Texhibition Istanbul 2026 Draws Global Textile Buyers and 500+ Exhibitors

Texhibition Istanbul 2026 was held from 4–6 March 2026 at the Istanbul Expo Center, bringing together exhibitors and visitors from across the international textile industry. Organized by İTKİB Fuarcılık A.Ş. in cooperation with the Istanbul Textile Exporters Association (İTHİB), the event hosted more than 500 exhibitors and attracted 19,325 visitors.

Texhibition Istanbul 2026 took place from 4–6 March 2026 at the Istanbul Expo Center, gathering textile manufacturers, buyers and industry professionals from multiple regions. The exhibition was organized by İTKİB Fuarcılık A.Ş. in cooperation with the Istanbul Textile Exporters Association (İTHİB).

More than 500 exhibitors presented products and technologies across five exhibition halls covering 42,850 square meters. The exhibition represented the entire textile value chain, including woven and knitted fabrics (336 exhibitors), yarns (12 exhibitors), accessories (50 exhibitors), printing (47 exhibitors), embroidery (18 exhibitors), and denim (22 exhibitors).

The event recorded 19,325 visitors, including 5,565 international attendees from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and North America. In total, visitors from more than 95 countries participated in the exhibition.

Industry Meeting Platform

The event served as a meeting point for buyers, designers and manufacturers seeking sourcing opportunities and collaboration. Participants also discussed supply chain strategies and sourcing developments within the global textile sector.

“Texhibition Istanbul demonstrates year after year how strong and flexible the Turkish textile industry is. Especially in times of global uncertainty, international brands are looking for reliable partners with fast supply chains and high quality – and this is where Türkiye offers significant advantages. The fair has become an important meeting point where markets, ideas and partnerships come together.” said Fatih Bilici, Vice President of İTHİB and Chairman of the Texhibition Fair Committee.

Turkish Textile Industry Structure

The exhibition highlighted the integrated structure of Türkiye’s textile industry. According to industry data presented at the event, the sector has an annual production value of around 78 billion US dollars, including approximately 45 billion in textiles and 33 billion in apparel.

Production processes in Türkiye cover the entire value chain, from raw materials such as cotton to yarn production, fabric manufacturing, finishing processes, logistics and packaging. This integrated structure enables shorter production cycles and flexible manufacturing volumes.

Logistical proximity to Europe allows faster delivery times through land transportation, which many international buyers consider an important factor in supply chain planning.

Exhibitor Feedback and Business Activity

Several exhibitors reported active discussions with international buyers during the event.

“We feel that we are in a very professional environment where the entire industry comes together and where we can meet important buyers and purchasing teams of major retail chains,” said Muammer Özpehlivan of EMR Zipper.

“Texhibition has evolved into a truly international fair,” noted Murat Canpolat of Migiboy Textile. “Our main objective here is to meet new customers and establish long-term business connections.”

“This season’s fair felt more dynamic compared to previous years,” said Ismet Ufuk Direkci of Zeynar. “We welcomed visitors from markets such as the Netherlands, Greece, Germany, the UK and the USA, which clearly shows the international scale Texhibition has reached.”

Blue Black Denim Section

The Blue Black Denim section presented developments in denim technologies and design. Manufacturers including Atlas Denim, Bossa, ISKO, İSKUR and Kipaş displayed new materials, processing techniques and product developments.

The exhibition area featured curated presentations, workshops and expert talks related to denim manufacturing, finishing processes and material development.

International Buyers

The event hosted buyers and representatives from international brands and companies including Hugo Boss, Puma, Naf Naf, Esprit, Amiri, Nike, Coach, Michael Kors, KOTN, Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, Burton, Stone Island, Wólczanka, Polopique, The Sting, My Soul and Promod.

Buyer delegations represented both developed and emerging markets, including Brazil, Colombia, Kuwait, Morocco, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates, alongside countries such as Italy, Germany, France, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Despite global developments affecting international travel and trade, the decline in the number of international visitors remained limited to 5%.

Innovation and Knowledge Programs

Alongside the exhibition, the event included seminars, panel discussions and presentations focusing on topics such as sustainable materials, digital supply chains, artificial intelligence in textile production and consumer trends.

Trend forecasting company WGSN presented sessions on fabric and design trends. Additional discussions addressed topics including digital product passports, recycling technologies and supply-chain innovations.

The event also featured an Innovation Hub curated by Arzu Kaprol and Filiz Tunca. The showcase included materials such as Colourself Cotton, biodegradable pleated textiles, Vegan Bioglitter, Umorfil yarns and textile constructions such as the Vismara scarf.

Natural fiber developments presented at the hub included hemp-based protective textiles used in forestry and textile materials developed from nettle fibers.

ReValue Stock Hub and Trend Areas

The ReValue Stock Hub area focused on surplus fabric utilization and attracted interest from buyers and sourcing professionals. The initiative highlighted the reuse of surplus materials within sourcing and product development.

Trend Areas presented curated displays of fabrics, colors, textures and accessories. For the first time, a dedicated trend area focused specifically on accessories, highlighting trims and complementary design elements.

Event Program

The event program included seminars, panels and workshops addressing industry developments. Sessions covered trend forecasting, digital transformation, sustainability and business model innovation within the textile sector.

The Blue Black Denim section hosted presentations and workshops on denim culture, washing technologies and independent denim brand development.

Outlook and Future Events

The event highlighted ongoing changes in the global textile industry, including evolving supply chains and sustainability requirements.

“Our goal was to create an international brand where global trends are shaped and the perception of quality in Turkish textiles is strengthened. Today, Texhibition has gone beyond being merely a trade platform and has become an important showcase reflecting the vision and shared ambitions of our industry; it has also evolved into a fair where trends are set and closely followed by the sector. By strengthening the brand value of the Turkish textile industry, Texhibition also serves as a strong reference point for our region.” said Ahmet Öksüz, President of Istanbul Textile Exporters Association (İTHİB).

The next edition of Texhibition is scheduled for 9–11 September 2026, while Istanbul Fashion Connection 2026 will take place from 19–21 August 2026.