Marble İzmir – International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair has concluded, bringing together domestic and international exhibitors, a broad international visitor profile and a diverse programme of events. As one of the global meeting points of the natural stone industry, Marble İzmir hosted thousands of visitors from more than 100 countries, standing out not only for the volume of trade it generated but also for its ability to bring together design, art and knowledge sharing. Preparations and planning have already begun for the 32nd edition, set to be held in 2027.
Held for the 31st time this year under the auspices of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and organised by İZFAŞ, the fair welcomed the world to İzmir between 14–17 April. As in previous years, Marble İzmir made significant contributions to both the sector and the wider economy. With nearly 1,000 exhibitors from 41 provinces across Türkiye and 28 countries, the fair took place over an area exceeding 150,000 square metres. Buyer delegations, B2B meetings and hosted buyer programmes generated an intense flow of business activity. Contacts established across a wide spectrum — from natural stone production and processing to machinery technologies and design applications — paved the way for new partnerships and export opportunities. The fair once again stood out as a platform where existing commercial ties were strengthened and new market opportunities were explored.
Hall D was reconfigured this year under the “D-ESIGN Arena” concept, becoming one of the most dynamic sections of the fair. Bringing together design, art and trade, the space hosted Marble Talks sessions, business meetings and a range of events with the participation of architects, academics and industry professionals. The works produced during the Sculpture Workshop, highlighting the artistic dimension of natural stone, were exhibited throughout the fair and will later be installed in various locations across İzmir. The 8th International Natural Stone Design Competition, held as part of Marble İzmir, contributed to the sector’s value-added transformation. This year, 19 finalist designs — selected from 724 projects submitted by students from 67 universities in eight countries — were presented to visitors in Hall D, with the winners announced at an award ceremony.
Speaking after the fair, İZFAŞ General Manager Tuğçe Cumalıoğlu drew attention to Marble İzmir’s strong structure, which continues to grow alongside the sector. “We are proud to have successfully completed the 31st Marble İzmir. For 31 years, Marble İzmir has contributed to the growth of the sector, while the sector has, in turn, continued to grow the fair. This year, we hosted exhibitors from 28 countries and thousands of professional visitors from more than 100 countries. Türkiye’s possession of one-third of the world’s natural stone reserves strengthens our fair on a global scale. International participants say they can see not only Türkiye’s but the world’s stone diversity here, which makes us extremely pleased. Marble İzmir is truly a very strong fair, and this strength is directly reflected in the sector. We aim to build on this momentum in the coming year. Preparations for next year have already begun, and we aim to carry Marble İzmir into the future with an even stronger structure,” she said.
Cumalıoğlu also announced that the 32nd Marble İzmir will be held at Fuar İzmir between 13–16 April 2027, inviting industry representatives to gather once again in İzmir.
