Greek National Development Fund advances Thessaloniki Fair redevelopment

The Greek National Development Fund, recently renamed from the Super Fund, is preparing a series of major projects for the second half of 2026. Among them, the redevelopment of the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) has entered the tender phase. After years of design revisions, legal disputes and public debate, the government shifted the project from a public‑private partnership to a fully public scheme, dropping the hotel and business‑center components in favor of a greener layout. The Strategic Contracts Unit, led by deputy CEO Panagiotis Stampoulidis, has finalised the new plan, which features two bioclimatic exhibition halls, an upgraded "Ioannis Vellidis" conference centre, underground parking for over 600 vehicles and more than 100,000 m² of green and open space covering about 70 % of the site. Iconic structures such as the Esso Pappas building, MOMus and the Palais de Sports will be preserved. Funding will come from national and European sources, with the number of exhibition buildings reduced from four to two while maintaining the goal of creating a modern, international‑standard exhibition and conference hub.