The January Design Fair Guide: Maison&Objet, IMM Cologne, and the UK Furniture Show Compared

January is the starting gun for the design industry's buying year, and 2026 opens with three heavyweight trade fairs in quick succession. Maison&Objet in Paris (15-19 January), the January Furniture Show in Birmingham (18-21 January), and IMM Cologne (20-23 January) all compete for the attention of furniture retailers, interior designers, and contract specifiers. If your diary and budget only allow one trip, which should you prioritise?

Maison&Objet is the broadest of the three, spanning 3,000+ brands across furniture, lighting, textiles, tableware, fragrance, and accessories at Paris Nord Villepinte. It's trade-only (approximately €80 per ticket) and attracts a strongly international crowd. If your client base or buying portfolio extends beyond furniture into lifestyle, homewares, and decorative objects, this is the one. The January edition traditionally debuts new collections and sets the trend agenda for the year ahead. Budget two full days minimum to cover the ground.

The JFS at the NEC is the UK trade's home fixture. 500 exhibitors, 50,000+ products, and free entry with trade registration. It's narrower in scope than Maison&Objet (pure furniture and home interiors) but deeper in the UK market. If you're a British retailer or specifier, the relationships you build here are with suppliers who understand UK logistics, pricing, and taste. The NEC's transport links are excellent. Birmingham International station is a 5-minute walk. And you can comfortably cover the show in a single day.

IMM Cologne sits between the two. More focused than Maison&Objet, more international than the JFS. At €29-39 per day, it's affordable, and unusually for a trade fair, it's open to the public as well as professionals. The 2026 edition featured 339 exhibitors from 28 countries with a strong emphasis on smart home integration. If you're interested in the European mid-market and want to spot trends crossing from the continent to the UK, IMM is your show.

For UK-focused furniture retailers: the January Furniture Show is unmissable and free. For designers and buyers with international ambitions or lifestyle-adjacent sourcing needs: Maison&Objet justifies the trip to Paris. For those who want a compact, affordable overview of European furniture trends: IMM Cologne delivers excellent value. And if you can make two of the three, JFS + Maison&Objet is the strongest combination. They run back-to-back with only a Eurostar between them.