Dates: 9-13 June 2026
Venue: Tuyap Fair and Congress Center, Buyukcekmece, Istanbul
Scale: 110,000 m2 across 11 halls
Exhibitors: 1,000+ companies and representatives from 59 countries
Visitors: 48,257 professionals from 105 countries
Next edition: ITM 2028, 13-17 June 2028
ITM 2026 at a Glance
ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition took place on 9-13 June 2026 at Tuyap Fair and Congress Center in Buyukcekmece, Istanbul. Organized by Tuyap Tum Fuarcilik Yapim A.S. and Teknik Fuarcilik A.S. in cooperation with TEMSAD (Textile Machinery and Accessories Industrialists Association), and audited by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), the exhibition ran concurrently with HIGHTEX 2026, the international fair for technical textiles and nonwovens.
The event filled 110,000 square meters across 11 halls and hosted more than 1,000 exhibiting companies and representatives from 59 countries. Over five days, it welcomed 48,257 professional visitors from 105 countries, a result that stands out in a period marked by global economic uncertainty and postponed investment decisions across the textile industry.
Visitor Numbers and Profile
The visitor total splits into 25,576 domestic visitors (53%) and 22,681 international visitors (47%), an unusually balanced ratio that underlines the international character of the show. Domestic attendance came from all over Turkey, with the Marmara region accounting for 77% of local visitors, followed by the Aegean region (11%), the Mediterranean (5%), Central and Southeastern Anatolia (2.5% each), and the Black Sea and Eastern Anatolia regions (1% each).
Beyond the headline number, the organizers highlight the quality of the audience: a large share of visitors were factory owners, senior executives, investors and professionals with direct influence on purchasing decisions. Many exhibitors reported that visitor quality was higher than in previous editions and that a significant portion of meetings turned into concrete projects and purchasing processes.
Where International Visitors Came From
Excluding Turkey, the international visitor base broke down by continent as follows:
- Asia: 59.19% (including India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Uzbekistan, Russia and the Gulf states)
- Europe: 19.52% (including Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and France)
- Africa: 18.58% (including Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Nigeria)
- North America: 1.29%
- South America: 0.79%
- Oceania: 0.63%
The list of visiting countries stretched from Rwanda to Tuvalu and from Chile to the Comoros. Istanbul's strategic location, its direct flight connections and the absence of visa barriers for many markets played a visible role here: a number of investors who struggle to obtain visas for European exhibitions used ITM 2026 as their main platform for building international business contacts.
Visitor Breakdown by Sector
According to the survey conducted during the fair, visitors' fields of activity were distributed as follows: fiber and yarn (14%), dyeing and finishing (14%), printing and digital printing (13%), circular and flat knitting (12%), weaving (12%), garment manufacturing (7%), home textiles (6%), integrated facilities (5%), narrow weaving (4%), nonwovens and technical textiles (4%), carpet and tufting (3%), denim (2%), embroidery (2%), underwear (1%) and socks (1%). The spread confirms that ITM covers the full textile production chain rather than a single machinery segment.
Buying Delegations and Business Outcomes
ITM 2026 hosted official buying delegations from Syria, Egypt, Bangladesh, India, Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia, Spain and Poland, with further international delegations arriving from Pakistan, Iran, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Indonesia, China, Bulgaria, Belarus, Austria, Portugal, Turkmenistan and Serbia.
The commercial results were tangible. Many exhibitors began selling machinery from the first day of the fair, and the organizers report that machinery sales reached billions of euros over the five days. Leading textile groups from Syria, Egypt, India and Russia visited with their delegations and completed machinery purchases on site, with strong demand across weaving, knitting, spinning, finishing, garment, denim and digital printing technologies.
Technology Trends on the Show Floor
Sustainability, energy efficiency, digitalization, automation and AI-supported production were the areas that attracted the most visitor attention throughout the week. The world's leading manufacturers used ITM 2026 for technology launches and live machine demonstrations, giving investors a direct look at solutions designed to cut production costs, raise efficiency and support sustainable manufacturing.
What Exhibitors Said
The post-show report collects feedback from dozens of exhibiting companies, from Turkish machinery builders to global groups such as Rieter, Picanol, Saurer, Trutzschler, Karl Mayer, Uster and Itema. Several themes repeat across their comments. Exhibitors describe Istanbul as a natural bridge between Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and value ITM as a platform where they can meet customers from markets that are otherwise hard to reach. Many were surprised by the intensity of demand given the difficult market conditions, reported orders signed during the fair itself, and noted that the visitor profile consisted largely of business owners and decision makers. Some participants were already planning their presence at ITM 2028 and even ITM 2030 before the show closed.
HIGHTEX 2026: Technical Textiles and Nonwovens
Held under the same roof, HIGHTEX 2026 brought together leading producers of technical textiles and nonwoven technologies with global buyers, covering everything from raw materials to advanced production machinery. Exhibitor feedback points to a highly qualified visitor profile and productive business meetings, with several companies closing deals during the fair.
ITM 2028: Dates and Early Demand
The next edition is already confirmed: ITM 2028 will take place on 13-17 June 2028 at the same venue. Demand is unusually early. While ITM 2026 was still running, many exhibitors requested space for 2028, and pre-reservations reached notable levels before the doors closed.
Planning to Exhibit at ITM 2028?
Post-show figures like these are the most reliable way to judge whether an exhibition deserves a place in your trade fair calendar, and ITM's numbers make a strong case. If you are considering a stand at ITM 2028 in Istanbul, our team designs, builds and installs custom exhibition stands at Tuyap Fair and Congress Center. You can find details on our ITM Istanbul stand builder page.
