imm cologne 2026 in Cologne, Germany

imm cologne 2026 – not just a furniture trade fair. It is the B2B interior design event that officially kicks off the new interior year in Europe.

imm cologne 2026 will once again take place at Koelnmesse in Cologne and bring the international furniture and interior industry together on a single platform. The format is focused on consumer-oriented interior design: from retail chains and purchasing associations to e-commerce players.

For exhibitors, it is a working stage where deals are closed and new season collections are shaped. For visitors – the fastest way to see the full market overview: from affordable segments to premium brands.

Video imm cologne: experience the trade fair atmosphere

To get a feel for the imm cologne atmosphere in advance, the best option is to watch the official trailer: it shows the halls, exhibition stands, and visitor flows at Koelnmesse.

Who should attend imm cologne

If you are professionally involved in interiors, imm cologne easily becomes the main annual business trip.

• Executives and buyers from furniture chains, online stores, and interior showrooms looking for new brands and collections.
• Manufacturers of furniture, lighting, and home décor planning entry into the German and Central European markets.
• Architects and interior designers who need to see trends, materials, and solutions in real life, not just in catalogs.
• Distributors and wholesalers building brand portfolios and searching for new product niches.
• Hoteliers, developers, and HoReCa facility managers selecting solutions for hotels, apartments, and public spaces.
• Media and bloggers covering interiors, sustainable design, and lifestyle trends.

In 2024, around half of all visitors came from abroad, and exhibitors represented more than 40 countries, making imm cologne a truly international business hub, not a local event.

History of imm cologne: from post-war fair to global interior event

The story of imm cologne began in 1949, when the first Cologne Furniture Fair was held in war-torn Germany. Back then it was a platform for rebuilding the industry and housing stock; today it is a global meeting point for the interior business.

Over time the fair became annual and firmly established at Koelnmesse. Alongside imm, the city hosts parallel events: Cologne Design Week, Interior Design Week, young designer competitions, and talent programs – for a few days Cologne turns into the “city of interiors”.

In peak years the fair attracted up to 1,250 exhibitors and more than 125,000 visitors, and according to industry reviews imm cologne ranks among the world’s largest furniture fairs by area (up to 280,000 m²) and attendance.

2024 marked an important relaunch: a new concept, the theme “Connecting Communities” and the content platform The Circles set the tone for the next stage of development. In 2025 the fair takes a break and will return from the following year at Koelnmesse in a refreshed format under the central theme World of Interiors.

Scale and benefits of imm cologne 2026 in numbers

The reason the industry talks so much about imm cologne is simple: the combination of scale and razor-sharp business focus.

• In 2024 imm cologne featured around 750 exhibitors from 42 countries and 42,000 visitors from 132 countries, with approximately 50 % of guests coming from abroad.
• In previous editions the total exhibition space reached around 120,000 m², while pre-COVID years saw 150,000+ visitors and roughly 1,200 exhibitors.
• Koelnmesse offers approximately 284,000 m² of exhibition space, giving the fair plenty of room to grow without sacrificing comfort.
• Already six months before imm cologne 2026 around 70 % of planned space was booked – a strong indicator of industry confidence.
• The fair focuses on market-ready products: not a “prototype lab”, but a place where buyers see what will actually hit stores.

Compared to many other interior events, imm cologne stands out by combining international showcase status with very clear B2B positioning and a strong concentration of mid-range and entry-level solutions.

imm cologne 2026 at Koelnmesse: the venue experience

Koelnmesse is one of Europe’s largest exhibition centres, and imm cologne uses it in a way that feels both grand and convenient.

The halls are divided into thematic worlds – Home, Pure, Sleep, connected by a “boulevard” that makes navigation between pavilions easy. In 2024 the new The Circles format added round zones – club, café, bar, studios, and installation circles – where lectures, interviews, and art installations take place.

On the sensory level it’s not just “stands in rows”, but an entire interior city inside the halls: business negotiations here, a lounge with coffee and a talk there, an experimental lighting installation or informal networking zone nearby.

Six renowned companies at imm cologne 2026

The exhibitor lineup changes yearly, but major brands set the tone. Below are six prominent companies that participated in imm cologne 2024 and plan to continue their presence.

• IKEA IKEA uses imm cologne to show where mass-market interiors are heading: multifunctional furniture, solutions for small spaces, sustainable materials. For professionals it’s a rare chance to preview products that may shift consumer expectations in a year or two.
• JYSK Danish JYSK demonstrates at imm cologne how to make “Scandinavian comfort” affordable at scale – from bedrooms to outdoor zones. For retail chains and online players it’s a clear benchmark for the affordable segment.
• Tchibo Tchibo attends imm cologne 2026 not only as a retailer but as a specialist in thematic collections: compact furniture, textiles, and accessories that work perfectly in “living room in a week” concepts. The fair format lets the brand test professional reactions long before mass-market campaigns.
• Hülsta German brand Hülsta is one of the anchors of imm cologne 2026: signature case goods and bedroom collections occupy large stands and consistently attract premium-segment architects and buyers. In 2024 the company actively used the platform for international partner meetings and emphasized “made in Germany” quality and durability.
• Rolf Benz Rolf Benz is synonymous with designer sofas and armchairs, and its stand at imm cologne always becomes a “laboratory of seating comfort”. In 2024 the brand exhibited both independently and in shared zones, showcasing contemporary modular sofa interpretations and sustainable production approaches.
• Müller Möbel German Müller Möbel celebrated its long partnership with the fair at imm cologne 2024 and presented work and living spaces with a focus on functionality and minimalist design. For regional dealers their stand is a convenient source of ready-made solutions for home offices and compact apartments.

The list could easily be extended with dozens of other names – from French Gautier and Italian brands to Scandinavian manufacturers and national pavilions. This diversity is what makes imm cologne so attractive to the professional audience.

Thematic worlds and product categories at imm cologne 2026

The product map of imm cologne is structured around the World of Interiors theme and several worlds – Home, Pure, Sleep. This makes it easier to navigate the huge number of exhibitors.

• Home world – everyday living solutions: sofas and armchairs, modular systems, living-room case goods, bedrooms and kids’ rooms, flat-pack segment, youth interiors.
• Sleep sector – everything for healthy sleep: mattresses, bed systems, textiles, beds, and bedroom accessories across all price levels.
• Pure – high-design, premium block where leading brands set interior fashion trends and often launch world or European premieres.
• Additionally – kitchen and dining furniture, lighting, carpets, accessories, home-office and hybrid-space solutions, plus contract-sector and public-space collections.

This structure makes imm cologne a practical tool both for buyers filling specific product niches and for designers coming for inspiration.

Tips and lifehacks for imm cologne 2026 visitors

imm is several days of packed schedules, so preparation matters. A few simple steps dramatically improve the experience.

• Download the official imm cologne app. It stores tickets (including public transport passes), interactive hall plans, exhibitor and product lists, event program, and networking/lead-tracking features.
• Plan your route using the Hall Plan in advance. A detailed Koelnmesse map with hall breakdown and “boulevard” is available on the website. Mark key exhibition stands and thematic Circles to stay oriented in the crowd.
• Make use of The Circles format. Circle Café, Club, Bar, Brand Circles, Community, and Installation Circles are more than just lounges. Lectures, panels, showcases, and conceptual installations happen here, and it’s the easiest place to start new connections.
• Allow at least two full days. Day one: focus on key suppliers and scheduled meetings; day two: explore new products, Pure zones, and experimental projects.
• Plan your travel. Koelnmesse is right next to Köln Messe/Deutz station, easily reachable by Deutsche Bahn trains; special event fares are available, and many routes run on 100 % green electricity.
• Take advantage of evening events in the city. Partner and off-site events (e.g., Design Post) let you continue conversations with key contacts outside the halls.

Inside Koelnmesse there are restaurants, cafés, rest areas, and business lounges, so you can comfortably spend a full day without losing negotiation momentum.

How to exhibit at imm cologne

To participate in imm cologne as an exhibitor, simply apply via the official website, choose your stand size, and calculate the participation budget.

• Minimum stand size in the new format – from 12 m².
• Koelnmesse’s Facts & Figures section details build-up and dismantling times, staff passes, and additional services.
• Exhibitors get marketing packages, media services, online catalog entries, and promotion via the official Media Shop.

The key question is what your stand will look like. In a highly competitive environment, thoughtfully designed, architecturally cohesive stands with clear visitor routing and negotiation areas stand out.

If you don’t have an in-house design team, it makes sense to entrust the project to a specialized company. ESBAU – professional exhibition stand builder in Europe – can develop a custom stand concept tailored to the imm cologne format, taking into account Koelnmesse hall specifics and handling full construction and technical coordination.

Another option – rent a modular exhibition stand from ESBAU customized to your brand. You select configuration and size, the team prepares the design, coordinates with the organizer, and delivers a turnkey stand ready for the fair opening, freeing your team to focus solely on client meetings.

Why include imm cologne 2026 in your marketing plan

There are many beautiful interior shows, but imm cologne uniquely combines emotion with hard business logic.

For brands it’s a chance to start the year with a strong presentation, gather live feedback from a professional audience, strengthen positions in the key German market, and conduct in four days the volume of meetings that usually takes months offline.

For visitors – the opportunity to see and touch new collections before they reach showrooms, benchmark their ideas against global trends, and return home with concrete contacts and inspiration.

If your goals are tied to the interior business, being present at imm cologne 2026 is not an “option” – it’s a logical step that boosts both sales and brand image.