Wood experts prepare for Carrefour International du Bois 2026

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To enhance the visitor experience, the event will be distributed across 4 exhibition halls, thereby facilitating product visibility and creating a more intuitive flow. With a truly international reach, this event will allow us to meet decision-makers from over 100 countries, making it an ideal platform for establishing business contacts and exploring the latest market trends.

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Carrefour International du Bois Launches its 2026 Edition in Nantes

‍With a history of successful events in the timber sector, Carrefour International du Bois has officially begun preparations for its upcoming edition. The event, considered a leader in the sector, is ready to welcome professionals from around the world to a gathering that promises to consolidate the industry's most relevant trends and business.

Event to be held from June 2 to 4, 2026

‍The next edition of Carrefour International du Bois will take place from June 2 to 4, 2026, at the "La Beaujoire" Exhibition Park in Nantes, France. This concentrated three-day format is specifically designed to foster efficient business exchanges, expand professional networks, and generate new business opportunities.

The event deliberately maintains its short and effective duration, a feature that attendees have valued in previous editions. During these three intense days, a complete and sectorized offering will be presented around the industry's major themes: forestry, processing, trade, development, construction, supplies, and services.

The figures from the previous edition speak for themselves: a 5% increase in exhibitors, a 28% increase in exhibition space, and the attendance of 13,500 visitors from over 100 countries. These results have established a solid foundation for the expectations of the 2026 edition.

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New visual identity and communication strategy‍

For this new edition, Carrefour International du Bois has completely renewed its corporate image. The event is presented with a fully updated visual identity that includes a new logo, new colors, and updated promotional materials.

This graphic renewal is not merely aesthetic; it clearly affirms the event's uniqueness as a one-of-a-kind, essential experience. With this new image, Carrefour reaffirms its clear positioning as international, and oriented towards innovation and markets.

The organization has already launched its marketing strategy, allowing exhibitors to reserve their stands from now on. Furthermore, they have developed a complete communications kit composed of logos, web banners, social media posts, and email signatures, making it easier for participants to promote their presence at the event.

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Organization managed by FIBOIS Pays de la Loire and partners

‍Carrefour International du Bois is organized by FIBOIS Pays de la Loire, the interprofessional association of the forestry-timber chain in the region, together with the Nantes Saint-Nazaire Maritime Port. This biennial event also enjoys the support of key institutions such as France Bois Forêt and CODIFAB.

The participation of these strategic partners guarantees that the event is truly "organized by professionals and for professionals," a fundamental aspect that differentiates Carrefour from other trade shows. Their combined expertise in the sector ensures that the content, exhibitors, and activities faithfully reflect the current needs and trends of the timber industry.

In addition to the main exhibition, the organizers are preparing a complete program that will include conferences, roundtables, and innovation presentations focused on the sector's major challenges: ecological transition, regulations, markets, technical innovation, and design. These activities reinforce Carrefour's character as a place for exchange, business, and an excellent barometer for the sector.

The collaboration between these experienced organizers will allow the event to maintain its level of excellence, serving as an indispensable meeting point for decision-makers in the international timber industry.

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International exhibitors confirm their participation‍

The response from the timber sector has been resounding. While the success of previous editions still resonates, preparations for Carrefour International du Bois 2026 are progressing steadily with massive confirmation from international participants, consolidating its position as a world reference event.

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Over 600 companies from 40 countries already registered

‍The drawing power of Carrefour International du Bois is clearly reflected in its numbers. For the next edition, 637 exhibitors from 40 different countries have already registered, surpassing the mark of 607 exhibitors reached in the 2022 edition. This geographic diversity guarantees global representation of the sector.

The trade show will cover the entire value chain of the timber industry: from sawmills and forestry to finished products like parquet, panels, construction solutions, and specialized services. Approximately 39% of the exhibitors come from international markets, demonstrating the event's truly global character.

During the three days of the show, these exhibitors will occupy a space 28% larger than in previous editions, strategically distributed across the four thematic halls of the Nantes exhibition center. This expansion responds to the growing interest in presenting innovations and advanced solutions for the sector.

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Organizers redesign the experience with sector-specific halls‍

To substantially improve the Carrefour International du Bois 2026 experience, the organizers have implemented a sectorization strategy that revolutionizes the traditional layout of the trade show. This innovation seeks to optimize both product presentation and the experience of professional visitors, consolidating the event's position as a European benchmark.

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Distribution into 4 major thematic areas‍

Carrefour International du Bois 2026 will be strategically distributed across four halls organized by major thematic sectors. This new configuration responds to the notable growth the event has experienced in recent years, incorporating an additional 12,000 m² of exhibition space with the integration of the XXL Hall.

The sectorial distribution is organized as follows: Hall 1 will be dedicated to parquet flooring; Hall 2 will host panel manufacturers; the Grand Palais and Mezzanine will welcome construction solutions and services; while the XXL Pavilion will bring together the sawmill, forestry, and timber trade sectors.

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Improved product visibility and visitor flow‍

Sectorization is not an organizational whim but a necessity derived from the event's continuous growth. As stated by Géraldine Cesbron, General Commissioner of Carrefour: "Optimizing the visitor's journey and experience is a key point for confirming the strong growth and internationalization of the show."

Although initially this reorganization represents a significant change for regular exhibitors, the sector's response has been largely positive. According to testimonials from manufacturers like Décospan Wood Solutions: "This new sectorization will allow visitors to better navigate the trade show through the different halls."

Likewise, the company Malvaux points out a practical advantage: "Visitors spend less and less time at trade shows because their schedules don't allow it. Sectorization allows for simplifying the route and focusing it on the exhibitors they want to find based on the theme."

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Spaces dedicated to construction solutions, parquet, panels, and more‍

The concentrated three-day format is specifically designed to foster connections, expand networks, and generate new business opportunities. To enhance these objectives, each hall will present a specialized and clearly identifiable offering:

• Halls 1 and 2: will concentrate the offering of products for flooring, parquet, and wood paneling.
• Grand Palais and Mezzanine: dedicated exclusively to wood construction solutions.
• XXL Pavilion: space for sawmilling, forestry, and timber trade.

Within Carrefour, a specific space called "Wood Techniques & Solutions" has also been planned, specifically aimed at prescribers and construction professionals. This sectorization, along with the voluntary limitation of stand size to 36 m², helps maintain the event's human scale where networking is as important as business.‍

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Experts highlight innovation as the central theme of the event

‍Innovation emerges as a fundamental pillar of Carrefour International du Bois 2026, positioning the event as an exceptional barometer for the timber sector. During previous editions, professionals have confirmed that this gathering provides a complete overview of current and future market trends.

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Trends in high value-added products‍

The focus on high value-added products characterizes the Carrefour International du Bois offering. According to the organizers, this approach responds to the growing demand for more sophisticated and sustainable solutions. Experts agree that the market is evolving towards products that prioritize quality over quantity, following the "less is more" philosophy.

Likewise, manufacturers are betting on the quiet but profound transformation of the sector, maintaining traditional techniques while incorporating new technologies and concepts like eco-design. This trend reflects the pursuit of quality, sustainability, and durability that defines the current market.

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Examples: acoustic ceilings, treated wood, interior design‍

Among the innovations highlighted in previous editions are acoustic panels, which combine technical functionality with the aesthetic warmth of natural wood. On the other hand, companies like Losán showcased acoustic designs like their classic Hotán and the innovative Stacatto, which breaks conventional symmetry to create visually attractive harmonic patterns.

Furthermore, MUSA SOLUTIONS presented specialized solutions for acoustic conditioning, decorative panels, and woods with surface texture. Other innovations include technical-decorative products that allow for addressing construction projects from completely renewed perspectives.

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Participation of architects and designers‍

The "Wood Techniques & Solutions" area has become a nerve center of the event, presenting through technical conferences the innovations that wood offers for construction and interior design. In previous editions, these meetings were "a great success," especially the presentations on wood construction.

In parallel, renowned architects like Tszwai So, Janne Kantee, Carlos Castanheira, and Lidewij Lenders have shared innovative projects that demonstrate the potential of wood in contemporary designs. Carrefour International du Bois 2026 will continue this tradition, consolidating itself as a space where innovation and technical knowledge converge to drive the future of the timber sector.‍

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Parallel events boost networking and knowledge

‍Parallel to the main event, Carrefour International du Bois 2026 will organize a full cycle of activities that complement the business experience. These initiatives have become a differentiating element that enhances the value of the gathering beyond the traditional exhibition.

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Conferences, forums, and sector meetings‍

The program includes three different conference formats: long-format roundtables located in the Grand Palais, conferences in a television studio style in the XXL Hall, and short pitch presentations (5-10 minutes) in Hall 1. These meetings will address crucial topics such as national and international markets, forests and carbon, the health benefits of wood, and perspectives on forest resources.

Furthermore, exhibitors and partners will offer a complementary program of conferences in various meeting rooms, including topics such as "From trial to boom, biosourced materials take over in rehabilitation" and "Roundtable on the EUDR: what changes? what solutions?".

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Presence of forums like EGURTEK‍

A notable example is EGURTEK, the Forum for Architecture and Technique in Wood, which will have an exhibition corner to promote its event scheduled for October at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre. During Carrefour, the EGURTEK team will take the opportunity to promote the importance of this Basque event to the prescriber audience present in Nantes.

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Internationalization opportunities and alliances‍

These parallel activities turn the event into a powerful catalyst for business internationalization. Likewise, the concentrated three-day format is specifically designed to foster effective professional exchanges. The trade show offers a solid platform for building alliances and exploring new business opportunities, with over 20 seminars, workshops, and presentations.

For companies, these initiatives represent an internationalization strategy that allows them to work in a grouped manner in international markets, accessing contacts that would be very difficult to obtain alone. During these informal meetings, participants can meet attendees with similar interests in relaxed settings, exploring opportunities together while building real connections.

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Conclusion‍

Carrefour International du Bois 2026 is undoubtedly shaping up to be a pivotal event for all timber industry professionals. Furthermore, the expansion into four thematic halls revolutionizes the experience for both exhibitors and visitors, creating a more intuitive and efficient flow.

The new visual identity, along with a renewed communication strategy, reinforces the event's positioning as a "100% Wood and 100% Business" gathering. Certainly, this evolution reflects the maturity of an event that has managed to adapt to the changing needs of the market while maintaining its original essence.

The presence of 637 exhibitors from 40 different countries consolidates Carrefour as a true international platform. Therefore, attending professionals will be able to establish contacts with decision-makers from over 100 countries, significantly expanding their business opportunities.

The conferences, forums, and parallel meetings effectively complement the commercial offering, creating an ecosystem where knowledge and innovation flow freely. Particularly relevant will be the discussions on trends in high value-added products, sustainable construction solutions, and technical advances in the sector.

Finally, Carrefour International du Bois 2026 projects itself as more than just a trade show; it establishes itself as a barometer for the sector that anticipates trends and connects the main players of the global timber industry. Professionals in the sector therefore have an unmissable appointment from June 2 to 4, 2026, in Nantes, France, to be part of this event that continues to grow in relevance and international impact.

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