The World's Eyes Will Be on İzmir! Opening on April 9

The countdown has begun for MARBLE İZMİR – International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair, the largest global gathering of the natural stone industry. The industry will convene at Fuar İzmir between April 9–12, 2025. The fair, which will also host special events marking its 30th anniversary, is set to welcome participants and visitors from around the world.

One of the world’s largest fairs in the natural stone industry, MARBLE İZMİR – International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair will open its doors for the 30th time at Fuar İzmir on April 9–12. With the commercial volume it generates, the fair will once again bring hope to the sector this year. All natural stone companies will be located in the indoor halls of Fuar İzmir. A large portion of Hall C and all of Hall D will be allocated to machinery and technology companies. Just like last year, the block marble area will showcase hundreds of colorful and diverse natural stone blocks.

30 Years of MARBLE İZMİR
The foundations of MARBLE İZMİR were laid in 1989 with the event “İzmir Marble Days '89,” held within the İzmir International Fair at Kültürpark through a university-industry collaboration. It was first organized as a fair in 1995. Starting its journey in Kültürpark, which has greatly contributed to İzmir's exhibition industry, the Marble İzmir Fair now proudly celebrates its 30-year growth. Beginning with just 47 exhibitors and 4,719 visitors, MARBLE İZMİR has since accelerated its momentum, especially with the construction of Fuar İzmir. Now an internationally respected fair, MARBLE İZMİR hosts over a thousand exhibitors and tens of thousands of professional visitors from more than 100 countries. It not only promotes and markets Türkiye’s natural stone—home to one-third of the world’s reserves—but also showcases the latest technological developments and innovations in the sector. The fair presents a wide range of applications and new trends in natural stone, from quarries to final products.

Special Events for the 30th Anniversary
To celebrate its 30th year, MARBLE İZMİR will feature various special events, bringing together industry leaders, universities, architects, designers, and manufacturers. Topics will include the latest technological advancements, sustainable mining practices, and digital transformation. Under the theme “Authority in Marble,” events will include sector panels, B2B meetings, design exhibitions, and seminars.

Procurement Delegations to Be Organized
In cooperation with commercial attachés from the United States, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, the fair is expected to attract participants and visitors from all over the world. Additionally, supported by the Ministry of Trade and industry associations, procurement delegation programs will be organized. Target countries include China, India, Egypt, Russia, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Iraq, from which hundreds of professional buyers will be hosted. B2B meetings during the fair will allow participating companies to meet buyers quickly and effectively. The fair has already received visitor registrations from countries across every continent, from the U.S. to China.

MARBLE Brings Prosperity to İzmir
As in previous years, MARBLE İZMİR will continue to contribute to the sector and its sub-industries, exports, and employment, while also providing a positive impact on the city and national economy in areas like tourism, accommodation, transportation, and food & beverage. Domestic and international participants and visitors coming to İzmir will feel the prosperity that MARBLE brings.

7th International Different Natural Stone Design Competition
As part of MARBLE İZMİR, the 7th International Different Natural Stone Design Competition will also take place. Aimed at bringing young designers into the industry, this year’s competition theme is “furniture.” A total of 892 applications were received from 66 universities in 12 countries. The 25 selected designs will be brought into production, introducing innovative approaches to natural stone furniture. Prize money of 600,000 TL will be awarded to the top designers.

Türkiye's Role in Natural Stone Exports
Based on industry feedback, MARBLE İZMİR will continue to exclusively exhibit natural stone, natural stone products, and related machinery and technologies. A member of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) since 1998, the fair plays a crucial role in expanding Türkiye’s market share in global natural stone exports and reaching new markets. In its first year, Türkiye’s natural stone exports were $77 million—this figure exceeded $1.88 billion last year, thanks in part to the fair. As the fair has grown, so has the sector, and MARBLE İZMİR has become the beating heart of natural stone exports. With its rich reserves and variety in color and pattern, Türkiye has contributed approximately $20 billion to its economy through natural stone exports in the last decade alone. By bringing together buyers from key export markets like China, India, and the U.S., as well as Europe and the Middle East, the fair opens doors to new business collaborations. China continues to be the top destination for block marble exports. Last year, Türkiye exported $388.5 million worth of block natural stone to China, accounting for 63.7% of the total.