The third German-language möbelfertigung of the year 2025 will soon be on your desk and is already available in advance as a digital edition. Topic of the editorial:

MIKO Connect – we bring together what belongs together

The Who’s Who of the supplier and furniture world met in Cologne and Hanover at the end of May and once again turned Germany into a global industry hotspot. With a total of around 3,000 exhibitors and 140,000 trade visitors from all continents, Interzum and Ligna underlined their exceptional position. We, the möbelfertigung team, were right in the middle of it all for two weeks, had inspiring discussions, celebrated, laughed, made new contacts, but also had to say goodbye at one point or another.

Nothing replaces face-to-face, business is done by people – especially in times of (even) more efficiency, artificial intelligence, (even more) work intensification, an uncertain economic situation and volatile markets. Interzum and Ligna were complete successes and the organizers of the world’s most important shows have set the right priorities. In this issue, we have filtered out the most important aspects of both of the world’s leading trade fairs for you. And congratulations to the teams from Koelnmesse and Deutsche Messe AG.

So everything is rosy in the trade fair sky? Not quite. Even the two big players in the industry are undergoing a process of transformation and are being critically scrutinized. For example, the discussion about whether the Ascension Day holiday at Ligna is still appropriate in times of work-life balance has been going on for years. In the meantime, the former “sanctuary” has fallen. Ligna will take place in two years from May 10 to 14. Interzum will run in parallel from May 11 to 14. This could be a great advantage for foreign visitors.

It is not clear that there will be a gap in time between the two world-leading events in 2029. It’s hard to imagine Americans or Australians flying to Germany twice within three weeks. Especially as budgets are currently tight. Both trade fairs have already lost a huge amount of visitors compared to pre-corona 2019.

The monetary outlay is currently an even greater threat to Interzum and Ligna than the dates. In terms of costs, both trade fairs have no chance against Interzum Guangzhou, for example; exhibitors have to invest many times more in Hanover and Cologne. Especially for ancillary costs.

In this context, the question of combining the offerings of Ligna and Interzum has come up in many of the discussions we have had. À la IWF Atlanta, à la Guangzhou etc. Deutsche Messe AG is likely to take a relaxed view of this discussion: A joint trade fair can – due to the site – only take place in the Lower Saxony metropolis. An agreement does not seem conceivable.

Admittedly, assessing the current situation and compiling current discussions is sometimes easier than actually doing it. With the European Coatings Show (ECS) in Nuremberg, we, the Vincentz Network, are currently “only” in the coatings sector. In the furniture and furniture supplier segment, however, we are now also making an offer to the market with MIKO Connect – Möbel- und Interior Komponenten Ostwestfalen. For the years between the world’s leading trade fairs. Small, high quality, efficient.

In the Stadthalle Bielefeld, in the heart of the furniture and supplier industry, möbelfertigung is organizing MIKO Connect, a top-class boutique networking trade fair, on 11 and 12 March 2026. MIKO Connect – MÖBEL- & INTERIOR KOMPONENTEN OSTWESTFALEN stands for the combination of targeted networking, inspiring knowledge transfer and a high-quality exhibition. In addition to product impulses, MIKO Connect offers meeting areas, a sophisticated catering concept and a powerful trade fair app with matchmaking and lead generation functions.

Current topics are discussed on an open stage, impulses are given and specialist knowledge is shared. The supporting program is complemented by targeted business dating as well as a relaxed warm-up the evening before and an outstanding evening event on the first day of the trade fair.

On the visitor side, MIKO Connect stands for a compact trade fair, intensive contacts and new impulses. Short distances in the heart of the German furniture industry enable industry representatives from all hierarchical groups to participate efficiently and cost-effectively. Entry for trade visitors is free of charge, as is catering.

Exhibitors benefit from the MIKO Connect system stand concept, which reduces effort, costs and personnel resources – while guaranteeing professionalism and visibility for exhibitors of all sizes. Add-on packages for digital and editorial visibility are also available. Further information is available at: www.miko-connect.de. We look forward to exchanging ideas with you.

Yours sincerely

Tino Eggert