Visitor influx from diverse regions, from rwanda to tuvalu
Istanbul’s strategic location, transportation advantages, and lack of visa barriers were among the key factors that enhanced ITM 2026’s global appeal. Industry professionals from Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and the Middle East gathered in Istanbul to explore new technologies and evaluate investment opportunities.
Many investors and industry representatives, particularly those facing difficulties attending exhibition in Europe due to visa issues, viewed ITM 2026 as a crucial platform for establishing international business connections. Professional visitors from diverse regions of the world, ranging from Rwanda and San Marino to Chile, Tuvalu, Svaziland and the Comoros, attended the ITM 2026 Exhibition.
The countries from which the visitors came are as follows: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, East Timor, Egypt Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen.
The qualified visitor profile satisfied the participants
One of the most striking aspects of ITM 2026 was not only the number of visitors, but also the fact that they had strong investment potential and consisted of decision-makers. Throughout the exhibition, a significant portion of those visiting the stands were factory owners, senior executives, investors, and professionals who play an influential role in purchasing decisions.
Participating companies stated that they had the opportunity to make direct contact, especially with businesses planning new investments, and that the majority of these meetings resulted in concrete projects and acquisition processes. Many companies emphasized that the quality of visitors was higher than in previous years and that the exhibition was extremely productive from a commercial perspective.
The foundations for new investments were laid with international purchasing delegations
ITM 2026 transcended being merely an event showcasing technologies, becoming a prominent business platform where significant commercial deals were concluded. From the very first day, many participating companies began selling machinery, and the meetings held over the five days resulted in new investment decisions and long-term collaborations. In particular, the presidents of leading textile companies from Syria, Egypt, India, and Russia, along with their purchasing delegations, visited ITM 2026 and made machinery purchases. Solutions for all textile production processes, including weaving, knitting, spinning, finishing, garment manufacturing, denim, and digital printing technologies, were met with intense interest from investors. Participants stated that despite current economic conditions, investment appetite persists, and the exhibition, where billions of euros worth of machinery sales took place, provided significant motivation for the sector.
Future technologies attract great interest
Throughout ITM 2026, sustainability, energy efficiency, digitalization, automation, and AI-powered manufacturing technologies were among the areas that attracted the most attention from visitors. Technology launches and live machine demonstrations by leading global manufacturers guided investors in their future production plans. Industry professionals visiting the exhibition had the opportunity to examine firsthand technologies that will reduce production costs, increase efficiency, and support sustainable production.
High demand already for ITM 2028
The commercial activity and high visitor satisfaction generated by ITM 2026 have also brought interest in the upcoming event. Many participating companies have already requested space for ITM 2028, which will be held from June 13-17, 2028, while the exhibition is still ongoing, and pre-reservations for the event have reached remarkable levels.
Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (JP)
