imm cologne will not take place in January 2027, reports show organiser Koelnmesse, confirming that it is not proceeding with the edition of the international interior business event for the consumer-oriented furniture design segment scheduled for next year: "This decision has been taken due to the persistently challenging market conditions and the changing operating environment and requirements for international furniture and interior design trade fairs.
"The furniture market is undergoing a profound transformation. As the Association of the German Furniture Industry (VDM) announced in September 2026, based on information from the Federal Statistical Office, the German furniture industry has experienced a considerable fall in sales since 2023, amounting to around 20% in total. The latest sector figures also underscore the strained market situation – in the first half of 2026, sales in the sector fell by 2.7% to approximately €7.7b.
"The decline in domestic sales was particularly significant, falling by 4.1% to around €5b. Looking ahead to the rest of the year, according to the VDM, most manufacturers do not expect to see a noticeable recovery in demand beyond the usual seasonal fluctuations. In addition to persistently weak consumer confidence, rising material, energy and wage costs, along with regulatory requirements, are exacerbating the economic situation for the sector."
With the repositioning of imm cologne for 2026, Koelnmesse says it had responded to the changing market conditions and requirements facing the furniture industry: "The evaluation of the January 2026 edition and the current planning for 2027, however, show that this new direction has not yet achieved the sustained response and registrations from market participants that are needed to stage an internationally relevant event next year. Against this backdrop, Koelnmesse has decided to call off imm cologne 2027."
Oliver Frese, COO of Koelnmesse, comments: “Our goal is to tailor our event formats so that they offer relevant added value and viable prospects for the respective market participants. In the current conditions, we have to recognise that imm cologne does not currently meet these requirements. Not proceeding with the 2027 edition is therefore the logical decision.
"Despite this, Cologne remains a key centre for the furniture and interior design industry – with a broad portfolio of events that appeals to different market segments and target groups.”
Koelnmesse’s portfolio of events in Cologne will continue to cover different segments of the furniture and interior design market going forward. idd cologne continues to give high-end residential interior design a presence in Cologne, while Orgatec continues to provide a "strong impetus" for the future of workspaces and contract interiors.
Design Post Köln, which featured in the 2026 editions of both idd cologne and Orgatec, will come under Koelnmesse's operational responsibility from 1st January, to be permanently incorporated into its trade fair and event architecture. Other relevant events include Küchen-Kompetenz-Tage (KKT), interzum, spoga+gafa and Kind + Jugend.
