Yesterday in Milan, the press conference for the presentation of Interzum Cologne 2025 took place. This event is the global reference point for the components and materials industry for furniture and beyond, and it will be held from May 20 to 23, 2025, at the Koelnmesse in Cologne. Maik Fisher, Director of Interzum, presented the main innovations of the event, highlighting the strategic role of the new conference center and the new West entrance, designed to improve access to Hall 1, where some of the industry’s major players will exhibit.
One of the central themes of the event will be sustainability: Interzum has developed a comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing environmental impact throughout the entire production chain, from resource optimization to adopting a circular business model. In this context, a significant presence of “bio-based” innovations is expected.
The event program will be particularly rich and divided into several sections: the Trend Forums (Materials and Nature, Textile and Machinery, Function and Components), the Interzum Academy (featuring Trend Stage and Product Stage), and the highly anticipated Interzum Awards, organized into three main categories and the special category “Rethinking Resources.”
Interzum fugures
The international significance of Interzum is underscored by the numbers: since its first edition in 1959, the event has grown to expect over 67,000 visitors in 2025, a 5% increase compared to the 2023 edition. The share of international visitors, which reached nearly 80% in 2023, is expected to grow further, especially from China.
At the 2025 edition, 82% of exhibitors will come from Europe, mainly from Italy, Germany, Turkey, Spain, and Austria, while 14% will be from Asia (with a strong presence from China and India) and 3% from North America. The Italian participation is particularly noteworthy, with 275 exhibitors compared to 220 from Germany, as well as the significant growth in Chinese representation.
Regarding visitor profiles, 55% come from the industry, 17% from wholesale and export, 10% from craftsmanship, 8% from retail, 4% from services, and 3% are freelancers. The most represented industrial categories include kitchens (26%), office furniture (24%), upholstery (22%), mattresses (20%), and wardrobes (20%), with growing interest from the automotive, railway, and aerospace sectors (7%).
Visitor feedback has been highly positive. According to the latest survey conducted by Interzum, 87% of attendees expressed satisfaction with the event, and 97% would recommend visiting it. The fair’s influence on purchasing decisions is also significant: for 39% of visitors, attending the fair was a decisive factor, and for 34%, it was highly influential.
A broader panorama of initiatives
Also noteworthy is the synergy between Interzum and Ligna, event dedicated to the world of wood to be held the following week: admission tickets will be valid for both fairs, offering a unique opportunity for industry professionals. The fair is also part of a broader panorama of initiatives: in October 2025, from the 26th to the 29th, IDD – Interior Design Days will debut, a new event born from the split of IMM, which will continue to take place in January with a focus on retail. IDD will instead cater to premium brands and also involve the hospitality and contract sectors.
In parallel, the Interzum Forum Italy, which took place in 2024 with 216 exhibitors from 24 countries, will return in 2026 with a new edition. The event attracted over 4,820 visitors from 52 countries, confirming the interest of the Italian market in the furniture components and materials sector. The second edition of Interzum Forum Italy, with the theme “Beyond the Furniture Towards the Future” will take place again at the Bergamo exhibition centre on 4 and 5 June 2026.
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