Design, innovation and ceramics: the very best at Cersaie 2025
The 42nd edition of Cersaie 2025, the international exhibition of ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings, brought the best of innovation and design to Bologna. Despite the global challenges, the event proved once again to be a vital meeting point for creativity, business, and culture in the ceramic and interior design industries.
Let’s take a closer look at what made this edition a success to remember.
Packed spaces, inspiring ideas
From September 22 to 26, BolognaFiere hosted Cersaie 2025, filling sixteen halls with a total exhibition area of 155,000 square meters. A total of 627 companies exhibited, including:
- 343 ceramic tile companies
- 98 bathroom furnishing brands
- 186 firms covering installation, raw materials, new surfaces, and services
The exhibition spaces were more than just stands – they were immersive environments that told stories of material innovation, design evolution, and architectural vision.
A truly global gathering
Cersaie 2025 successfully maintained strong international appeal, with 243 foreign exhibitors (39% of the total) representing 29 countries. Total attendance reached 94,577, showing a slight decrease of 0.8% compared to the previous year, partly due to strikes on the opening and closing days
However, there was a 3% increase in domestic visitors and a slight 4.6% decline in international attendance. These figures confirm that the exhibition continues to attract a highly qualified and motivated audience, including architects, designers, distributors, and real estate professionals.
Italian Ceramics: excellence facing global pressures
During the exhibition, the President of Confindustria Ceramica, Augusto Ciarrocchi, highlighted the quality of the meetings held at the stands and the strength of Italian ceramic design. The industry continues to be a global benchmark, thanks to its innovation, sustainability, and design value.
However, several critical issues remain: tariffs, dumping practices, and poorly calibrated environmental regulations such as the ETS are putting the sector’s competitiveness at risk. The exhibition served as an opportunity to raise these concerns with government ministers and European institutions.
Project culture and a focus on the next generation
Beyond business, Cersaie 2025 offered a rich cultural program. Highlights:
- 500 attendees at Elizabeth Diller’s Lectio Magistralis
- Hundreds of professionals engaged in the “Building, Dwelling, Thinking” program
- 620 journalists accredited, with 150 attending the International Press Conference
- 18 Press Cafés for dialogue between design media and professionals
The fair also embraced the future:
1,200 students joined the “Lesson in Reverse”, and 300 participated in the Career Day. The Tiling Town installation saw high engagement, while the Cersaie Business initiative welcomed 210 delegates from all five continents, in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ICE Agency.
Cersaie 2026: see you in Bologna
Cersaie 2025 confirmed its role as a global hub for design innovation in ceramics and bathroom furnishings. A space where ideas come to life and meaningful connections begin.
The next edition will take place from September 21 to 25, 2026, once again in Bologna. Save the date!
