Artificial Intelligence in Focus

Heimtextil 2026 prepares the global textile industry for the future with a strong content programme

From algorithmic design to intelligent materials: Heimtextil 2026 positions artificial intelligence as a creative partner, strategic tool and cultural force shaping the future of textiles, interiors and architecture.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant vision for the textile sector. It is actively transforming the industry – from creative conception and material development to production, pricing, distribution and communication. The key question is no longer if AI will be used, but how it can be applied meaningfully and where it truly creates value.

From 13 to 16 January 2026, Heimtextil in Frankfurt places AI firmly at the centre of its international programme. With a dense schedule of talks, installations, trend presentations and curated discussions, the world’s leading trade fair for home and contract textiles positions itself as a future lab for design, retail, industry, architecture and interior design. Highlights include the forward-thinking Heimtextil Trends 26/27 curated by Alcova, a major design installation by Patricia Urquiola and a live talk with AI pioneer and architect Tim Fu.

AI as catalyst across the textile value chain

AI is accelerating creative processes and redefining workflows along the entire textile value chain – from early design concepts and material visualisations to data migration, day-to-day operations and the market launch of new products. Heimtextil 2026 makes these developments tangible by bringing together internationally renowned experts who demonstrate how AI is already being used in practice – and what strategic potential it holds for the industry.

From stage to practice: knowledge, debate and application

At the heart of the AI programme is the Texpertise Stage in Hall 6.0, Heimtextil’s central knowledge hub. Here, technological innovation meets business relevance, translating complex developments into practical insights.

One of the programme highlights is the live talk with Tim Fu, London-based architect and AI pioneer, who discusses interior design in the age of artificial intelligence with Simon Keane-Cowell, Editor-in-Chief of Architonic. On the opening day, trend researcher Anja Bisgaard Gaede (Founder, Spott trends & business aps) explores AI-driven workflows, data integration and future-ready textile strategies. Elisabeth Ramm from Atelier Brückner shares perspectives on AI and materials in exhibition design, while Martin Auerbach of the Association of German Home Textiles Manufacturers illustrates how AI can be profitably integrated into everyday company operations.

Dedicated sessions on the megatrend of sleep and technology are moderated by sleep expert Markus Kamps, featuring a range of specialist speakers. Additional discussions take place at the Talk Spot in Hall 12.0, where Architonic hosts a conversation with exhibitor Oriental Weavers on carpets between craftsmanship and global production.

Heimtextil Trends 26/27: where craft meets code

How can AI-driven design processes coexist with – and enhance – traditional textile craftsmanship? The Heimtextil Trends 26/27 offer orientation under the guiding theme “Craft is a verb”. Curated by the design platform Alcova and presented in the Trend Arena in Hall 6.1, six stylistic directions explore the dynamic interplay between high-tech innovation and hands-on making.

This dialogue is reflected in a striking colour palette: natural tones are deliberately disrupted by digital “glitches”, synthetic accents and unexpected breaks that symbolise the productive tension between analogue and algorithmic worlds. Daily talks and guided tours translate the trend themes into concrete business insights for design, retail and industry.

“among-all”: Patricia Urquiola’s AI-driven design experience

What happens when humans themselves become part of an AI-based creative process? This question lies at the heart of “among-all”, the immersive installation by Patricia Urquiola in Hall 3.0. Combining futuristic textiles, sustainable materials and cutting-edge AI technologies, the installation presents textiles as intelligent, transformative elements within space.

Visitors are actively involved in the spatial staging, experiencing first-hand how AI can shape perception, interaction and materiality. On 14 January 2026, Patricia Urquiola discusses her visionary approach in a live talk on the Texpertise Stage. Daily guided tours bring this vision of tomorrow’s interior design to life.

AI as creative partner in contract and hospitality design

With Interior.Architecture.Hospitality, Heimtextil offers a tailored programme for decision-makers in interior design, architecture, hospitality and the contract business. At the dedicated Talk Spot in Hall 3.1, Mauro Brigham (Founder, ncbham) reflects on why design is never static, while Helen Häkli (Freelance Architect, bdia) demonstrates how AI can function as a genuine creative partner in interior design processes.

Further expert contributions from Corinna Kretschmar-Joehnk (JOI-Design) and Robin Hepp (Kids Studio) expand the programme, offering practical and conceptual insights for hospitality and contract interiors.

New tools for craftsmanship and interior decoration

AI’s concrete benefits for craftspeople and interior decorators are explored on the DecoTeam Stage in Hall 3.0. AI expert Alexander Ligowski provides hands-on insights into AI-supported interior design – from room and colour concepts to sales support, social media text generation and quotation optimisation. The focus: practical tools that enhance efficiency without replacing creative expertise.

New Talents Area: the next generation engages with AI

How are emerging designers working with AI today? Heimtextil 2026 answers this question with the debut of the New Talents Area in Hall 6.1. The curated exhibition showcases young design talents from around the world and encourages direct exchange between established industry players and the next generation.

Heimtextil 2026
13–16 January 2026, Frankfurt am Main

With its comprehensive AI-focused programme, Heimtextil 2026 positions artificial intelligence not as a threat, but as a powerful enabler – opening new creative, economic and cultural perspectives for the global textile, design and architecture community.