ORGATEC 2026 in Cologne, Germany

ORGATEC 2026 at Koelnmesse, Cologne is the leading international trade fair dedicated to modern workspaces and contract interiors. Every two years it brings together brands of office furniture, lighting, acoustics, hybrid work technologies and workplace architects from all over the world.

In 2024 the event hosted 729 exhibitors from 40 countries and around 45,000 professional visitors from more than 120 nations. It is a truly global meeting point for everyone who shapes how we will work tomorrow.

Who should definitely add ORGATEC to their calendar

• Manufacturers and distributors of office and contract furniture, acoustic solutions, lighting and floor coverings.
• Architects, interior designers, workplace strategists and consultants for office transformation.
• Developers, business centre owners and operating companies in the office, hotel, coworking and education segments.
• HR directors, corporate culture specialists and business leaders responsible for employee engagement and workplace comfort.
• IT and AV integrators, providers of systems for hybrid meeting rooms, desk booking and office utilisation analytics.
• Distributors and buyers in the contract segment working with offices, home offices, hospitality and public spaces.

The ORGATEC atmosphere is far from a “quiet” catalogue showcase. It is live stands, prototypes, the fresh smell of wood and textiles, test drives of chairs and meeting pods, focus zones with AR installations and a constant stream of business talks in the corridors of Koelnmesse.

Video about ORGATEC: what the leading workplace exhibition looks like

Even if you have not yet been to Cologne, you can easily feel the ORGATEC atmosphere through video highlights: halls with multi-level stands, lighting installations, demonstrations of chairs, meeting areas, acoustic booths and interactive zones.

On the official ORGATEC YouTube channel and on exhibitor websites you can find additional videos: interviews with designers and company leaders, overviews of Focus Areas and the Work Culture Festival. This is a great way to prepare your team for the trip, show colleagues what the trade fair looks like and plan in advance which stands to visit first.

History of ORGATEC: from office furniture to modern work cultures

The story of ORGATEC began in Cologne in 1953, when the office equipment market was only just emerging. The first editions focused on classic desks, cabinets and chairs, but even then the trade fair set the direction for the entire office interiors industry.

Over time the format grew from a “furniture fair” into a full-scale platform for discussing new ways of working. In 2018 the trade fair attracted around 63,000 visitors and more than 750 exhibitors, securing its status as a key event in the world of office environments.

After the pandemic break, ORGATEC 2022 returned with a focus on hybrid work and new office culture: 686 exhibitors from 43 countries, approximately 45,000 visitors from 130 countries and an impressive level of international participation.

In 2024 the concept was strengthened with new Focus Areas: #InspiredAugmentedOffice, #TheCircularHouse, #ImpulseContract, #OfficeXperience and other themed zones. Company booths were built around these core areas, and the zones themselves turned into living laboratories of the future office: from augmented reality to the circular economy.

The theme of ORGATEC 2026 2026 is “From Rooms to Relationships”: focusing not only on spaces, but also on how design and technology help people build connections and work more effectively.

Advantages of ORGATEC: scale, figures and a unique focus

The main advantage of ORGATEC is its clear specialisation in the modern world of work. It is not just a furniture fair, but a platform where architecture, technology, work culture and sustainability are discussed together.

Key figures from recent years:

• ORGATEC 2018 — around 753 exhibitors and 63,000 visitors (including co-located events).
• ORGATEC 2022 — 686 exhibitors from 43 countries, approximately 45,000 professionals from 130 countries, with international visitors accounting for about 78 percent.
• ORGATEC 2024 — 729 companies from 40 countries and around 45,000 professional visitors from 126 countries, with international guests making up more than half of the audience.

According to Koelnmesse, the trade fair occupies several halls (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10), with each hall having its own thematic focus: from hybrid offices to contract projects and outdoor hospitality. This format makes a visit both logical and rich: visitors move through trends rather than along an alphabetical list of stands.

For exhibitors, a strong argument in favour of ORGATEC 2026 is the composition of the audience. It is not a random mass of casual visitors, but professional architects, planners, procurement specialists, real estate managers, HR and workplace leaders who make decisions on office concepts and purchasing.

Another advantage of recent years is the Work Culture Festival. It is a rich programme of talks and debates featuring designers, researchers, consultants and thought leaders. For brands, participation in ORGATEC 2026 is at once a showroom, an ideas lab and a negotiation platform with clients from dozens of countries.

Well-known ORGATEC exhibitors: who you can meet in the Koelnmesse halls

Every edition of ORGATEC brings together leading global brands in office furniture, lighting and workplace technologies. Below are examples of companies that have announced their participation.

• Haworth. One of the largest office furniture manufacturers in the world. At ORGATEC 2024 Haworth created two spaces: a stand at Koelnmesse and the Haworth Warehouse Experience on the banks of the Rhine. The company showcased new products, shared its sustainability journey and hosted live discussions with architects and designers, turning the visit into a full content experience.
• Kinnarps. A Swedish brand known for its holistic approach to offices and learning environments. At ORGATEC 2024, under the motto “Spaces where people thrive”, Kinnarps showed how ergonomics, biophilic design and sustainable materials come together in the modern workplace. A stand focused on wellbeing and flexibility became one of the main points of attraction in a central hall.
• Steelcase / Viccarbe. Steelcase, one of the global leaders in office design, at ORGATEC 2024 highlighted its brand Viccarbe, presenting collections for collaborative zones. The stand featured soft modular solutions that can easily shift from informal meetings to agile team formats. For visitors, it was a strong example of how workspace typologies in offices are changing.
• Wilkhahn. A German manufacturer of chairs and tables with a strong design DNA. For ORGATEC 2026 the company prepared a number of new products related to dynamic sitting, mobile systems and configurations for team work. Wilkhahn consistently demonstrates how good design and ergonomics help the office be both functional and “alive”.
• Humanscale. A specialist in workplace ergonomics: chairs, height-adjustable desks, lighting and accessories. At a previous ORGATEC edition Humanscale shared trends in sustainable materials, showcased solutions for hybrid offices and took part in discussions about the future of the workplace, where human health is front and centre.
• GoBright. A tech company developing a platform for desk booking, room booking, occupancy analytics and hybrid work. GoBright shows how intuitive interfaces and data can turn the office into a flexible, measurable and transparent system, where every square metre works for the business.

Dozens of other brands add to this list: from carpet and flooring manufacturers to AV technology integrators and coworking operators. In practice this means that in a single visit to ORGATEC you can see a nearly “fully assembled” office of the future: furniture, lighting, acoustics, technologies and cultural scenarios.

Tips for visitors to ORGATEC at Koelnmesse

The ORGATEC 2026 trade fair means several days packed with events: focus areas, exhibition stands, the Work Culture Festival, talks, debates and guided tours of the fair. To avoid getting lost in this stream, it is best to plan your visit strategy in advance.

• Set your priorities. Are you more interested in furniture, lighting, acoustics or digital solutions for hybrid offices? This determines in which halls you will spend most of your time and whom you should schedule meetings with.
• Explore the Focus Areas. #InspiredAugmentedOffice, #TheCircularHouse, #OfficeXperience and other zones quickly highlight the key trends: from spatial AR scenarios to circular economy concepts in the office. Put these zones at the start of your route.
• Use the online tools. On the ORGATEC website you will find the exhibitor directory, product groups and hall plans. Mark your “must see” stands, and then add time for spontaneous discoveries.
• Allow extra time between meetings. Koelnmesse is a large venue, and ORGATEC 2026 occupies several halls. Moving from one hall to another, especially at peak times, takes time.
• Visit the Work Culture Festival. This is your chance to hear thought leaders on the future of work, hybrid models, sustainability and the role of the office in company life. A great source of ideas for HR and top management.
• Make use of venue services. Koelnmesse offers cafés, areas for short meetings, cloakrooms, Wi-Fi and business lounges. Plan where your team will meet, summarise the day and sort through new contacts.

Logistics are also straightforward: from the Köln Messe/Deutz station to the exhibition entrance it is just a few minutes on foot, and there are hotels for every budget and many restaurants nearby. After a full-on day at ORGATEC you can get some fresh air in the old town, walk to Cologne Cathedral or sit by the Rhine discussing the solutions you have seen.

Product and service categories at ORGATEC

ORGATEC’s profile covers the full range of solutions for offices and contract interiors: from architectural finishes to digital platforms.

Among the key exhibitor categories are:

• Interior solutions and smart office: office and contract furniture, storage systems, modular zones, solutions for flexible workspaces.
• Acoustics, floor and wall coverings, lighting: panels, ceilings, carpet tiles and LVT, architectural and project lighting, acoustic luminaires.
• Multimedia and conferencing technologies: systems for hybrid meeting rooms, video conferencing, media integration, solutions for hybrid presentations.
• IT, telecoms and software: platforms for desk and meeting room booking, office utilisation analytics, building management systems and smart office services.
• Solutions for outdoor and hospitality: outdoor furniture for office terraces, exterior lighting and surfaces, collections for cafés, hotels and public areas.
• Consulting and services: workplace strategies, change management, design and delivery of turnkey offices, facility management services.
• Circular economy concepts: material recycling, furniture take-back and refurbish programmes, service-based models instead of one-off purchases.

For visitors this means that at ORGATEC you can assemble not only the “look” of an office, but a complete ecosystem: furniture, lighting, acoustics, digital tools and operational practices that can later be transferred into your own projects.

How to participate in ORGATEC 2026 as an exhibitor

To exhibit at ORGATEC 2026 as an exhibitor, a company submits an online application on the trade fair website: choosing the stand size, stand type (row, corner, U-shaped, island), halls and additional services. Koelnmesse offers square-metre-based pricing, a marketing package and a range of services for logistics and technical equipment.

An important part of preparation is a well-designed exhibition stand. Surrounded by eye-catching presentations of global brands you need to stand out with your architecture, spatial usage scenarios, demo zones and a clear brand story. A well-planned stand turns three or four days at ORGATEC into a steady flow of relevant leads and meetings.

To avoid spending internal resources on trial and error, it makes sense to entrust the design and construction of the exhibition stand or the rental of a ready-made stand structure to ESBAU — a professional stand builder in Europe. The ESBAU team helps adapt the concept to the requirements of ORGATEC and Koelnmesse, plan demo zones, meeting areas, storage and brand details, as well as factor in installation and dismantling logistics.

Before submitting your application it is useful to answer a few questions:

• Which products and solutions you want to make the “heroes” of the stand: workstations, soft seating, acoustic pods, lighting, technologies or integrated concepts.
• Who your key target audience is: architects, developers, corporate clients, distributors or coworking operators.
• Whether you plan to speak as part of the Work Culture Festival or to host your own presentations at the stand.
• How your follow-up will be organised: collecting contacts, lead segmentation, post-fair meetings, client visits to showrooms.

With this approach, exhibiting at ORGATEC 2026 becomes not a “must-have presence”, but a measurable growth tool: new partnerships, access to an international audience and a stronger brand position in the workplace segment.

Exhibition Stand Builder at ORGATEC