Five Decades of Special Mineral Exhibitions at the Munich Show

The special exhibitions are the heart of the Munich Show and have been setting new standards for decades. With elaborately themed displays, rare exhibits and items on loan from museums and private collections from all over the world, they not only offer a visual highlight, but also reflect the diversity, history and fascination of the mineral world. As a source of inspiration for collectors, dealers and museums worldwide, they have a lasting impact on the international mineral scene and make the Munich Show a cultural meeting place far beyond the specialist trade.

2020s - Highlights from 2022 to 2024

The special shows offered international visitors spectacular insights into the world of minerals. With a view to the artistic examination of nature or the incredible artistry of nature itself, quite remarkable special shows were created.

2022 - The Magic of Stones

Minerals have always fascinated with their brilliance, color and mystical or magical effect. Even the Sumerians and Romans used them for rituals and customs.

2023 - Art d'Object

Nature as an artist: creative people are inspired by the beauty and diversity of minerals to create impressive works of art and science.

2024 - The Impossible Crystal

Too perfect to be real? Some crystals appear to be from another world and yet show the astonishing precision of nature.

2010s - Highlights from 2010 to 2019

The special shows at the Munich Show repeatedly reflected the diversity of the trade fair and invited visitors to discover treasures from all over the world. There were also insights into the archives of renowned museums or extraordinary private collections.

2013 - Gold

For the 50th anniversary, the focus was on gold - from special deposits and gold-bearing minerals to the crystal form, the question of the essence of gold was addressed.

2016 - Hidden Treasures of the Museums

Natural history museums around the world preserve collections that have grown over centuries, many of which have never been exhibited. These often overlooked exhibits reveal surprising stories.

2019 - Those Who Collect Write History

The art of collecting can be seen in impressive international collections. Whether collecting by classification, color, location and much more. Make every single collection unique.

2000s - Highlights from 2000 to 2009

Treasures from all over the world - from the depths of the Alps to the vastness of China - were brought to the Munich Show and presented to a wide audience. The mineral specimens and cultural objects on display amazed the visitors.

2002 - Crystal Treasures from the Hohe Tauern

Under the patronage of Reinhold Messner, nature-loving “Stoansuacher” presented their magnificent finds from the Alps around the Großvenediger and the Großglockner.

2005 - Agate Dreams

Incredible colors and unique images - over 100 individuals and institutions from all over the world showed the diversity and uniqueness of agates.

2009 - India

A 10-kilo aquamarine or a statue made of water-clear rock crystal from the Himalayas - the hidden treasures of India attracted everyone's attention with breathtaking mineral specimens and pieces of jewelry.

1990s - Highlights from 1990 to 1999

Back then still called Mineralientage München, the Munich Show moved to the newly built Munich Convention Center in Riem in the 1990s, where there was even more space for the unusual exhibitions. Not only minerals were on display - a car hit by a meteorite or even parts of a hotel from Tucson also made it into the exhibition halls.

1992 - Rich Ore

There is a hidden miner in every collector - Glück Auf!
With an interest in the miners' own cultural and artistic history, the special exhibition was dedicated to the lives of the miners who have been bringing the treasures of the depths to the surface for centuries.

1995 - Fluorite

It's quite something: fluorite is a colorful mineral that fascinates collectors all over the world. On display were fluorites from renowned collections, for example from Alexis Chermette or Sir Arthur Russel.

1998 - Red & Vivid

The special show on red minerals such as rhodochrosite and zinober was topped by a highlight: the Desert Inn from Tucson. The legendary hotel, once the venue for the most important satellite show, was rebuilt in Munich from the original remains and thus revived the euphoria of the growing mineral scene.

1980s - Highlights from 1980 to 1989

International topics ranging from scientific mineralogy to paleontology: The special exhibitions at the Munich Show presented colorful minerals that captivated visitors.

1984 - Treasures of the Alps

From smoky quartz in the Swiss Alps to emeralds from the Habach Valley - the Alps are home to numerous well-known mineral sites. Treasures from Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland were on display.

1985 - Tourmaline

The Munich Mineral Days were brought to life by the brilliance and unique colors of the most versatile gemstone that the earth has to offer, tourmaline.

1986 - Petrified Forests of Prehistoric Times

It was clear many years ago that trees are important for human survival. A look at 500 million years of life on earth showed fascinating natural processes and their development.