Read Windowo's guide on the most important furniture fairs: what are they and where do they take place?
Furniture fairs around the world are many and available in various formats and specializations. If you work in this sector it is impossible to inform you about all the events offered. So what are the appointments to mark on the calendar?
Here is a list of the
fairs on the world of furniture that in our opinion should not be missed, both for professionals and for enthusiasts. We retrace the major countries of the world, starting with European fairs such as the
Salone del Mobile in Milan and IMM Cologne in Germany . Let's move on to Asia, where Design Shanghai is the largest Asian fair. Finally we arrive in America, with
exhibitions of contemporary design of the future, in New York and Chicago.
Why a list of furniture fairs? Because Windowo is an online store that sells many accessories related to furniture, such as handles for designer doors and windows (
discover the selection of handles ). Many of the brands we sell also exhibit in these fairs, are appreciated and bring Made in Italy to the world.
Here is the list of furniture fairs in Italy and in the world:
Trendset Munich in Munich (Germany): the best furniture fair in the world
When : every year in September and February
Numbers : 2,500 exhibitors from 40 countries around the world, 100,000 square meters divided into 14 thematic areas
What to see : consumer goods and home furnishings, design objects, but also gifts and decorations
Trendset Munich, is the first fair of the year dedicated to home interiors : in Munich you can find large and small leaders in the furniture sector, niche brands and new brands in the design sector. The exhibition is divided into 14 thematic areas that cover the entire subject of the home: the main ones are furniture and lamps, accessories and decorations, office and school, home and textiles, as well as outdoor furniture and gardening. The Trendset Munich fair which is held in two versions summer and winter.
Heimtextil Messe Frankfurt in Frankfurt (Germany): the largest fair of furnishing fabrics
When : every year in January
Numbers : 3,000 exhibitors from all over the world, 63,000 visitors
What to see : mainly new trends and innovations for home and office interior fabrics
Heimtextil Messe Frankfurt is the most important fair for furnishing fabrics in the world . At the Frankfurt fair you can find the latest trends in interior fabrics, interior design and ideas for home and office. Certainly Heimtextil is positioned in the market as an excellent place for professionals in the sector such as retailers, wholesalers, designers, furniture and bed linen shops, interior decorators, architects, up to hotel fitters. The fabric becomes a precious and modern object to be rediscovered to make architectural spaces unique and personal. All this is Heimtextil!
IMM Cologne in Cologne (Germany): international fair for interior design
When : every year in January
Numbers : 1233 exhibitors from all over the world, 130,000 visitors from 145 countries, 245,000 square meters of exhibition space
What to see : new products and design collections in the furniture sector
Cologna hosts the most important interior design fairs every year, including IMM Cologneo . The interior furnishing sector gathers here every year to present new collections and seasonal products. The IMM Cologne fair is also an unmissable event for many Italian furniture companies which, thanks to their proximity to Germany, are always present with very important and rapidly growing numbers. Among the trending topics covered are: bathroom, wall and floor coverings, lighting, smart home.
Maison & Objet Paris in Paris (France): one of the most important interior furnishing fairs in Europe
When : every year in January and September
Numbers : 3000 exhibitors, 800 brands, and over 80,000 visitors
What to see : in addition to interior products, the conferences attended by important designers and architects are also worth seeing
Maison & Objet Paris is another famous world fair for home interiors . It is held in Paris, the capital of fashion, so it is easy to understand the influence that the fashion sector can have in the French furniture sector. The biggest and most influential design brands are here, helping to connect furniture experts such as architects and design, with companies and entrepreneurs who want the best.
The fair also develops by organizing 60 conferences, where we talk about architecture and design . These are special occasions to be able to hear important personalities of the sector speak.
Stockholm Design Week in Stockholm (Sweden): event dedicated to Scandinavian design furniture
When : every year in August and January
Numbers : 700 exhibitors and 40,000 visitors - There are also many shops
What to see : exhibitions, openings, dinners and design talks with influential designers and architects
Stockholm Design Week, as the name implies, is not a fair like the ones already mentioned . It is a biennial event, very similar to the Venice Biennale, which however is focused on Scandinavian design furniture from Northern Europe. Scandinavian design furniture is one of the most modern and captivating styles of the moment. The simple and minimal shapes mix with natural materials such as wood. These are the strengths of an area of Europe that can boast big brands and important names in the design scene.
Who do we recommend Stockholm Design Week to? For those who want to find truly innovative and almost exotic interior ideas. To those who want to meet designers, architects, creators, buyers, journalists and design enthusiasts from around the world.
Ambiente Frankfurt in Frankfurt (Germany): important trade fair for restaurant, hotel and home furnishings
When : every year in February
Numbers : 4500 companies from 92 countries around the world. Italians are the largest presence
What to see : windows, sun protection, air conditioning and refrigeration systems, lighting, bathroom and kitchen, doors and floors, home automation
We return to Frankfurt with the Ambiente Frankfurt exhibition . Unlike the Heimtextil Messe fair, this event is dedicated to consumer goods for the catering, living and gifts areas. What does it mean? The fair is therefore dedicated to design for restaurants, hotels, but also for the home. They are places of everyday life and pleasure, which need to be valued in the best way. At the Ambiente interiors fair, you can find everything you need to give the pleasure of life in the spaces most familiar to us. You will feel at home, because Italian is the most widely spoken language, after German.
Salone del Mobile in Milan (Italy): the most important event in the world on design furniture is in Italy
When : every year in April - There are also two foreign versions: Moscow and Shanghai
Numbers : 2400 companies from all over the world, 386.000 visitors (record 2019)
What to see : furniture, design accessories, office, lighting, kitchen, bathrooms
We finally arrive at the most awaited fair for furniture in Italy. The Salone del Mobile , as its name underlines, is a fair and above all a large convivial space where the leading experts in the sector meet to choose the trends of the future. Milan, the world capital of industrial design, sets the rules for home and office furnishing.
It does so with the push of a Made in Italy furniture sector that brings collections and events throughout the city to Milan. The Salone del Mobile is an opportunity to experience the nightlife with a taste for design, participating in events and art exhibitions. This is the beauty of a very atypical, very Italian fair. The Salone del Mobile is now a format that is also repeated in other places in the world: in Moscow and Shanghai.
London Design Fair in London (United Kingdom): the best English fair for design furniture
When : every year in September
Numbers : 550 exhibitors, 30,000 visitors
What to see : London's creative side - furniture, lighting, collectible design
Located in the creative heart of East London, the London Design Fair is a four-day event attracting over 29,000 visitors including retail buyers, interior designers, architects and planners. The fair offers an inspirational destination for established brands, independent designers and international showcases to see the latest in
furniture, lighting, collectible designs , materials and original installations from around the world. The fair is an unmissable opportunity to experience creative London, one of the most eclectic cities in the world. During the 4 days, many art exhibitions and talks with creatives from around the world are also organized.
Biennale Interior Belgium in Kortrijk (Belgium): one of the most interesting furnishing events in Europe
When : every year in January
Numbers : 84,000 visitors
What to see : a unique event in the heart of the Belgian countryside - architecture and design for the home
La Biennale Interior Belgium is a non-profit organization operating in the fields of design, furniture and innovation . One of their goals is to showcase contemporary home design and interior innovations to a wider audience, and not just professionals, as is the case at most other trade shows. The biennial was therefore born in the 1950s, far from important re-readers of European capitals, in a country in the green of Belgian nature.
Let us not be fooled, however : the biennial has achieved a huge consensus from the public, receiving awards such as the European Community Design Award in 1994 and the European Design Management Award DME in 2008. The biennial is signed from time to time by architects of international fame.
Lightovation Dallas in Texas (USA): international exhibition on interior design lighting
When : every year in January
Numbers : 200,000 visitors from more than 85 countries around the world
What to see : Trends, innovations and products in every lighting category, ceiling fans, lighting controls and smart lighting systems.
Lightovation Dallas is the international fair dedicated to residential lighting . Lighting systems are a fundamental part of a home's furnishing system, there are many types, and some Italian companies are leaders in the design and manufacture of designer lighting. At the American event in Dallas, therefore, it is possible to discover the latest trends in a rapidly growing sector, in a city that offers a thousand possibilities.
Strong is also the presence of young and innovative American start-ups in
the furniture sector, with a predominance in the use of technologies related to smart , intelligent lighting, the use of LEDs, eco-sustainable lamps and home automation architecture. In Dallas, you can really get to know what the future of home will look like.
The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) Orlando (Florida - USA): important American fair for bathroom and kitchen furniture
When : every year in January
Numbers : 600 exhibitors, 14,000 specialized visitors
What to see : everything related to the interior design of bathrooms and kitchens
Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) is the American trade fair specializing in kitchen and bathroom furnishings . The event takes place near the International Builders Show, KBIS, one of the largest gatherings of residential design and construction professionals. This makes it even more exclusive and full of events for home and interiors.
Las Vegas Market (Nevada - USA): the west coast market fair for home interiors
When : every year in January
Numbers : 120 exhibitors, more than 1,200 new products and collections for the home
What to see : everything about the house
Las Vegas Market is a world-class exhibition-market with a simple and efficient formula for exhibitors, designers and buyers . The Las Vegas fair is located on a state-of-the-art campus. With a wide range of furniture, home décor and gifts, the event offers an excellent opportunity for brands, retailers and interior designers to get to know each other and learn about the latest in the home furnishings industry. It could not be otherwise. The setting of Las Vegas, between the fun of the city and the beauties of the state of Nevada, makes everything even more unique.
Indonesia International Furniture Expo in Jakarta: the most prestigious Indonesian furniture event
When : every year in March
Numbers : 500 exhibitors, 12,000 buyers, 60,000 square meters of surface area for furniture and furnishings
What to see : handmade furniture, traditional local crafts, wooden interiors and natural materials
The exceptional growth of Indonesia International Furniture Expo confirms the success and popularity of Indonesian furniture . IFEX is especially recognized for the display of locally crafted furniture, a tradition that is still very strong in Asian countries. If you are into artisanal and handmade furniture, here you can find the best of Asia. the furniture becomes sculptures in the finest woods, combined with traditional techniques not yet lost.
Not to mention the splendid Indonesian capital : Jakarta will conquer you thanks to the exotic cuisine and the architecture of typical temples. Indonesia is a fast growing country with many economic opportunities. Not to be missed!
Design Shanghai (China): the Chinese design furniture fair
When : every year in March
Numbers : 400 companies from 31 countries, 145 new exhibitors in 2017, 50,000 visitors from 70 countries around the world
What to see : not only design, but also conferences and talks by big names in the furniture, architecture and interior design sectors
Design Shanghai has established itself as the most important exhibition dedicated to design furniture in all of Asia . With a metropolitan area of 25 million inhabitants, the event is located in a strategic area, in the heart of the most advanced and technological China. China is now the main world market for the purchase of designer furniture. Its population boasts a middle class of 160 million inhabitants, able to spend on furnishing the house and with a great desire for Made in Italy. Design Shanghai is therefore not just a fair, but the main event in Asia to allow small brands, niches in the design sector, architects and designers to make themselves known to a really wide audience. Good luck!
The fair covers an area of 12,000 square meters, with 2 main sectors : one part is dedicated to contemporary design, the other is dedicated to classic and more traditional design.
International Contemporary Furniture Fair New York City (USA): the best contemporary furniture fair in the Big Apple
When : every year in May
Numbers : 600 exhibitors from 36 countries, 120,000 square meters of exhibition
What to see : contemporary furniture in 10 categories: furniture, floor, chairs, exteriors, materials, walls, accessories, fabrics, kitchen and bathroom
The International Contemporary Furniture Fair is the place where designers, retailers, companies and architects converge to talk about the furniture of the future , to exchange inspiration and spark a competitive push for contemporary residential and commercial interiors.
With a selection of established and emerging designers, the ICFF offers a selection of the world's finest, most creative, personalized and original avant-garde products on display in one location. Exhibitors from 36 countries come to the ICFF every year to showcase the new frontier of high-end contemporary interiors. This is the beauty of the Big Apple, the city that never sleeps!
NeoCon Chicago (Illinois - USA): the contemporary architecture furniture fair
When : every year in June
Numbers : 500 companies in the design sector, 100 conferences, 50,000 specialized visitors
What to see : contemporary interior design for home and office, conferences by important architects and furniture designers
NeoCon was founded in 1969 and for 50 years has had the goal of promoting commercial design for innovation , offering ideas and collections that shape the environment of the home and work area. The fair takes place in one of the cities that have given greater vigor to modern and contemporary architecture. Architect Mies Van Der Rohe, with its elegant and minimalist skyscrapers, has changed the face of the city. And the MIT University of Architecture trains the planners and designers who will change the future of the world every year.
This list of major furniture fairs ends here, where it all started.
Windowo: Hai ragione Marta, quest'anno purtroppo va così. Speriamo nel futuro.