The world's premier trade fair for home and contract textiles, Heimtextil 2026, is set to reunite the global industry in Frankfurt from January 13 to 16, 2026. Organized by Messe Frankfurt, the event will continue its tradition of strengthening ties with the Turkish textile sector.
At a press conference in Istanbul to promote the fair, Margit Herberth and Bettina Bär, Directors shared insights into global market transformation, emphasizing that geopolitical challenges, economic instability, inflation, cost pressures, declining consumer demand, and digitalization are the key forces reshaping the industry.
In a presentation titled ‘Lead the Change,’ Herberth highlighted how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the game - from trends to innovation. The market is currently being shaped by two powerful factors: hyper-individualization and connectivity, she noted
AI profoundly impacts every field. It enables real-time hyper-personalization across products and services, strengthening the personal and emotional bond between manufacturers and consumers, Herberth stated. AI empowers businesses by facilitating and accelerating scalable value chains, production, and product development, allowing for ‘tailor-made offers faster and more authentically than ever before, she added.
Bettina Bär called Heimtextil a strategic partner for the sector’s transformation, providing a reliable platform where more than 3,100 companies from 65 countries showcase their solutions. The fair's layout has evolved to reflect market changes. The Hall 3.0 features the ‘among-all’ installation, along with wallpapers, carpets, curtains, and sun protection systems.
Hall 4.0 hosts the smart bedding segment with the new Sleep & Meet area while Halls 3.1 & 4.1 showcase upholstery and decorative fabrics.
Created by Alcova Milano, the Heimtextil Trends 26/27 will be presented in Hall 6.1. The theme, ‘Craft is a Verb,’ demonstrates, high technology and traditional craftsmanship are complementary, opening up new creative horizons.
Six core trends illustrate this fusion, including: Re:media (digital design and craftsmanship interaction), Visible co-work (AI initiates, humans complete), and Crafted irregularity (a counter-movement to AI’s perfection). The trend's color palette ranges from stable, natural tones like sand and olive to vibrant, digital accents such as acidic green and bright screen blue.
