The flooring industry gathered in Hannover from January 19th to 22nd for the 2026 edition of Domotex. After a period of transition, the trade fair presented itself for the first time as the "Home of Flooring & Interior Finishing." With over 500 exhibitors from 50 countries and an expansion to include wall and ceiling solutions, the organizers are calling it a resounding success and a clear repositioning of the platform.
© DOMOTEX
While Domotex traditionally focused purely on flooring, this year the synergy between various interior design disciplines was the big winner. The expansion to include all aspects of interior finishing proved to be a resounding success. "Domotex has reinvented itself," says Arno Reich, Senior Vice President at Deutsche Messe AG. "The trade show exudes a tangible sense of renewal."
© Hamat
Hamat BV is committed to circularity: the manufacturer from Genemuiden presented its new PVC collection at Domotex, which consists of at least 50% recycled material.
Interdisciplinary approach pays off
The new approach, which also prominently featured wall products, paints, and sun blinds, attracted new visitor groups. Annette Levy, Domotex's new Project Director, emphasizes that the expansion was necessary to meet the demand for holistic interior concepts.
Newcomers like paint manufacturer AkzoNobel and sun protection specialist Teba expressed great satisfaction. According to Stefan Klinker of AkzoNobel, the trade fair, and specifically the Retailers Park, offered the ideal opportunity to show retailers how they can better serve consumers by offering integrated colour and spatial concepts.
© Parketfabriek Lieverdink
A successful return for Parketfabriek Lieverdink, with Willem Smid, Richard Lensen, and Danny Englebert from left to right. The trio looks back on a successful edition.
Tactile experience remains essential
Despite advancing digitalisation, Hannover demonstrated that the physical trade show experience remains essential for the interior design industry. Exhibitors like Lamett and Kronoplus saw full halls and a high-quality crowd. Bruno Descamps (Lamett) calls it a "truly new beginning," while Mark Bircham (Kronoplus) emphasises the importance of the tactile experience: "Customers shouldn't just see our digital print designs and formats, they should be able to touch them."
© Lamett Europe
Lamett Europe is celebrating a successful trade fair week with the launch of new Parker collections and the expansion of the Parquetvinyl line with the 'Arno' collection.
The international appeal was also as usual. Griescha Krebs of Florim Ceramiche said she was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of the audience, with visitors from all over, from Thailand to Venezuela.
Vicstairs presented its patented total solution for stair renovation in Hannover. The system is specifically designed for professionals seeking scalability and consistent, high quality. Specifically developed for professionals seeking efficiency and consistent quality, according to Vicstairs.
Innovation and sustainability: The Green Collection Award
Sustainability was the common thread throughout the program. One of the highlights was the presentation of the Green Collection Award. This prestigious award went to Weitzer Parkett this year for their circular solution, "Weitzer ReParkett." According to Managing Director Josef Stoppacher, this award confirms the need for the industry to collectively commit to the circular economy.
In addition to the business content, a performance by boxing champion Henry Maske provided the necessary inspiration on the exhibition floor, drawing a parallel between top-level sport and entrepreneurship.
© Mac Lean
Mac Lean Products presented the latest generation of underlays and skirting boards. This year's focus is on innovative solutions that combine outstanding quality with optimal ease of installation for professionals.
Outlook: Biennial Cycle
With the successful conclusion of this edition, the organisers are already looking ahead. Domotex is maintaining its new course as a comprehensive platform for flooring and interior finishing. However, professionals who wish to visit the trade fair in Hannover again will have to be patient: the next edition of DOMOTEX Home of Flooring & Interior Finishing will take place from January 17 to 20, 2028.
For those seeking international inspiration, Domotex asia/CHINAFLOOR (May 2026) and the new edition in Bangkok (November 2026) are already on the calendar.
More information:
DOMOTEX
www.domotex.de
