Following the cancellation of IMM Cologne for January 2025, Koelnmesse is now announcing its realignment for the traditional trade fair: From January 2026, IMM Cologne will stand for the consumer-oriented market section with a sharpened and focused trade fair concept every year. For the brand and premium segment, a new event format, Interior Design Days Cologne (IDD Cologne), will be launched in October 2025, which is specifically designed to meet the individual market requirements in this segment. The future duo IMM Cologne and Interior Design Days Cologne was developed in close cooperation with the furniture industry and is also Koelnmesse’s answer to flexibly adapting traditional trade fair events to the current market situation.

Two modern formats that are tailored to the different needs of the industry: The aim is to offer all participants considerable added value and to create future-proof platforms for the further development of the furnishing industry. This will adapt the trade fair to current market conditions and create the basis for continuing the 70-year success story of IMM Cologne, which has established itself as the leading event in the interiors sector.

In October 2025, the new format Interior Design Days Cologne (IDD Cologne) will celebrate its premiere and set new standards for premium brands from the residential and hospitality interiors sectors. The event offers a target group-specific platform whose date and concept were developed in close cooperation with the industry.

The focus is on inspiring design and high-quality brands. In addition to the trade, the new format is aimed specifically at interior professionals from the fields of interior design, architecture and project planning. Interior design enthusiasts who are interested in aesthetic interior design are also very welcome.

IDD Cologne will take place every two years in future and will include branded furniture as well as other brands from sectors such as lighting and interior design. The new trade fair concept will kick off from October 26 to 29, 2025 and will be a new and special experience for the entire interior design industry.

The traditional IMM Cologne trade fair has been completely rethought and also geared towards the current needs of the market. The focus here is on the consumer-focused furnishing segment, i.e. high-demand and market-ready product trends from all areas of home life. IMM Cologne is thus aimed even more specifically at the international furniture trade, including furniture retail chains, purchasing associations, online mail order companies and marketers, as well as other trade visitors from the interior design sector who appeal to a broad range of buyers.

What remains is the annual rhythm in January and thus the perfect start to the new furnishing year. Much else has been adapted to the current market situation: In future, the international interior design event will take place in a condensed format over four days. As a modern platform for the global interiors business, the trade fair is based on a young, dynamic and international concept and is also streamlined and cost-efficient. Participation in IMM Cologne enables companies to showcase their presence in Europe’s most important furniture market. The first trade fair in the new format will take place from January 20 to 23, 2026.

“For 100 years, Koelnmesse has stood for first-class trade fair formats, implemented in the heart of Europe and around the world. If you want to be successful in the global trade fair business for so long, you have to continuously develop and have answers to the changing requirements of your clientele. This is exactly what we are providing with the realignment of the trade fair format of our interior flagship IMM Cologne. Together with the Association of the German Furniture Industry (VDM) and the German Furniture and Kitchen Trade Association (BVDM), we have analyzed the furnishing market in depth and not only adapted our range to it, but also realigned it. The result is two focused trade fair formats that are closely geared to the requirements of the respective furnishing segment and are in tune with the times,” says Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse. “We have made our traditional IMM Cologne fit for the future and will also be launching a specialized event format with IDD Cologne. We see ourselves as the growth engine of the industry, we stand for trust and reliability and at the same time for inspiration and sustainable future prospects.”

VDM President Leo Lübke welcomes the realignment: “The two new trade fair concepts that we have developed together are specifically tailored to the respective exhibitor segments and visitor groups. We are delighted that our industry will once again be presenting its innovations in Cologne next fall. Leading premium manufacturers have already announced their participation. As the largest furniture nation in Europe, we need these central industry shows in order to position ourselves against the competition.”

Markus Meyer, President of the BVDM, adds: “Trade fairs stand for renewal and innovation. This applies not only to the products exhibited, but also to the trade fairs themselves. After many successful years, expectations and demands on trade fairs have changed significantly in recent years. This development has not stopped at IMM Cologne. We are convinced that the furniture industry needs a strong leading trade fair and that it offers us many opportunities for trade and interaction. For this reason, we support all initiatives that benefit the industry with a leading trade fair. We are looking forward to Interior Design Days 2025 and IMM Cologne 2026 with excitement.”

These are the dates to remember:
Interior Design Days Cologne: October 26-29, 2025
IMM Cologne: January 20-23, 2026
Hybrid Interior Design at Orgatec: October 27-30, 2026