National and international fairs organized by İZFAŞ at Fuar İzmir and Kültürpark generate millions of Turkish lira in added value for İzmir and the national economy across many areas, from exports and employment to tourism and trade.
This year, a total of 30 fairs and events were organized in İzmir—Türkiye’s hub for the exhibition industry—hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and organized by İZFAŞ or other exhibition companies. In 2025, in addition to 23 fairs at Fuar İzmir, Türkiye’s largest and most modern exhibition center, and at Kültürpark, many events were held, including the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) Türkiye Final, Festival Volleyball İzmir 2025 Youth Türkiye Championship, and local and national First Lego League tournaments. These fairs, which connect İzmir and their respective sectors with the world, support the city’s goal of becoming an international trade and culture center while offering new opportunities for the business community and visitors. With over 4,000 participating companies, the fairs and events hosted more than 2 million visitors from across Türkiye and more than 120 countries, generating hundreds of millions of lira in added value and contributing to the city and national economy, employment, and exports.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Trade, Türkiyes’s exports in 2025 increased by 4.5 percent compared to the previous year, surpassing USD 273.4 billion. Based on export statistics by province, İzmir became Türkiye’s third-largest exporting city in 2025 with total exports of USD 23.6 billion, supported by fairs held across many sectors ranging from natural stone and logistics to fashion and production technologies.
Fair Prosperity Will Continue in 2026
İzmir will continue to host numerous fairs and events in 2026. More than 30 fairs and events will be organized at Fuar İzmir and Kültürpark by İZFAŞ or other exhibition companies. These events, which will host thousands of domestic and international visitors from various sectors throughout the year, will continue to make significant contributions to İzmir’s trade, tourism, and promotional strength. Among the highlights of the 2026 calendar is IF Wedding Fashion İzmir – the 19th Bridal, Groom, and Eveningwear Fair, one of Europe’s largest fashion fairs, to be held at Fuar İzmir from January 20–22. Organized by İZFAŞ in partnership with the Aegean Clothing Manufacturers Association, the fair—taking place in İzmir, the capital of fashion and bridal wear—will once again showcase the latest collections in eveningwear, bridal gowns, groom suits, accessories, and children’s formalwear. The fair, where 2027 fashion trends will be presented, will also host vibrant fashion shows featuring renowned brands as well as young designers.
A Packed Fair Calendar
Following PET İZMİR – the 9th International İzmir Pet Products, Materials, and Accessories Suppliers Fair held from January 8–11, Fuar İzmir will host several major events in the first three months of the year, including AGROEXPO – International Agriculture and Livestock Fair (February 3–7), İZFURNEX – İzmir Furniture Fair (March 25–29), IMATECH – Industrial Production Technologies Fair (March 26–29), and OPTIC WORLD İZMİR – Optical, Eyewear, Ophthalmology, and Technologies Fair (March 27–29). Local and national First Lego League tournaments will also be held during the first quarter of the year.
One of the most important global gatherings in the natural stone sector, Marble İzmir – International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair, which shapes the global natural stone trade, will open its doors for the 31st time on April 14–17, 2026. Throughout the year, fairs ranging from the 95th İzmir International Fair to the İzmir Book Fair, and from Logistech – International Logistics, Warehousing, and Technologies Fair to the 20th edition of TTI İzmir International Tourism Trade Fair and Congress, are expected to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors. With its fairs and events gaining international recognition, İzmir will continue to contribute to all sectors—from food and beverage to tourism, transportation, and accommodation—enhancing the city’s prosperity and boosting Türkiye’s exports.
İZFAŞ to Bring the European Exhibition Industry Together in İzmir in 2026
The city of fairs, İzmir, is preparing to host another major international event in 2026. İZFAŞ will organize the UFI European Conference, one of the most prestigious gatherings of the European exhibition industry, in İzmir from June 3–5, 2026. More than 300 senior representatives of exhibition venue operators, organizers, and service provider companies from around the world will attend. The conference is expected to strengthen İzmir’s vision as a fair and congress center and to foster numerous international exhibition organizations and collaborations. Hosting the conference at Fuar İzmir, with panels and workshops, will provide significant momentum and prestige for Türkiye and İzmir in the field of exhibitions.
“We Will Make the City a Stronger International Exhibition Hub”
İZFAŞ General Manager Tuğçe Cumalıoğlu stated that fairs held in İzmir have become important platforms showcasing the city’s production strength, sectoral diversity, and organizational capacity to the world. She said: “Fairs and events not only develop commercial relations but also contribute to many areas such as culture, tourism, and urban life. The approach of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay, which aims to grow İzmir through production, exports, and international cooperation, provides strong direction to our work in the exhibition sector. Thanks to this vision, İzmir stands out as a center with increasing reliability and preference in international exhibitions. In this context, hosting a UFI international conference in İzmir again after 52 years will reinforce our city’s global visibility. With the fairs and events to be held throughout 2026, we aim to position İzmir as a stronger and more permanent center in international exhibition tourism.”