From Peak to Pandemic to Renewal: Heimtextil’s Journey, 2019–2026
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Over the last seven years, Heimtextil has evolved from a traditional international trade fair into a resilient, structured, and forward-looking industry platform, closely reflecting—and actively shaping—the priorities of the global home and contract textiles sector. The 2019 edition marked a pre-pandemic peak, welcoming over 3,000 exhibitors and more than 67,000 visitors, reinforcing Heimtextil’s role as a premier launchpad for design innovation, material advancement, and global sourcing across home textiles.
The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally altered the trade fair landscape during 2020–21. While the 2020 edition still recorded a strong turnout of nearly 63,000 visitors, escalating travel restrictions and public health concerns led to widespread disruption.
Pandemic Disruption: 2021–2022
Heimtextil 2021 was initially postponed from its traditional January slot to April/May 2021 but was ultimately cancelled entirely, as Messe Frankfurt concluded that international participation requirements could not be met. During this period, Messe Frankfurt expanded digital engagement formats, including Consumer Goods Digital Day and the Nextrade platform, to maintain industry connectivity despite the absence of physical fairs.
In 2022, Heimtextil did not return in its customary January format. The scheduled January 2022 edition was cancelled, and instead, a one-time Heimtextil Summer Special took place in June 2022, co-located with Techtextil and Texprocess. This special edition marked the first significant step toward re-establishing in-person interaction across the textile value chain and helped rebuild confidence among exhibitors, buyers, and decision-makers.
Return to Stability: 2023
A clear structural recovery followed in 2023, when Heimtextil returned as a standalone January event. The 2023 fair hosted approximately 2,400 exhibitors and 44,000 visitors, with a strong focus on sustainability, circular materials, and supply-chain resilience. From advanced fibres and functional textiles to holistic interior solutions, Heimtextil reaffirmed its role as a critical platform for international partnerships and alignment with evolving regulatory and consumer expectations.
Continued Growth: 2024–2025
This momentum strengthened further in 2024 and 2025. In 2024, the fair featured 2,838 exhibitors and 46,000 visitors. By 2025, exhibitor numbers exceeded 3,000, while visitor attendance surpassed 50,000—with high satisfaction levels among participants (including a record 94% visitor satisfaction in 2025) and increased attendance from senior decision-makers, underscoring Heimtextil’s renewed relevance. Curated trend presentations, expert-led forums, and installations addressing AI-assisted design, future interiors, and responsible production elevated the exhibition beyond a sourcing venue, firmly positioning it as a knowledge-driven strategic hub.
Heimtextil 2026: From Platform to Structured Industry Ecosystem
Scheduled for January 2026 in Frankfurt, Heimtextil 2026 is positioned as a further step in the fair’s long-term structural development. Messe Frankfurt has announced refined hall layouts, clearer product segmentation, and stronger integration of content formats within exhibition halls. Key focus areas include home textiles, contract textiles, carpets and rugs, functional textiles, and the expanded inclusion of non-textile floor coverings. Trend presentations for Heimtextil Trends 26/27 and curated knowledge formats are expected to support buyer orientation and strategic exchange across the global textile and interiors value chain.