The second edition of the international exhibition for marble, granite and natural stone aims to strengthen commercial links between Egypt’s stone industry and international markets, bringing together buyers, producers and industry professionals.
Stone Africa 2026 opens its doors today, 12 November, in Cairo, Egypt, launching its second edition with a focus on the marble, granite and natural stone industry. The exhibition will run until 15 November at the Cairo International Conference Center in Nasr City, bringing together companies and professionals from Egypt, Africa and other international markets.
Held under the theme “The Art of Stone”, this year’s event seeks to broaden the scope of the first edition, which placed greater emphasis on material origins, quarries, raw materials and production infrastructure. In 2026, Stone Africa aims to place greater focus on processing, technology, stone craftsmanship and the applications of natural stone.
International participation and a strong business focus
According to information published by Egypt’s State Information Service, this year’s exhibition is expected to attract approximately 200 international buyers from 40 countries. This would represent a significant increase compared with the first edition, which hosted 96 buyers from 23 countries.
The exhibition area is also expected to increase by 15% to 20% compared with the previous year, with companies and factories presenting their products and production capabilities to professionals from different markets.
The first edition welcomed more than 6,000 visitors and over 100 exhibitors from eight countries, according to figures published by the event organisers. These results provided the basis for the expansion of this year’s exhibition and the strengthening of its international buyer programme.
Materials, machinery and new thematic sections
Stone Africa 2026 covers a broad range of activities across the natural stone value chain. The exhibition includes natural stone blocks and slabs, processed products, as well as machinery and technologies supporting quarrying and stone processing operations.
Among the new features of this year’s event are a dedicated machinery and equipment hall, an expanded presence of African producers through special pavilions, and a new thematic section, Marble Art, focusing on the artistic and design applications of marble.
This approach reflects the organisers’ effort to cover more stages of the industry, from extraction and processing to the production of finished products and their applications in architecture and design.
Conference programme and international exchange of expertise
Parallel events and presentations examining economic, technical and commercial issues affecting the sector form an important part of the exhibition programme.
The programme begins today, 12 November, with the opening ceremony and presentations addressing the economic importance of added value in the natural stone industry, as well as techniques for the care, protection and maintenance of marble.
On 13 November, a presentation is scheduled to explore the diversity of Brazil’s natural stones. On 14 November, an international panel will examine global trends and the outlook for the natural stone market, featuring industry professionals from different countries.
The exhibition will conclude on 15 November with an event recognising prominent figures in the industry, alongside activities organised as part of the Designers Forum.
Egypt seeks to strengthen its position in the international market
Stone Africa takes place within the broader context of Egypt’s efforts to strengthen its position in the international marble and granite trade. The country has a significant production base, extensive quarrying activity and a long tradition of natural stone processing. Its geographical position also provides access to markets across Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
According to figures cited by Egypt’s State Information Service, the country’s marble and granite exports reached approximately $157 million in the first seven months of 2026. The Export Council for Building Materials has set a target of further increasing exports, with an emphasis on expanding market access and strengthening direct cooperation between Egyptian companies and international buyers.
For industry businesses, Stone Africa 2026 provides an opportunity to assess the potential of the Egyptian and wider African markets, establish contacts with producers and suppliers, and explore new commercial partnerships.
With four days of exhibition activity, international business meetings and parallel events, this year’s edition aims to strengthen Cairo’s role as a meeting point for the natural stone industry across the wider region.
