Plunging sales in the German furniture industry (which fell roughly 20% since 2023) and low exhibitor sign-ups for the revised format, have forced the cancellation of imm Cologne.
Koelnmesse, the show’s owners, are responding to the continued challenging market conditions and changing requirements in the furniture industry, by cancelling the show.
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, 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 per cent 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 per cent to approximately 7.7 billion euros. The decline in domestic sales was particularly significant, falling by 4.1 per cent to around 5 billion euros. 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.
