CIFF Shanghai 2026. Design · Digital Intelligence · Sustainability
PRESS RELEASE, July 2026
In a global landscape marked by profound transformations within the furniture industry, CIFF Shanghai 2026 introduces a new strategic vision built around three key pillars: Design, Digital Intelligence, and Sustainability. The 58th edition of the exhibition, scheduled for this September at Shanghai Hongqiao, aims to serve as an international platform for integrating business, innovation, content, and global connections.
More than a traditional trade fair, CIFF Shanghai continues to evolve into a future-oriented industrial hub where design culture, digital technologies, and new visions of living converge.
THREE STRATEGIC PILLARS
Design: Creating New Value for Brands
Today, design is a central element in brand identity, product enhancement, and competitive differentiation. In this context, CIFF Shanghai is strengthening its role as a leading platform for contemporary design and original furniture in China.
At the heart of this strategy is Design Eden · Contemporary Design Trade Fair, a 50,000 sqm area dedicated to design brands, creative studios, and emerging independent designers, featuring exhibitions, forums, awards, and launch events.
The exhibition will also host the CIFF Shanghai Design Conference, bringing together international designers and leading Chinese creatives, alongside the launch of the Golden Creation Award, dedicated to product innovation and new design benchmarks.
Digital Intelligence: New Retail Models and Greater Efficiency
Digitalization and smart technologies are transforming the entire supply chain, from manufacturing and distribution to the retail experience.
Among the main highlights of the 2026 edition is the renewed New Retail Hall, an 8,000 sqm area featuring 15 leading brands presenting integrated retail scenarios capable of combining online, offline, and data-driven management.
VR and AR technologies will contribute to creating immersive product and spatial experiences, while the upgraded online platform — supported by a multilingual official website and an integrated social media ecosystem — will provide comprehensive digital services for exhibitors and international buyers.
In collaboration with Red Star Macalline, CIFF Shanghai will also launch a nationwide matchmaking program designed to foster more efficient connections among brands, distributors, and retail channels.
Sustainability: Long-Term Competitiveness
Sustainability has now become a shared priority across the entire industry, from green materials to low-carbon manufacturing processes.
Held concurrently with the fair, the CIFF Shanghai WMF International Woodworking Machinery Fair will showcase advanced technologies for sustainable woodworking and more efficient resource utilization.
The Golden Creation Award 2026 will also introduce a special Green Sustainability Award aimed at promoting recyclable structures, eco-friendly materials, and low-emission construction solutions. A new International Materials Selection Center will present next-generation sustainable materials, supporting the green transformation of manufacturing supply chains.
EXHIBITION FOCUS AREAS
CIFF Shanghai 2026 will revolve around three major content areas:
- Design Eden, dedicated to original design and new product launches;
- New Retail, focused on immersive retail scenarios and data-driven business models
- Integrated Home Building, developed together with the China International Building & Decoration Fair 2026 (Shanghai), in response to the growing demand for integrated interior design solutions.
AN INCREASINGLY GLOBAL PLATFORM
To strengthen its international presence, CIFF Shanghai will continue investing in five strategic sectors:
- woodworking machinery
- upholstered furniture
- outdoor living
- office spaces
- living & dining spaces
At the same time, the exhibition will expand international roadshows, collaborations with media and design institutions, and matchmaking programs dedicated to global buyers. In 2025, these initiatives generated more than 470 business meetings and onsite orders exceeding USD 8.14 million. Building on these results, the 2026 edition aims to further enhance the quality of connections between exhibitors and international markets.
CONTENT AND IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES
CIFF Shanghai 2026 will further strengthen its role as a cultural platform through five curated exhibitions:
- The Hidden Realm Thematic Exhibition
- HOTLINE – Joint Exhibition of Design Creators
- Grand Tea Gala
- The Design & Imagination Contemporary Design Exhibition
- Design Gravity
These projects will explore new relationships between design, lifestyle, sustainability, and commercial transformation through immersive experiences and interdisciplinary experimentation.
FROM TRADE FAIR TO INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM
With the progressive strengthening of its content creation capabilities and resource integration, CIFF Shanghai is evolving:
- from a single trade event into a year-round active platform;
- from simple information dissemination to collaborative content creation;
- from exhibition services to a broader industrial service ecosystem.
Mark your Calendar
CIFF Shanghai 2026
September 5-8, 2026
NECC Shanghai Hongqiao
More information: https://en.ciff-sh.com
