← All field notes
SEPTEMBER 15–17, 2026 · KIND + JUGEND, COLOGNE
A more focused Cologne fair made room for deeper buyer conversations.
This year's Kind + Jugend was more concentrated, with three halls but a noticeably stronger share of qualified buyers. Conversations went deeper, and our new play-mat patterns, premium TPU mats and folding bed rails received strong interest and positive feedback.

Observed at the fair
Signals from buyer conversations.
- The three-hall format concentrated the fair while creating more time for substantive discussions with professional buyers.
- New play-mat pattern directions drew attention for their calmer, more considered look.
- Premium TPU mats and folding bed rails gave buyers clear new-material and space-saving options to evaluate.
Commercial implication
How the signal changes the offer.
- Lead fair conversations with a compact product story rather than a broad product list.
- Present surface design, material and practical function together when introducing a new mat range.
- Use buyer feedback from Cologne to prioritize the next sampling and range-development discussions.