When the EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair kicks off on 3 March 2026, Cologne will become the global meeting point of the hardware industry for four days. The event is considered to be the leading global trade fair in its segment and with around 2,500 registered companies from 53 countries and a foreign share of 86 percent, it is underlining its international relevance for the industry, trade and procurement. The product categories include Tools, Industrial Supply, Fixing and Fastening Technology/Fittings as well as Home Improvement. EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair is being staged from Tuesday to Friday for the first time in 2026. With this new schedule, the trade fair is accommodating international business practices and consolidating its role as a key industry event at the start of the year.

Leading companies from all over the globe present their new products and innovative solutions to an international trade audience at EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair.

German exhibitors include among others ABUS August Bremicker Söhne, alfer aluminium, Allit AG Kunststofftechnik, BOSCH, Burg-Wächter, C. & E. Fein, Collomix, CONACORD Voigt, Conmetall Meister, edding International, Erwin Halder, F. REYHER Nchfg., fischerwerke, Gust. Alberts, Hailo-Werk Rudolf Loh, Heller Tools, Hettich Do-It-Yourself, JOKARI, KIP, Kirchhoff Witte, KRAUSE-Werk, LUKAS ERZETT, MUNK, NOVALIA Deutschland, Picard, Positec Germany, Prebena Wilfried Bornemann, PROJAHN Präzisionswerkzeuge, RHODIUS Abrasives, ROTHENBERGER Werkzeuge, Saint Gobain Abrasives, Scheppach, SFS Group, SPAX International, suki.international, TOX-Dübel-Technik, Weidmüller Interface, Wilh. Schmitt & Comp. and wolfcraft.

The trade fair is also well-represented internationally. Companies such as AMBROVIT, Annovi Reverberi, Apex Tool Group, Isaberg Rapid, KRINO, Morganti, Patrol Group, Prosperplast, PROXXON, Stanley Black & Decker and Telwin will be represented in Cologne, reflecting the global market structure of the industry.

A complete overview of all exhibiting companies can be found in the exhibitor search on the official website.

Sebastian Hein, Director of EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair, assesses the current number of registrations as follows: "Just a few weeks before the fair opens, EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair is in very good shape. The strong national and international participation confirms its significance as a central platform for exchange and concrete business initiation. At the same time, we are consistently further developing the event. With new formats like the EISENworkshop and a wide-ranging event programme, we are creating extra added value for the industry, trade and procurement and are also selectively addressing new target groups such as professional end users, for instance."

The premiere of the EISENworkshop is a key element of the event programme. The new live format in Passage 10/11 presents tools, technologies and materials from the exhibitors' portfolio in a practical environment. On a presentation area in the form of a stylised workshop, international creators from different trades will realise manifold DIY projects live and provide concrete user tips.

The EISENworkshop thus demonstrates real user scenarios without any theory, promoting the exchange between the industry, trade and professional users. Further information on the EISENworkshop can be found on the website.

The EISENforum in Hall 10.2 serves once again as the central event stage of the trade fair. Here, lectures and panels will address current industry themes. Experts and industry insiders will give insights into market trends, technological developments and strategic issues. The forum thus offers a platform for knowledge transfer, professional exchange and the discussion of central future themes of the hardware industry.

On 3 March 2026, the programme focuses on artificial intelligence and will be curated by the digital expert, Michael Atug. This is followed by the BME Buyers Day on 4 March 2026, featuring an exclusive series of lectures for procurement experts from the tool and hardware industry. The emphasis lies on strategic and operational procurement topics. The eCommerce Day on 5 March 2026 is dedicated to digitalisation and the online trade. Among others, lectures by eBay, OBI and Picard will highlight current developments from a trade and platform perspective.

The EISENaward powered by ZHH will be presented for the eighth time in 2026. The trade fair opens with the award ceremony in the EISENforum at 10:00 a.m. on 3 March 2026. Outstanding product innovations will be recognised in cooperation with the German Hardware Trade Association (ZHH). 64 products from 15 countries were submitted this year. A jury comprising of representatives from the handicraft, research, media, design and trade sectors as well as multipliers will assess the entries in the categories Innovation, Design/Ergonomics and Sustainability. The ten nominated products and the three winners will be on display on a special zone in Passage 10/11 throughout the duration of the trade fair.

The DIY Boulevard in Hall 11.1 is being staged again in 2026. The format that was introduced in 2016 is organised in cooperation with the manufacturers' association, Haus & Garten (HHG). Products are presented in a POS-like shelf environment and enable a market-oriented presentation for different levels of trade. HHG member companies and companies from the HIMA network will be participating. The top 10 innovations of the industry will additionally be presented.

The EISENparty that starts at 18:30 p.m. on the first evening of the trade fair also forms part of the event programme. The evening event at the Rheinterrassen in Cologne offers scope for an informal exchange between international industry representatives. A shuttle service will run between the fairgrounds and the event location.

EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair is relying on an extended hosted buyer programme and targeted VIP accreditation to strengthen its international reach. The focus is on high-quality B2B discussions and networking between international decision-makers from the industry, trade and procurement. In this way, the trade fair is underscoring its role as a global platform for the initiation of business and strategic exchange.

Tickets for EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair 2026 are available from the ticket shop on the official website. Information on the event and supporting programme mentioned can also be found there as well as an overview of all exhibitors.

Koelnmesse – industry trade fairs for the hardware sector: As a top international trade fair organiser, Koelnmesse is the global market leader for events in the tools and hardware sector. Cologne is home to the EISENWARENMESSE – INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR, the world’s leading trade fair for the industry. Asia-Pacific Sourcing, the largest sourcing platform outside of Asia, also showcases its products there. Koelnmesse is also expanding its international portfolio in key markets. The China International Hardware Show in Shanghai, International Hardware Fair Italy in Bergamo, International Hardware Fair India in New Delhi and El Gran Salón Ferretero in Colombia are tailored events and leading regional trade fairs with international participation. The successful launches of the International Hardware Fair Indonesia in Jakarta and the International Hardware Fair Saudi Arabia in Riyadh in 2025 marked the addition of further events in strategically important growth markets.