A look ahead to IPM Essen 2026

Hall 5 at IPM Essen 2026 will be the lively center for floristry, design and forward-looking ideas in the green market. In addition to the IPM Flower Stage, which will feature international floral designers with live shows and practical ideas every day, two further program items will enrich the offering: the BLOOM's trend show and the IPM Discovery Center. Visitors to the creative hall will also find exhibitors offering floristry supplies and the IPM Concept Store with complementary product ranges. The horticultural trade fair is creating a place where creativity, market inspiration and sustainable concept solutions come together to form a diverse overall experience.

BLOOM's Trend Show 2026 provides guidance for trade and design. It shows which styles from fashion and interior decor will influence floristry in the coming year. 'Gentle & Mindful' combines a soft, purist aesthetic with a detox mentality. The color scheme is subtle with accents in lime, coral and peach. 'Terra & Comfort' interprets earthiness in a warm, timeless classic style, gaining freshness through splashes of color in papaya, orchid pink and pistachio. 'Greenish & Divers' introduces an urban, green mix of styles that moves between 1970s influences and a sustainable, natural look. 'Pure & Elemental' makes a clear design statement with archaic forms, raw materials and grey-blue nuances. 'Refreshed & Positive' brings back optimistic lightness with playful elements and summery tones that create a cheerful picture for the coming season.

© IPM Essen

Knowledge and practice on the IPM Flower Stage
Visitors to the IPM Flower Stage can expect a varied program full of creativity, practical tips and floristry highlights. Ekaflor will present four slots on the popular revolving stage. Daniela Kirmse will open the first day of the fair with a presentation entitled "90,000 followers – a blessing or a curse?" (10 to 10:45 a.m.) and will discuss the role of social media in the industry. Stephanie and Max Zebovec will share insights into the retail sector the next day from 11 to 11:45 a.m. with their presentation "Sales 24/7, from idea to implementation". Lorena Menk will look at profitable floristry workshops for customers on Thursday, 29 January, from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. Christof Rumbaum and Sven Knutzen will explain how to achieve greater profits by designing existing sales areas correctly on Friday, 30 January, from 11 to 11:45 a.m.

International stars of the floristry scene
The Professional Association of German Florists (FDF) brings international expertise and craftsmanship to the Creative Hall. Brenna Quan and Sue Tabbay-Yamaguchi from Hawaii will offer an exotic floral experience with "The Spirit of Aloha", hosted by TV florist Björn Kroner (Tuesday, 27 January, 2 to 2:45 p.m. and Wednesday, 28 January, 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.). In the show "Floristry International – Pure Perfection Passion" (Tuesday, 27 January, 11 to 11:45 a.m. and Wednesday, 28 January, 1 to 1:45 p.m.), Yulia Medvedeva from Estonia, Stefan Van Berlo from Belgium and Joseph Massie from England will create event floristry with masterful craftsmanship.

Hanneke Frankema (Netherlands), Sara-Lisa Ludvigsson (Sweden) and Elisabeth Schoenemann (Germany) will launch "She blooms" – a new initiative focused on creating space for female role models – with their "Flower Riot" show (Tuesday, 27 January, 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. and Wednesday, 28 January, 10 to 10:45 a.m.). Carles J. Fontanillas from Spain and Johann Obendrauf from Austria will also appear together in the show "FLOOS – the crafter's secret" on Wednesday from 4 to 4:45 p.m. and on Thursday from 2 to 2:45 p.m.

Further design ideas for florists will come from the show "Flower up your ideas – Design, Styles and Trends 2026" (Tuesday, 27 January, 12:15 to 1 p.m. and Thursday, 29 January, 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.) and the impromptu performance "kreativ.divers.lebendig" (creative.diverse.lively) on the final day of the fair from 10:30 to 11 a.m. The IPM Flower Stage programme will close with the award ceremony for the IPM Trade Fair Cup 2026 (Friday, 30 January, from 12:30 p.m.).

© IPM Essen

Tours of the IPM Discovery Center
The IPM Discovery Center, powered by Kahler, brings POS concepts for garden centres, specialist green retailers and food retailers to life. Curator Romeo Sommers transforms selected products from exhibitors into appealing shop environments, where sustainable materials, social megatrends and realistic living spaces play a central role. Several times a day, Sommers guides visitors through themed worlds. "Feminine Marketing" shows how traditionally male-oriented product ranges can be presented in a way that appeals to women. "Nostalgic Marketing" combines modern interior ideas with nostalgic atmospheres. The "Climate Park" demonstrates the power of plants for the climate and the environment. "Health & Wellbeing" focuses on health-promoting plants and their placement at the POS. "Community Learning" presents the garden centre as a place of encounter with workshops and areas for hands-on activities.

The Discovery Center is supported by exhibitors such as A/S Queen Knud Jepsen, Addenda, Magical Hydrangea and Amigra, Air So Pure, Arie Bouman Green outdoor, Bökenkröger Gartentechnik, Brome, Dr. Rech's Vitanal GmbH, Eco Rite Ltd., E-Nema, Flores in Terra B.V., Gardify Solutions GmbH, Griebling Keramik GmbH & CoKg, Haymarket Media GmbH, Lekkerkerk Green Business BV, Mediflora, The Pots Company and Velda. The cooperation with the EFSA (European Floral and Lifestyle Suppliers Association) will continue. The main sponsor of the IPM Discovery Center 2026 is Kahler GmbH, which offers modern and intelligent solutions for shopfitting.

The program is continuously updated on the IPM Essen website and is available at: https://www.ipm-essen.de/world-trade-fair/programme/. IPM Essen will take place from 27 to 30 January 2026 at Messe Essen and will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Friday, the fair will close at 4 p.m.