What Cersaie does

Cersaie is the International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings, an annual five-day trade show held at the Bologna Exhibition Centre since 1983 and organized by Edi.Cer. S.p.A., a private Italian company controlled by the Confindustria Ceramica industry association and operated jointly with BolognaFiere. The 43rd edition is scheduled for September 21-25, 2026, occupying 16 halls and 155,000+ sqm of display space. The event anchors the global calendar for ceramic surfaces, bathroom furnishings, and architectural finishes, drawing approximately 595 exhibiting companies and 95,000 trade visitors from 158 countries, with roughly half of attendees traveling from outside Italy. Visitor constituencies include architects, interior designers, retailers/wholesalers, contractors, tile installers, and students, served via free online pre-registration and dedicated press accreditation.

The core product is the physical exhibition, augmented by a layer of digital services: an online exhibitors catalogue with filtering by company, hall, country, and product sector; an official iOS/Android mobile app for browsing exhibitors and managing event schedules; a 360° virtual walkthrough built on the Mc360photo platform; and the Route40 digital archive documenting 40 years of exhibition history. Cultural and educational programming includes the "Building, Dwelling, Thinking" conference series, Press Cafés operated by Italian home and lifestyle magazines, and the Tiling Town training area for installation techniques, alongside recurring design competitions (Tile Competition, ADI Cersaie Design Award, ADI Exhibit Design Award) and the 29th-edition CTI Journalism Award. The organizer's IP portfolio includes the registered Cersaie and Route40 trademarks and the 2019-introduced "Open Cersaie" pictogram.

Revenue is generated from four primary streams: exhibitor space rental across the 16 halls, advertising and sponsorship positions (virtual tour, catalogue, app, pocket guide, LED walls, signage, shuttle trains), value-added exhibition services (logistics, technical support, parking, customized solutions), and press/media services. Visitor admission is free, distributed exclusively through online pre-registration with no on-site sales. Go-to-market combines targeted commercial outreach for exhibitor acquisition with multi-channel visitor acquisition across email (six annual newsletters), organic social (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), earned media (press releases, journalism award), and event-based roadshows ("Road to Cersaie"). A wholly-owned American subsidiary, The World Exposition of Ceramic Tile & Bathroom Furnishings, Inc., extends the group's international footprint by participating in the joint venture that organizes the Coverings show in the Americas.

Name

Cersaie

Legal name

Edi.Cer. S.p.A.

Website

https://cersaie.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Cersaie is the annual international trade exhibition for ceramic tiles and bathroom furnishings, held in Bologna since 1983 by Edi.Cer. S.p.A. (controlled by Confindustria Ceramica) and serving 595+ exhibitors and 95,000 visitors from 158 countries across 16 halls.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sassuolo

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Exhibitor Space Rental: Cersaie generates primary revenue from exhibiting companies that pay for exhibition space across 16 halls at the Bologna Exhibition Centre. Companies can select booths by hall, size, and location.
2. Advertising and Sponsorship: Revenue from advertising positions throughout the exhibition including virtual tour, catalogue, mobile app, pocket guide, LED walls, entrance signage, shuttle trains, and other positions. Contact sales team for rates.
3. Exhibition Services: Additional revenue streams from exhibitor services including logistics support, technical support, reserved car parks, and customized solutions.
4. Press and Media Services: Press accreditation and media kit services for journalists and media organizations covering the exhibition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Cersaie is an annual international trade exhibition for ceramic tiles, bathroom furnishings, and architectural surfaces held each September at the Bologna Exhibition Centre in Italy. The five-day event brings together approximately 595 exhibiting manufacturers from across the globe across 16 halls spanning 155,000+ m², attracting roughly 95,000 trade visitors from 158 countries. It is complemented by an online exhibitor catalogue, a mobile app, virtual 360° tours, cultural programs (Building, Dwelling, Thinking conferences, Press Cafés), and technical training (Tiling Town).

Product overview

Cersaie is an annual international trade exhibition for ceramic tiles, bathroom furnishings, and architectural surfaces held in Bologna, Italy. The event is organized by Edi.Cer. spa and promoted by Confindustria Ceramica in collaboration with BolognaFiere. The core offering is the physical 5-day exhibition (21-25 September) featuring approximately 595 exhibiting companies across 16 halls, accompanied by digital services including an online exhibitors catalogue, mobile application, virtual 360° tour, and press/journals services. Cultural programs include the 'Building, Dwelling, Thinking' conference series, Press Cafés, and Tiling Town training area. The 2026 edition represents the 43rd edition of the show, with the 2025 edition attracting 95,000 visitors from 158 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cersaie International Exhibition Annual five-day international trade exhibition held in Bologna (21-25 September) featuring approximately 595 exhibiting manufacturers across 16 halls covering ceramic tiles, bathroom furnishings, and architectural surfaces. Targets manufacturers, architects, designers, contractors, and trade professionals for product showcasing, lead generation, and networking.
• Exhibitors Catalogue Online searchable directory of exhibiting companies at Cersaie with filtering by product category, country, hall location, and company name search. Visitors can build favourite lists and export data.
• Cersaie Official App Official mobile application for iOS and Android providing exhibitor catalogue browsing, favourite exhibitor lists, services information, and event program updates for the show.
• Online Ticketing System Free online ticket registration system providing visitors with free entrance tickets valid for all 5 days of the exhibition, with personal area access for ticket management.
• Exhibitor Services Portal Restricted online services portal for exhibiting companies providing logistics support, technical support, and customized solutions for participating companies.
• Press Room Services Dedicated press area providing journalists with press kits, event accreditation, high-resolution images, press releases, and registration for press events.
• Route40 Immersive 360-degree virtual exhibition showcasing 40 years of Cersaie history (1983-2023), featuring products, technological innovations, and design milestones from each decade.
• Building, Dwelling, Thinking (Costruire, Abitare, Pensare) Cultural and educational conference program featuring renowned international speakers on architecture and design topics, held annually during Cersaie.
• Tiling Town (Città della Posa) Technical training area focused on ceramic tile installation techniques, featuring educational seminars and practical demonstrations of laying methods and standards for tile installers and contractors.
• Press Cafés Informal discussion events operated by leading Italian home and lifestyle magazines, facilitating conversations between journalists, architects, and designers.
• Newsletter Subscription Email newsletter service providing updates on Cersaie events, exhibitor information, and industry news, with 6 annual newsletters distributed between February and October.
• Virtual Tour 360° Interactive 360-degree virtual tour of the exhibition halls and exhibitor stands using Mc360photo platform, allowing remote exploration of the Cersaie venue by hall.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95,000 visitors from 158 countries attend each edition
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Bureau Veritas ItaliaminorOthers · 4 December 2025International certification body that awarded Cersaie ISO 20121:2024 certification for sustainable event management systems in December 2025.
• Confindustria CeramicacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Confindustria Ceramica is the national trade association promoting Cersaie. It brings together Italian manufacturers of ceramic tiles, refractory materials, sanitaryware, household and ornamental porcelain, and ceramic stoneware. Edi.Cer. Spa is controlled by Confindustria Ceramica.
• BolognaFiere SpacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBolognaFiere is the exhibition venue operator collaborating with Confindustria Ceramica to organize Cersaie. They jointly manage exhibition operations including venue facilities, logistics, and international promotion.
• The World Exposition of Ceramic Tile & Bathroom Furnishings, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican subsidiary of Edi.Cer. that participates in the joint venture company organizing Coverings, the most important exhibition of ceramic tile and natural stone in the American continent.
• Fondazione Bologna WelcomeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for providing hotel accommodations and transportation services at special discounted rates for Cersaie visitors.
• Air France / KLMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAirline partners offering 10% discount on airfare for Cersaie 2026 attendees using code GME61581EU for bookings in EUR.
• Italo TrenominorGTM or Marketing PartnerHigh-speed rail partner offering discounted fares for Cersaie visitors traveling to Bologna.
• Italian Universities and Design InstitutesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institutions participating in the Beautiful Ideas competition from 2010-2018 for selecting the exhibition's annual visual image, involving students from architecture, design, and graphics programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Coverings: Coverings is the leading ceramic tile and natural stone exhibition in North America, jointly organized by the same Edi.Cer. subsidiary that operates Cersaie. It is the most directly comparable event by category, exhibitor base, and operating model, and functions as Cersaie's Americas counterpart.
• Cevisama: Cevisama is the annual international ceramic tile, bathroom furnishings, and natural stone fair held in Valencia, Spain. It is the most direct European competitor in Cersaie's exact category and targets the same manufacturers, distributors, and installer channels.
• Marmomac: Marmomac is the leading international trade fair for the stone, marble, and surface materials industry held annually in Verona, Italy. It is comparable to Cersaie in operating model (B2B trade show, Italian venue, global attendance, VeronaFiere operator) and is a primary substitute event for surface material exhibitors.
• BAU Munich: BAU is the world's leading trade fair for architecture, materials, and systems held biennially in Munich, Germany. It targets the same architect and contractor buyer base as Cersaie and competes for ceramics and bathroom furnishing exhibitor slots, though across a broader building materials scope.

Broad incumbents

• Salone del Mobile.Milano: Salone del Mobile.Milano is the global benchmark design and furniture trade fair held annually in Milan. While focused on furniture rather than ceramics, it shares Cersaie's Italian B2B trade show heritage, similar visitor demographics (architects, designers, retailers), and high-margin sponsorship model.
• Batimat: Batimat is the major French trade exhibition for building, construction, and renovation held in Paris. It is a broad-incumbent comparable: a multi-sector construction trade show that includes ceramic and bathroom furnishing categories and competes for similar European exhibitor and visitor audiences.

Emerging players

• Archiproducts: Archiproducts is a digital B2B platform and search engine for architecture and design products, including ceramics, bathroom furnishings, and surface materials. It represents the emerging digital channel that could partially substitute for physical exhibition attendance and is therefore an emerging competitor for the same exhibitor mindshare.

Regional players

• Big 5 Global: Big 5 Global is the largest construction industry trade exhibition in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, held annually in Dubai. It is a regional comparable targeting a similar construction industry buyer base but in a distinct geography from Cersaie's core European footprint.
• Made Expo: Made Expo is the Italian trade exhibition for the construction, design, and architecture industry held in Milan. It targets a similar Italian architect and contractor audience as Cersaie and is an in-country comparable for the construction and finishing categories adjacent to ceramics.
• Index Dubai: Index Dubai is the leading interior design and finishes trade exhibition in the Middle East, covering surfaces, bathroom, and finishing products. It is a regional comparable in Cersaie's adjacent categories, attracting Middle East and South Asian buyers that partially overlap with Cersaie's international visitor base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CERSAIE2025
• Facebookfacebook.com/CersaieCostruireAbitarePensare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cersaie
• Instagraminstagram.com/cersaie

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cersaie