Texhibition Istanbul – Successful Despite Geopolitical Challenges

From March 4–6, 2026, the ninth edition of Texhibition took place at the Istanbul Expo Center, once again placing Turkey—the world’s fifth-largest textile exporter—at the center of global sourcing.

Across 42,850 m², more than 500 exhibitors presented their collections and met around 25,000 international buyers from Europe, the United States, North Africa, and the Middle East. Attendance remained strong despite the conflict around Iran, which prevented some visitors and exhibitors—particularly from the Gulf region and the U.S.—from attending.

As always, the fair showcased a comprehensive product range, from woven and knitted fabrics to yarns, accessories, printing, and embroidery. This was complemented by forward-looking concept areas such as Blue Black Denim – Denim Rewritten, the Innovation Hub, the Trend Area, and the ReValue Stock Hub.

The Blue Black Denim area was a highlight. Prefabricated stands made from scaffolding pipes, separated by jute fabrics, created a setting that suited the denim theme perfectly. A DJ area, food and drinks, and a number of interesting innovations in the denim segment contributed to the atmosphere.

One of the key trends was “Rigid”—the essence of authentic denim. Interestingly, this is currently in strong demand among women, while men increasingly prefer more comfortable denim blends with stretch, explained Vakur Besim Özek, Strategy and Business Development at BOSSA.

Özek, who also helped establish the denim exhibition as a board member, reflects as a person the genuin denim enthusiasm that is reflected in the experitse at BOSSA as well as in the professional development of this denim platform.

Noteworthy innovations were also presented by ISKO, where, alongside rigid denim, the Comfort Series attracted strong interest. TUSA also saw heavy traffic at its stand, presenting notable innovations such as denim fabrics in striking colors.

For internationally operating companies, Istanbul remains a must. Buyers from Asia, Russia, the Gulf states, Europe, and the United States meet here—something that reflects not only the strength of the fair but also Turkey’s geopolitical position and its continuing importance within the global textile industry.