The Karlsruhe Convention Center is one of the largest convention centers in Germany and is operated by the Karlsruher Messe- und Kongress-GmbH. It is located in Karlsruhe Südweststadt and comprises approximately 20,000 m² of exhibition space in four halls around the 10,000m² Festplatz are arranged. Until the opening of the Messe Karlsruhe 2003 the congress center was the largest trade fair and event center of the Karlsruhe region. Among other things, the large regional exhibition Offerta and found Learntec instead. In 1980, the founding conference was the open held in the city hall. From 2002 to 2005 the place LinuxTag held at the convention center.