imm Cologne 2026 witnesses’ strong international participation

imm Cologne 2026 gears up to launch the furniture year with strong international participation. The officials are happy to experience the confirmation of participation of exhibitors from 27 countries already four months before the trade fair.  Among the major registered suppliers in the upcoming trade fair, include suppliers from China and Asian countries, and this huge participation reflects current market trends and positive developments. The trade fair, imm Cologne will be hosted in Halls 4, 5, 10.1 and 10.2 of the Koelnmesse trade fairgrounds from 20 to 23 January 2026. The upcoming reconceptualized event is positioning itself as the central sourcing platform for consumer-oriented interior design in the mid-range segment to entry-level price points. Identifying World of Interiors as its central theme, the trade fair will bring the international industry together at the furniture destination of Cologne.

According to recent official foreign trade statistics, international supplier countries are becoming increasingly important in the German market. Particularly dynamic growth has been seen in imports from China, which increased by 25 per cent to 1.7 billion euros in the first half of 2025 alone. A considerable 30 per cent of German furniture imports now come from China. Overall, imports account for approximately 60 per cent of the German furniture market – a clear indication of the growing importance of global sourcing markets. This dynamic is having a tangible impact on the supply landscape. Asian producers are increasingly looking for sales markets in Europe, while the retail sector and purchasing groups are realigning their ranges. Against this backdrop, imm cologne is positioning itself as a platform for initiating concrete business deals. The event’s new direction has been met with broad approval within the international industry.  

International line-up of exhibitors from 27 countries
Around four months before the trade fair opens, exhibitors from 27 countries have confirmed that they will be participating. Suppliers from Asia will have a particularly strong presence at the event, which will feature companies from China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. In addition, the organisers have announced international group stands that will represent suppliers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Japan, Romania and Taiwan. Among the other European exhibitors, Denmark and the Netherlands will be particularly well represented. 

“A situation dominated by economic challenges calls for a platform for efficient sourcing. This is exactly where imm cologne comes in. The strong presence of Asian suppliers confirms the trade fair’s continued position as a crucial gathering for the global furniture trade – an event that bridges continents,” explains Bernd Sanden, imm cologne’s director. He sees the fact that so many international players have decided to appear at imm cologne as a clear sign of their commitment to the city as a trade fair location. Many of the companies have already exhibited several times at imm cologne, he adds. “These long-term partnerships create planning certainty – for both sides. Our exhibitors are immediately able to deliver worldwide.” 

True to the event’s central theme, World of Interiors, imm cologne will cover the entire spectrum of the international interior design market. It will focus on market-ready, high-demand solutions for the international furniture trade – from furniture store chains to purchasing groups all the way through to online retailers. The hall layout for imm cologne 2026 has been carefully planned to respond to current market conditions and to provide orientation to help buyers stay focused when visiting the trade fair.  

Source: imm Cologne

 “Photo: Koelnmesse / imm cologne / Author”