Imm cologne 2027 cancelled|JINHANFAIR Industry News

2026.11.12

Share to: 

The international furniture trade fair imm cologne will not take place in January 2027. Organiser Koelnmesse has decided to cancel the upcoming edition, citing current market conditions and an insufficient level of exhibitor registrations to support an internationally relevant event. The decision marks a temporary end to the latest attempt to reposition the fair as a meeting place for the consumer-oriented furniture design segment.

The cancellation reflects the difficult conditions facing the international furniture industry. The German market, in particular, is under pressure. According to figures from the Association of the German Furniture Industry (VDM), based on data from the Federal Statistical Office, sales in the German furniture industry have fallen by approximately 20 per cent since 2023. The decline continued in 2026. During the first half of the year, industry sales decreased by 2.7 per cent to around €7.7 billion.

The domestic market recorded an even sharper decline, with sales falling by 4.1 per cent to approximately €5 billion. Manufacturers are also facing weak consumer confidence, rising material, energy and labour costs, as well as increasing regulatory requirements. According to the VDM, most manufacturers do not expect a significant recovery in demand in the short term, beyond normal seasonal fluctuations.

New direction fails to attract sufficient registrations

For the January 2026 edition, Koelnmesse had repositioned imm cologne, placing greater emphasis on consumer-oriented furniture design and an international audience. However, the evaluation of that edition and the current registration figures for 2027 indicate that the new concept has not yet generated sufficient interest among industry participants.

An internationally relevant trade fair requires a solid base of exhibitors and visitors. In the current market environment, building that support has proved difficult. Koelnmesse has therefore decided not to proceed with the edition scheduled for January 2027.

Chief Operating Officer Oliver Frese describes the cancellation as a logical decision. According to him, trade fair formats must deliver tangible added value and offer viable prospects for the companies and visitors they serve. Under the current circumstances, imm cologne does not sufficiently meet those requirements. Koelnmesse nevertheless emphasises that Cologne remains an important international centre for the furniture and interior design industry.

Other interior trade fairs remain part of Cologne's portfolio

The cancellation does not mean that Koelnmesse is withdrawing from the interiors sector. The organiser intends to continue serving different market segments through a range of specialised events. At the end of October 2026, for example, idd cologne and ORGATEC both took place in the city. Idd cologne brought together more than 140 brands focusing on high-end residential interior design. ORGATEC focused on office environments, contract interiors and the future of work. According to Koelnmesse, the event attracted more than 40,000 visitors from 121 countries.

Design Post Köln will also play a more prominent role in the event portfolio. From 1 January 2027, Koelnmesse will assume full operational responsibility for the venue. On 13 and 14 March 2027, Design Post will host the Küchen-Kompetenz-Tage, an event for the kitchen furniture industry organised by the trade associations Alliance, Der Küchenring and KüchenTreff.

Later in the year, interzum will take place from 11 to 14 May. The international trade fair focuses on materials, technologies and components for furniture production and interior design. Other events on the calendar include spoga+gafa (15–17 June), dedicated to garden and leisure products, and Kind + Jugend (7–9 September), which focuses on children's furniture and products for babies and young families.

Koelnmesse says it will continue to monitor developments in the furniture and interiors market and assess which event formats best meet the future needs of exhibitors and visitors. For the international furniture industry, the cancellation of imm cologne means that a familiar meeting place at the start of the trade fair calendar will be absent in January 2027.