ORGATEC Tokyo 2026 closed its fifth edition with three intensive days of workplace-focused co-creation, held from 2 to 4 June 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight South Halls 1–4 in Tokyo, Japan. Bringing together 151 brands and more than 33,000 visitors from Japan and overseas, the trade fair reinforced its position as Asia’s leading international platform for workplace design and innovation.
Leading Japanese manufacturers including ITOKI, OKAMURA, Karimoku Furniture and KOKUYO were joined by first-time exhibitor Panasonic and globally recognised brands such as Framery, Humanscale, Porcelanosa Group and UniFor, presenting a wide spectrum of cutting-edge workplace solutions. Although visitor numbers temporarily declined on the second day due to the impact of a typhoon, attendance on the final day exceeded the previous year’s level, and the exhibition concluded with strong momentum and a vibrant atmosphere across the halls.
Design themes and spatial concepts
Building on its core message SHIFT DESIGN, this year’s edition adopted the sub-theme “To Be One – ideas in harmony, inspiring tomorrow”. Reflecting evolving workstyles and shifting social values, exhibitors introduced workplace concepts that connected focus and collaboration, physical and digital environments, and individuals and organisations, showing how diverse ideas and perspectives can be aligned to generate new creativity and value.
The venue layout once again used upper and lower floors to craft a dynamic visitor journey and distinct exhibition atmospheres. On the upper floor, reduced hall lighting and carefully designed illumination schemes enabled exhibitors to create immersive brand experiences, highlighting how spatial and visual design influence comfort and communication. The newly introduced Lighting Village further underscored the strategic role of lighting in enhancing workplace comfort, creativity and interaction.
Materials, sustainability and concurrent showcases
Held concurrently, interzum showcase tokyo featured exhibitors such as KAWASHIMA SELKON TEXTILES, LINAK and TOLI. The area presented a broad mix of materials and technologies, including furniture components, base materials, flooring, wall-finishing materials, parts, accessories and more. In addition to complete interior settings, there was a noticeable increase in displays focusing on the underlying materials, structures and sustainable solutions that shape contemporary spaces, reflecting a growing interest in how workplaces are constructed from the ground up.
The special exhibition “Circular MIRAI 2026” explored the theme “Materials that lead us to a circular future”, presenting the latest initiatives related to the circular economy. Exhibits highlighted the use of natural and recycled materials, alongside manufacturing approaches designed around reuse and recycling. Rather than treating sustainability as a checklist item or constraint, many participants demonstrated how environmental responsibility can be transformed into a source of innovation and brand value, attracting strong interest from visitors.
Talk programmes and thought leadership
The Xperience Area hosted a diverse programme of talks featuring architects, designers and business leaders. The keynote session “‘Environment’, ‘Space’, and the Ideal Workplace” brought together SUEP. principal architects Hirokazu Suemitsu and Yoko Suemitsu with sinato director Chikara Ohno. Addressing themes such as natural environments, empty space and human interaction, the speakers considered what kinds of spaces cultivate creativity and unity in contemporary workplaces.
At the TREND FORUM, Raphael Gielgen, responsible for the Future of Work programme at global furniture and interior brand Vitra, delivered a presentation entitled “WORK PANORAMA 2026 Human to Human, To Be One”. His session examined human-centred collaboration and the evolving nature of interpersonal relationships and cooperation, rethinking the fundamental purpose of bringing people together beyond efficiency alone. The presentation drew strong interest from attendees.
ORGATEC Tokyo Awards and standout booths
The ORGATEC Tokyo Awards recognised creative presentation and outstanding products across multiple categories, with judging conducted by leading figures from the architecture, interior and design industries. The Grand Prize and the Best Stand Design Award: Chosen by Exhibitors were both awarded to OKAMURA for an immersive booth concept encouraging natural exchange, embodied by the phrase “YAA, YAA, YAA”.
Second Prize awards were presented to Karimoku Furniture for a booth that celebrated the richness of timber while proposing new ways for people and spaces to connect; to DeVorm for a bold yellow stand that fully expressed the company’s identity and the appeal of its products; and to KOKUYO for a booth that introduced the company’s manufacturing approach through product breakdown displays and video presentations. In addition, ten companies received Special Recognition Awards for innovative and unconventional design approaches.
Maki Hashida, Editor in Chief of ELLE DÉCOR JAPAN and a member of the awards jury, commented: “Comfortable distances between people and natural communication are some of the defining themes in today’s offices, and you can see them being explored at the Grand Prize winner OKAMURA’s booth as well. What impressed me was the number of companies that engaged with those themes in a thoughtful and sincere way. At a time when our relationship with AI is a major topic, it is particularly interesting to see renewed attention being paid to the value of the office as a place where people can come together, engage in dialogue and have chance meetings.”
Networking and co-creation beyond exhibition hours
In the evening, ORGATEC NIGHT took place in the Xperience Area, providing a space for exhibitors and visitors to meet and connect more deeply. The informal environment supported more flexible communication than is typical at trade fairs, enabling international exchanges of knowledge and views and giving rise to new meetings and new dialogue. People from diverse backgrounds coming together organically offered a tangible reflection of the “To Be One” theme.
Industry perspectives and future outlook
In view of the multifaceted nature of the exhibition, Hidekuni Kuroda, Representative Corporate Officer, President and CEO of Platinum Sponsor KOKUYO, noted the overall progress of the event, saying: “This year’s ORGATEC Tokyo was an exciting event, with many booths capturing the attention and imagination of visitors, regardless of size. Each exhibitor expressed their unique value clearly. With the exhibition reaching its fifth edition, I believe the overall level has risen significantly. This reinforced my belief that we must continue challenging ourselves to develop ORGATEC Tokyo into a truly unique platform that showcases design and innovation to Asia and the wider world.”
Summarising the three days, Makoto Takagi, Managing Director of Koelnmesse Japan, commented on the evolving expectations around workplace design: “This year’s edition sparked new ideas and meaningful conversations about the future of places for working, learning and gathering through design. As society and values continue to change, visitors are increasingly interested not only in products and functions, but also in the philosophies and experienced value behind them. The many encounters and conversations that took place at the exhibition demonstrated how ORGATEC Tokyo continues to evolve as a platform for innovation and value creation. Going forward, even as times change, ORGATEC Tokyo will continue to provide a space for people to gather, learn, and connect, presenting values and possibilities that respond to the changing needs of society.”
Japan Office and Institutional Furniture Association (JOIFA) Chairman Masayuki Nakamura was already looking ahead: “We were delighted to welcome so many visitors, whose support contributed to another successful and vibrant edition of the exhibition. JOIFA is committed to playing an active role in helping ORGATEC Tokyo grow as a platform for showcasing workplace trends and innovation while responding to societal developments and changing ways of working. The concept for ORGATEC Tokyo 2027 is ‘Think Human, Think Design.’ Please look forward to what lies ahead for ORGATEC Tokyo.”
From workplace to place of connection
The conversation around the workplace is increasingly shifting from where people work to how they connect and create value together. At ORGATEC Tokyo 2026, a variety of knowledge and perspectives came together in harmony, revealing new visions for the future workplace across furniture, lighting, materials and spatial concepts. The energy that filled the venue, as well as the many encounters and discussions, opened up new possibilities for co-creation in work, learning and gathering environments.
The next edition of ORGATEC Tokyo is scheduled to take place from 2 to 4 June 2027 at Tokyo Big Sight East Halls 1, 2 and 3. With the forthcoming concept “Think Human, Think Design.” and a continued focus on workplace innovation in the Asian market, the fair is set to build further on the foundations laid in 2026.
