Quick summary
The German Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) has been in force since June 2025 and also covers digital booking paths for tickets and event registration. For associations, universities and public bodies, accessibility is now a hard selection criterion, not a nice-to-have.
- Duty, not optional: online ticket purchase and registration must work with a screen reader, keyboard and sufficient contrast (WCAG AA).
- Priority: the public booking path first; internal admin screens can follow if there is a clear roadmap.
- Ask the vendor: a public accessibility statement and a readable picture of what is already done.
Related: Software for associations and universities · Procurement and award · Accessibility
Planning accessible events: what the BFSG means for organizers
The Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) has been in force since June 2025. It transposes the European Accessibility Act into German law and covers more than many organizers first expect, including online booking paths for tickets and events.
What the BFSG actually regulates
The BFSG requires providers of certain digital products and services to make them accessible. That includes websites and apps through which contracts are concluded, so also digital ticket purchase or registration for an event. The main addressees are businesses that offer those services commercially. Purely private or one-off club activities can have exemptions. For associations, universities and bodies with a regular commercial or public character, a closer look is still worthwhile.
Accessibility here means: the booking path must work with screen readers, offer enough colour contrast, be usable by keyboard and contain clear, well-structured forms. The international standard is WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), usually at conformance level AA.
Why this matters especially for associations, universities and public bodies
Public bodies have had their own accessibility duties for some time, for example under the BITV. The BFSG now extends that idea to private providers and their digital sales channels. For universities, associations and similar institutions that means: if you use software for ticketing or event registration, check whether the vendor can produce an accessibility statement and how far your own booking path meets WCAG.
This is not just a legal formality. Accessible booking processes reach more attendees, including people with visual or motor impairments, and older users who benefit from clear structure and readable text.
How this fits the wider software choice is in event management software for associations, universities and public institutions.
What organizers should check in practice
- Forms and booking path: Can every step be completed with the keyboard, without a mouse?
- Contrast and text size: Are type size and colour contrast readable for people with low vision?
- Screen-reader support: Are fields, buttons and error messages announced correctly?
- Plain language: Are errors and hints written clearly, not as cryptic technical codes?
- Vendor accessibility statement: Is there a current, public statement that makes the implementation status transparent?
Not an all-or-nothing topic
Accessibility is often seen as a huge task that cannot be finished. In practice it is better treated as a continuous process. The public booking path, where people buy tickets or register, usually comes first because it reaches the largest audience. Internal admin screens used only by the board or team can follow in a second step.
What matters most is a clear roadmap, and that the vendor is open about which areas already meet WCAG and what is still in progress.
Conclusion
The BFSG turns digital accessibility for online booking paths from optional into required, including ticket purchase and event registration. For associations, universities and public institutions that adds another concrete criterion when choosing software: a public accessibility statement and a readable WCAG implementation should now be asked for as routinely as GDPR compliance or server location.
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