Cersaie 2026: Ceramics Moves from Surface to System

This week Bologna is hosting Cersaie 2026 (21–25 September), the world's leading fair for ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings. More than 600 manufacturers and around 100,000 visitors from over 160 countries are expected, and this year's message is clear: ceramic is no longer only the last layer applied to a building, but part of how the building works.

A space for architectural design

The fair's theme positions tile at every scale of the built environment — interiors, exteriors and even infrastructure. Pritzker Prize laureate Alejandro Aravena gave the keynote on 24 September, alongside a panel on large-scale infrastructure projects that use ceramic surfaces.

What we're seeing on the stands

• Porcelain beyond the floor: countertops, cabinet fronts and even cooktops in sintered porcelain.

• Exteriors: ventilated façade systems and outdoor pavers designed to match interior collections.

• "Tile drenching": the same surface wrapped across floors, walls and ceilings for immersive rooms.

• Integrated bathrooms: washbasins, vanities and linear drains made from the same ceramic as the walls.

• Finishes: metallic effects, nature-inspired textures and large mural-style decors.

Why it matters for your project

For architects and homeowners, the "surface to system" shift means one material family can now carry a design from the façade to the kitchen island — with the durability, low maintenance and environmental certifications (EPD, LEED, Greenguard) that ceramic is known for. The Tiling Town area, a 400 m² live-installation hub, also shows how extra-large slabs, 3D volumes and mosaics are actually laid on site.

Want to see how these directions translate into real products? Visit our showroom or get in touch — we'll walk you through what's new.

Source: Azure Magazine

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