cersaie 2024 is coming soon and promises to be an unmissable event for all enthusiasts and professionals of surface design and bathroom furnishings. On the agenda by 23 27 to September at the Bologna Exhibition Centre, the 41st edition of this prestigious International Exhibition of Ceramics for Architecture and Bathroom Furnishings has already sold out. This event not only celebrates innovation and creativity, but also marks a moment of rebirth for an industry that, despite recent economic challenges and market slowdowns, continues to demonstrate resilience and adaptability.
Cersaie 2024 in numbers
After a triumphant 40th anniversary that welcomed almost 100 thousand visitors, including 47 thousand from abroad, Cersaie continues to be the point of reference for the sector. With 606 participating brands from 25 countries, 38% of which from abroad, the 2024 edition will offer a complete overview of tiles, furniture, sanitary ware and bathroom accessories, but also an opportunity to reflect on the state of the sector and future challenges. Visitors will explore 15 pavilions on an area of 145 thousand square meters, discovering a diverse ecosystem of designs and materials. Ceramic tiles will remain the undisputed protagonist, occupying 55% of the exhibition space, thus confirming their fundamental role in the shaping and beautifying spaces around the world, followed by bathroom furnishings, non-ceramic surfaces and ceramic tile installation companies.
Architectural Space: A Focus on the Future
This year, Cersaie highlights the concept of “architectural space“, exploring its many nuances and complexities. The event does not limit itself to considering everyday living, but goes beyond, also embracing the contract sector and the interaction between people and the environment. With an eye on the challenges of private construction and the needs of the public areas that shape our cities, Cersaie 2024 will explore how ceramic solutions can help create spaces that not only respond to modern needs, but also improve the quality of life.
Reopenings and news: “The Square”, the new heartbeat of Cersaie
The real heart of Cersaie 2024 will be the Service Centre “The Square“, the new installation curated by the architect Dario Curatolo. Located in the Quadriportico, this innovative 1.000 square meter space is inspired by Italian squares, and in particular that of Bologna, creating a place for meeting and exchanging ideas. The Square will not only be an area for relaxation and socializing, but also the pulsating center of the fair with an arena for conferences, a bookshop dedicated to design, a live radio station, a giant screen for the architecture competition Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition, and a visitor lounge. In addition, the ADI stand will celebrate 10 years of the ADI Award at Cersaie.
Among main new features of this edition, stands out the reopening of Pavilion 18, which will include a new refreshment area, offering an excellent opportunity for a gourmet break during your visit.
Cersaie 2024: a calendar full of events
Cersaie 2024 is not just a trade fair event, but also an important cultural event. The program "Build, live, think” will be rich in appointments high profile. The week opens Monday 23 September with the inaugural conference “Energy transition and international competitiveness for Italian ceramics”, with important interventions such as the Minister of the Environment Gilberto Pichetto Fratin and the president of Confindustria Emanuele Orsini.
There will be no shortage of technical and training meetings: Tuesday September 24 at 15:00 pm, the Ceramic Center will present a seminar on “Decarbonisation, circular economy and digitalisation in the ceramic industry”, with industry experts including Maria Chiara Bignozzi and Valentina Scognamiglio.
Wednesday 25 September, at 15:00 pm, the Belgian architect David Van Severen, known for his work with the studio Office and for having received the Silver Lion at the Venice Biennale and the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, will discuss how architecture can improve our environment.
The highlight of the cultural program will be Thursday September 26 with the Lectio Magistralis of the Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto, Pritzker Prize 2024, at 11:00 in the Sala Europa of the Palazzo dei Congressi. Immediately afterwards, the French architect Rudy Ricciotti will offer a conference on the boundaries of architecture. The day will end with the award ceremony of the Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition at 17:00, rewarding the best European architectural projects made with Italian ceramics.
To close the week, Friday September 27 at 11:00, there will be the Reverse Lesson with Giulio Iacchetti, where students will have the opportunity to challenge the teacher with questions and curiosities, offering a lively and stimulating interaction.
The Café della Stampa and other events
I Press Café, now in their ninth edition, will be the ideal place for informal conversations on design and architecture, created in collaboration with important publishing houses. The appointments will be held every day of the fair at 10:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 16:00 at Mall 29-30 and will be broadcast live on the fair's website.
In Pavilion 32, the “City of the Pose” will be a stage for innovation and expertise. This year, the area will explore the marriage between technology and human skill, with hands-on demonstrations of installation and displays of new tools, including exoskeletons and advanced cutting machines. The Assoposa Academy will be the beating heart of this section, offering training courses and presentations on environments and artifacts made with ceramics of all sizes. The initiative “The Bathroom in Pose at Cersaie”, outside Pavilion 32, will see teams of installers from Italy, Switzerland, Denmark and Brazil compete in the creation of elegant bathroom environments.
Training and job opportunities
In the Gallery between the Pavilions 21 and 22, part of the Upstairs circuit, Cersaie 2024 offers a lively series of events dedicated to training and career guidance. On Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 September, attend seminars and meetings on training and job opportunities. While on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 September, the Career Days offer students the opportunity to meet 26 exhibiting companies. Thursday will be dedicated to undergraduates and graduates, with the support of Almalaurea and the placement offices of the Universities of Bologna, Modena, Reggio Emilia and Ferrara. Friday will instead be aimed at high school graduates, thanks to the collaboration with Confindustria Ceramica.
Consulting and start-ups
Cersaie will conclude with events dedicated to consultancy and design, including “Cersaie Designs Your Home”, which will offer individuals the opportunity to receive advice from interior design experts.
At the Mall of Pavilion 37, theStart-Up Area, on a surface of 96 square meters, will host six start-ups and innovative SMEs oriented towards sustainability. These companies will compete in the categories of home automation, lighting, outdoor, bathroom furnishings, wellness, doors, windows, stairs and kitchens, offering new perspectives and solutions for the future of design and living.
There will be no lack of it Gala evening at Palazzo Bevilacqua, which will celebrate the best distributors on Thursday.
Combining innovation, style and inspiration, this fair is not just an event to mark in red on the calendar, but the stage where the future of design comes to life, offering a refined and avant-garde vision that will shape global trends for years to come.
