Heimtextil 2026 reinforced its position as the world’s leading trade fair for home and contract textiles, demonstrating stability and confidence amid a volatile global market. With participation from 148 countries, the event attracted 3,000 exhibitors and welcomed over 48,000 buyers, with a notable rise in senior decision-maker attendance.
Held under the theme “Lead the Change”, Heimtextil highlighted evolving market dynamics, Artificial Intelligence, and new business opportunities. The fair showcased progressive design concepts, functional textiles, emerging talents, and innovative hospitality solutions, reflecting the future direction of interior design. A strong sense of trust in Heimtextil as a central industry platform was evident throughout the exhibition halls.
Heimtextil concluded with stable exhibitor and visitor numbers at a consistently high year-on-year level. The growing presence of top-level executives further underlined its relevance as a strategic sourcing and networking platform, even as global markets face geopolitical tensions, shifting trade flows, and changing consumer behaviour.
“Volatile tariff policies and geopolitical uncertainties are reshaping global sourcing and trade structures. At the same time, markets in ASEAN and Europe are gaining in importance. The need for orientation, market transparency, reliable partners and new business opportunities is increasing. Especially in the current climate, a dependable platform such as Heimtextil is indispensable as a central meeting point for the global industry,” said Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt.
Strong Global Participation and High-Quality Visitors
With an international exhibitor share of 96 percent, Heimtextil united major production and sales markets across the entire textile value chain. The top exhibitor countries included China, India, Pakistan, Türkiye, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
Visitor internationality reached 86 percent, with growth recorded from the United States, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, and Peru. The proportion of top-level decision-makers increased to 78 percent, highlighting Heimtextil’s importance for strategic sourcing, market exploration, and long-term partnerships. Senior executives from global brands such as Harrods, IKEA, Marriott Hotels, Sainsbury’s, and XXXLutz contributed to the high visitor quality. Repeat visits rose to 68 percent, reflecting strong satisfaction levels among both exhibitors and visitors.
Interior Design and Hospitality Drive Growth
As a global hub for textile and non-textile interior design, Heimtextil presented curated solutions for retail, contract, and hospitality sectors. The Heimtextil Trends 26/27, themed “Craft is a verb”, connected Artificial Intelligence with traditional craftsmanship, offering new perspectives for design, product development, and assortment planning.
Designer and architect Patricia Urquiola brought the future of interior design to life with her installation “among-all”, which combined AI, material innovation, and sustainability. The interactive space demonstrated how adaptive textiles can respond to individual needs while shaping new concepts for retail, design, and hospitality. Heimtextil further strengthened its creative leadership by showcasing established studios alongside emerging talents with sustainable and market-ready textile solutions.
Project-Based Solutions and Hospitality Focus
Responding to changing consumer expectations and rising demand for functional contract textiles, Heimtextil placed strong emphasis on project-based interior solutions. The Interior.Architecture.Hospitality programme connected industry stakeholders with designers and planners, highlighting opportunities across hospitality, office, healthcare, and contract interiors.
From 2027, a new collaboration with Hospitality Interiors Europe (HINT) will expand Heimtextil’s offering for holistic interior design. The parallel format will target decision-makers responsible for high-end contract projects and further strengthen Frankfurt’s role as a global hospitality design hub.
Lead the Change: AI as a Business Enabler
Heimtextil 2026 translated key industry developments into practical business opportunities through curated showcases, innovative exhibitor presentations, and a focused content programme. Artificial Intelligence played a central role across the fair under “Texpertise Focus AI”, demonstrating how AI enhances competitiveness across design, production, and customer engagement.
“Artificial intelligence is already part of economic reality – as a creative partner for design concepts and material visualisations, and as an efficient tool for data migration, day-to-day workflows and personalised customer engagement. Our aim is to make these concrete applications tangible and actionable for the industry,” said Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies.
With its strong strategic focus, Heimtextil 2026 reaffirmed its role as a reliable industry partner, enabling global textile players to navigate change, unlock new business potential, and collectively shape the future of the sector.
