Exhibition Stand at HavExpo 2026: Planning Your Stand in Bergen
HavExpo 2026 takes place 5-7 May at Sotra Arena in Oygarden near Bergen. Here is how to plan an exhibition stand that reaches the aquaculture and fisheries industry.
HavExpo 2026 takes place 5 to 7 May at Sotra Arena in Oygarden, just west of Bergen. The fair brings together the aquaculture and fisheries industry from around the world in a compact two-hall format. If you are exhibiting, your stand is the most important tool you have for standing out.
Here is what you need to know to plan an exhibition stand that works at HavExpo.
What is HavExpo?
HavExpo is an international trade fair focused on aquaculture, fisheries and the seafood industry. The fair is held at Sotra Arena (Straume Idrettspark) in Oygarden municipality, just west of Bergen. The location is deliberate: the Bergen region is the centre of gravity for Norwegian seafood, with proximity to fish farming companies, feed suppliers, technology firms and research institutions.
The format is compact. Two halls (Hall A and Hall C) mean visitors get an overview quickly, and exhibitors reach the right people without competing against hundreds of other stands in enormous exhibition centres. That is an advantage for companies that want quality in their meetings, not just volume.
Who exhibits at HavExpo?
The fair attracts the entire value chain:
- Fish farming companies and aquaculture groups
- Equipment suppliers (cages, feeding systems, nets, sensors)
- Feed producers and nutrition companies
- Technology companies (monitoring, IoT, autonomous vessels)
- Research and educational institutions
- Regulators and industry organisations
Visitors are typically decision-makers: procurement managers, CEOs, technology leads and project managers. They come looking for specific solutions, not to browse.
Sotra Arena as a venue
Sotra Arena is located at Straume in Oygarden. The arena is relatively new and has two halls available for HavExpo. Practical details:
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Address | Straume Idrettspark, Oygarden |
| Halls | Hall A and Hall C |
| Distance from Bergen city centre | approx. 25 minutes by car |
| Parking | Available at the venue |
| Accommodation | Bergen has a wide selection of hotels, book early |
The advantage of a compact venue is that it does not require the same type of stand as a major fair. You do not need 60 square metres to be noticed. A well-designed stand of 12-20 square metres can do just as much, because walking distances are short and visitors orientate themselves quickly.
What type of stand works at HavExpo?
On a compact fair like HavExpo, three things determine whether a stand works:
1. Clear message from a distance Visitors should understand what you do before they reach the stand. That means clear branding, a short value proposition and graphic elements that communicate your industry and expertise.
2. Space for product display The aquaculture industry is technical. People want to see equipment, models or demonstrations. Make sure the stand provides space for physical product display or screens with technical content.
3. A meeting space that works The most important conversations happen face to face. A stand with a table, chairs and some screening allows focused conversations without standing in the middle of aisle traffic.
Three stand types and what they suit
| Type | Size | Price from | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Popup stand | 6-9 sqm | NOK 15,000 ex. VAT | First time at HavExpo, limited budget |
| Modular stand | 12-20 sqm | NOK 50,000 ex. VAT | Companies wanting a graphic wall, meeting space and product display |
| Custom stand | 20+ sqm | NOK 150,000 ex. VAT | Larger exhibitors with multiple product lines or meeting needs |
For most exhibitors at HavExpo, a modular stand is the best choice. It provides enough space to display products, hold meetings and communicate the brand, without taking up too much floor space in a venue where space is limited.
Our experience with aquaculture fairs
Show Off has delivered exhibition stands at Aqua Nor in Trondheim and Nor-Fishing for several companies in the aquaculture industry. That has given us a solid understanding of what the industry expects:
- Robust product display: Aquaculture equipment is physical. The stand must handle weight, demonstrations and visitors who want to touch things.
- Technical content on screen: Animations, 3D models and videos of equipment in use deliver more than static posters.
- Calm meeting zones: Decision-makers in aquaculture want thorough conversations. Plan for that.
- Reusable construction: Many aquaculture companies exhibit at several fairs each year. A stand designed for reuse and adaptation saves costs over time.
We have built over 500 exhibition stands in total and know the dynamics of Norwegian trade fairs well. For HavExpo, we travel from our workshop in Sandnes to Oygarden with our own assembly team.
Planning timeline
For HavExpo 2026 (5-7 May), you should start planning now if you have not already:
| Timeframe | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8-10 weeks before | Order stand and start design process |
| 6-8 weeks before | Approve design and start production |
| 3-4 weeks before | Production complete, graphic materials ready |
| 1 week before | Transport to Oygarden |
| Day(s) before | Assembly at Sotra Arena |
| 5-7 May | HavExpo 2026 |
| After the fair | Dismantling and optional storage |
How we work with exhibition stands for HavExpo
Show Off handles the entire process from first conversation to final teardown:
- Briefing: We map out goals, budget, stand size and what you want to achieve at the fair
- Design: 3D visualisation of the stand tailored to the floor plan at Sotra Arena
- Production: Everything is built at our workshop in Sandnes
- Transport: We drive materials and stand elements to Oygarden
- Assembly: Our own team sets up the stand at Sotra Arena
- Dismantling: We take down the stand after the fair and offer storage for the next event
Contact for exhibition projects is Vegard Hermansen.
Other aquaculture fairs to consider
If you are exhibiting at HavExpo, it may be worth looking at these fairs in the same industry:
- Aqua Nor in Trondheim (the world's largest aquaculture fair)
- Nor-Fishing in Trondheim (fisheries and catch)
- AquaNext (aquaculture innovation)
A stand designed with reuse in mind can be used at several of these events with adaptations.
Next step
Planning an exhibition stand for HavExpo 2026? See our trade show services for the full overview, read about what an exhibition stand costs, or get in touch for a no-obligation conversation about your stand, budget and delivery.
Dennis Halvorsen
Managing Director and exhibition project advisor
Dennis writes about trade shows, international exhibitions, project management, and how brands use physical spaces and events to build visibility and demand.