for projects.

Municipal project teams — local authority parks, sports and tourism departments planning public pools, aqua parks and urban water features.

Architects and landscape designers — specifiers matching water features, outdoor furniture and greenery into hospitality and civic schemes.

Exhibitor profile

Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.

Pool equipment manufacturers — filtration, pumps, heating, disinfection, liners and pool-shell producers looking for distributors.

Spa and sauna brands — cabins, steam rooms, hot tubs and wellness equipment sold through dealers and hotel projects.

Water-park and attraction suppliers — slides, play structures, wave and splash systems sold to park operators and resorts.

Water treatment and chemicals — testing kits, dosing systems and treatment chemistry for commercial pool operators.

Product categories

Key solution areas showcased across the event.

Swimming pool construction and liners

Filtration, pumps and water treatment

Sauna, steam and wellness equipment

Water-park slides and splash-play hardware

Spa and hot-tub equipment

Landscape, outdoor living and pool surrounds

Location & Facilities

Venue

Open in Google Maps

Istanbul Expo Center (İstanbul Fuar Merkezi)

Istanbul Expo Center (İstanbul Fuar Merkezi), Yeşilköy Mah., Atatürk Cad. No:5/5, 34149 Bakırköy/İstanbul, Turkey

Entrances & gates

Main entrance (Atatürk Caddesi)

Closest to the registration desks and taxi drop-off.

Facilities

Parking

Paid on-site parking next to the halls; arrive before 09:30 on day one because the Yeşilköy lot fills quickly.

Accessibility

Step-free routes and lifts connect the halls; ask at the main information desk for a wheelchair loan and accessible restrooms.

Food options

Hall food court, Yeşilköy seafront restaurants

On-site dining

Parking: On-site car parks serve the exhibition halls; enter from the Yeşilköy gate and follow signs for the hall named on your badge.

Gate: Use the main Yeşilköy entrance on Atatürk Caddesi; allow 15–20 minutes for badge and bag checks on the first morning.

Attend

Entry & tickets

Ticket info

Badge collection

Bring a printed or digital invitation and photo ID; trade badges are issued at the main entrance desks.

Ticket notes

No ticket price is printed; AQUAFUN runs as a themed hall inside ATRAX, so visitor registration is handled by the organiser Tureks International Fairs.

Who runs the show

Organisers

Tureks International Fairs

Organiser

Call Website

What's on

Programme

Topic tracks

Pool Technology and Water TreatmentWellness, Sauna and Spa Build-OutWater Attractions and Outdoor Living

How the last edition performed

Previous edition

Last edition

2026

Completed

Visitors: 17,922

Exhibitors: 400

Floor area: 55,000 sqm

Edition #: 5

Visitor countries: 83

This edition

2027

Forecast — not final

Visitors: 20,000

Exhibitors: 400

Floor area: 55,000 sqm

Next edition

2028

The organiser's calendar shows the next AQUAFUN alongside ATRAX in January 2028 at the same Istanbul venue; exact dates are not yet published.

Impact

A bigger and stronger platform

AQUAFUN is a themed hall rather than a stand-alone show, so its commercial weight comes from the host ATRAX platform: five halls, about 55,000 sqm and a professional audience drawn from more than 80 countries. For a pool or spa brand, that means the hall delivers buyers who are already at a leisure-facility show, not consumers shopping for a home pool. The practical upside is cross-over: a hotel developer visiting attractions or outdoor living can walk into the water hall in the same afternoon.

Audience quality

High-value decision-makers

The audience is trade-led and project-oriented, weighted towards Turkish hotel groups, contractors, municipal teams and regional distributors. Buyers arrive with facility plans, so conversations tend to include capacities, timelines and site constraints. The international share is strong for the region, with significant traffic from the Gulf, North Africa and Central Asia. Volume is moderate rather than enormous, which keeps stands accessible and makes it realistic to hold several technical meetings in a day.

Exhibitor outcomes

Real business growth

Payback depends on selling into projects rather than counting footfall. A 9 sqm shell stand in the estimated EUR 1,800–2,600 range needs one or two specification wins to cover cost, which is achievable for treatment, heating or sauna suppliers with a distributor story. Heavy equipment brands should budget freight and demo logistics carefully, because the hall rewards live working displays. Exhibitors who book meetings in advance and follow up within 48 hours consistently get more from the three days than those relying on walk-up traffic.

Intelligence

Market context

Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.

Europe, Middle East and Eurasia

Why it matters

Istanbul is the commercial hinge between European pool and spa brands and the fast-building hospitality markets of the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. Buyers who source here get Turkish factory pricing alongside imported European technology, and can meet distributors who already service resort projects from Antalya to Doha.

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

Energy-efficient pool plant

Rising hotel operating costs are pushing variable-speed pumps, heat-recovery units and smarter filtration controls into new-build specifications.

What it changes: Suppliers who can prove running-cost savings win specification slots over equipment sold on purchase price alone.

Wellness as a resort differentiator

Spa, sauna and hydrothermal areas are being designed into mid-market hotels, not only five-star resorts, which widens the buyer pool.

What it changes: Wellness exhibitors can sell complete room concepts rather than single cabins to hotel project teams.

Water reuse and chemical reduction

Municipal and hotel operators face tighter rules on water discharge and chlorine by-products, favouring dosing, UV and ozone systems.

What it changes: Treatment technology becomes a compliance purchase, which shortens decision cycles for approved suppliers.

The January water and leisure circuit

Book Istanbul hotels six to eight weeks out; late January is low season, so rates are softer but flight capacity from Europe is thinner.

Aquafun sits in a January cluster of Istanbul trade shows. Buyers building a facility often pair it with the wider ATRAX halls, then follow the European pool circuit into the autumn.

17–20 Nov 2026

Piscine Global

Lyon, France

The largest European pool and spa trade show; dates follow the circuit's usual November slot; dates estimated.

website

28–30 Jan 2027

ATRAX

Istanbul, Turkey

Five-hall attractions, recreation and urban design fair; Aquafun is one of its themed areas.

website

31 Jan – 2 Feb 2027

SPATEX

Coventry, United Kingdom

UK pool and spa trade show held in the days after Aquafun; useful for a combined European trip; dates estimated.

website

January

ATRAXAquafunSPATEX

Istanbul first, then the UK show a few days later.

November

Piscine Global

European autumn flagship in Lyon.

Circuit dates are editorial planning guidance; confirm each show's calendar before booking.

Plan your trip

Travel & logistics

Local currency · TRY

Arrival airports

Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.

IST

Istanbul Airport

Main international gateway on the European side; metro plus a short taxi is the cheapest reliable route.

about 40 km

to venue

50–70 min

by car

SAW

Sabiha Gökçen International Airport

Asian-side airport used by some low-cost carriers; allow extra time across the Bosphorus bridges.

about 70 km

to venue

75–100 min

by car

Hotel tiers

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

budget

Bakırköy centre

USD 60–110 / night

Simple three-star rooms 10–15 minutes by taxi from the halls; breakfast usually included.

mid

Florya and Yeşilköy

USD 120–200 / night

Best balance of price and travel time; walking distance to the seafront for evening meals.

premium

Yeşilköy and Ataköy

USD 220–400 / night

Closest full-service options for meetings and hospitality suites; book early in show week.

Local transport

Get around the city with these convenient transport options.

Metro

Estimated costTRY 30–40 per ride

Best forM1A line from Yenikapı to DTM–İstanbul Fuar Merkezi

Station sits at the fairground; use an Istanbulkart for transfers to trams and ferries.

Taxi

Estimated costTRY 900–1,300

Best forIstanbul Airport (IST) to Istanbul Expo Center

Fixed-meter ride of 50–70 minutes; agree the route or use a ride-hail app for a quoted fare.

Shuttle

Estimated costTRY 150–300 per trip

Best forHotel to venue, Yeşilköy and Florya hotels

Most mid-range hotels run a complimentary or low-cost show shuttle; confirm at booking.

Plan your trip

Visa & entry documents

Check the latest visa requirements and entry guidelines before travelling.

Visa required

ATA Carnet: accepted

Type	Who needs it	Fee	Processing
Business e-Visa	Many European, Gulf and Central Asian passport holders	$50.00	24–72 hours online

Some nationalities travel visa-free for short business visits; check the current list before booking.

Türkiye is an ATA carnet member; exhibitors should confirm temporary admission with their freight forwarder.

Official visa page

Weather

Late January is Istanbul's coldest, wettest stretch: daytime highs near 8°C, nights around 3°C, with rain and occasional sleet. Halls are heated but the walk between halls is exposed.

Plan for the climate

Check temperatures and pack accordingly

Venue connectivity

Show WiFi is usually provided in the halls; a Turkish eSIM or prepaid data pack is cheap and avoids queueing at the venue desk.

Ride-hailing

Taxis

Public transit

Car rentals

Cultural notes

Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.

Business pace

Meetings start with tea and small talk; expect decisions to be relationship-led and follow up in writing the same week.

Dress and hours

Smart casual is normal for the floor; evening meetings often run late, and Friday afternoons are quieter during prayer time.

Practical guides

Visitor & Exhibitor Essentials

Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.

Flights

Destination: IST

Late January is low season, so fares soften but direct frequencies drop; book six to eight weeks out and allow a buffer for winter delays.

Book flights

Visa

Most business visitors need a visa or e-Visa; a few nationalities enter visa-free for short stays.

Estimated cost: USD 50

Processing: 24–72 hours online

Apply before departure; carry a printed approval and a hotel booking confirmation.

Official

Transport

Get to the venue and around the city with these options.

Airport → venue: Metro M1A plus a short walk, or a 50–70 minute taxi from IST.

Hotel → venue: Taxi or hotel shuttle from Yeşilköy and Florya; 10–20 minutes.

Ride-hail: Bitaksi and Uber operate in Istanbul; both give a quoted fare before pickup.

Public transit: Istanbulkart covers metro, tram, bus and ferry; the DTM–İstanbul Fuar Merkezi metro stop is at the fairground.

Parking: Paid on-site parking fills before 10:00; the metro avoids the queue.

Weather

Plan and pack for the event climate.

Month: January

Temperature: 3–9°C

Seasonality: Rain on roughly half the days, occasional sleet; wind off the Marmara makes it feel colder.

Packing: Waterproof coat, warm layers, closed shoes for the walk between halls, and an umbrella.

Plan your trip

Planning

Best day to visit: 2027-01-29

Day two has the fullest exhibitor presence and the busiest meeting calendar, while badge queues are shorter than on opening morning.

T-14

Register for a trade badge and print the confirmation — Registration is through the organiser; keep the PDF and a photo ID ready.

T-10

Book flights into IST and confirm the hotel shuttle — Late January has thinner schedules; avoid tight connections.

T-7

Build a target list of pool, spa and treatment suppliers — Group by hall so you walk one zone at a time.

T-3

Download the floor plan and book three supplier meetings — Ask each supplier for a technical contact, not just sales.

T-1

Charge devices, pack waterproof shoes and confirm the metro route — DTM–İstanbul Fuar Merkezi is on the M1A line.

Sample visitor itinerary

Route-optimised day