BIFE-SIM 2026 returns to the B1+B2 configuration: Back to the successful formula that can give the event an international dimension

BIFE-SIM 2025 ended with 20,680 visitors (30% more than in 2024), 16,000 square meters of exhibition space and more than 40 conferences and workshops. According to the press release received from Romexpo, these figures position BIFE-SIM as Europe's only furniture exhibition expanding in a difficult economic context. But beyond the statistics, what really deserves the industry's attention is the strategic decision announced for 2026: return to the two hall configuration - B2 for furniture and B1 for machinery.

This decision is not a new one - those with a memory of the industry will recall that BIFE-SIM has operated in this configuration before, when the event was truly international in scope. Many years ago, BIFE-SIM was the point of reference for furniture contractors from all over Europe, a solid B2B event where real business was done and long-term partnerships were established.

Going back to this configuration is a very good idea in my opinion. Separating machines in B1 and furniture in B2 allows each segment to develop its own business ecosystem, attract its specific audience and create that density of interactions that generate real business.

From an industry perspective, this separation makes sense. Someone who comes in looking for a paint line or CNC machining center isn't as interested in furniture stands, and an interior designer doesn't have to navigate through areas with industrial machinery to get to the parts they're interested in. The effectiveness of this setup has been proven in the past and there is every chance it will work again.

The extended program of conferences and workshops at the 2025 edition - held on three stages - was a real plus. The Romanian Design Day, organized in partnership with ARDI, and the conferences with Ilbah Workshops brought a new segment of participants into the BIFE-SIM ecosystem. This is the right direction, but one that should be complemented with a stronger orientation towards international contractors. The Romanian designers are important for the local ecosystem, but foreign contractors are the ones who can bring BIFE-SIM back to its former scope.

The success of "event within an event" concepts - such as the Wood Hub with its 400 square meters of integrated space alongside Danibrum and 24Wood/SERRA - demonstrates that the public is looking for complete experiences. Visitors don't just want to see products on static display, but to participate, learn, interact. Live demonstrations, free consultations and interactive formats have turned passive visitors into active participants, which is exactly the direction the industry needs to go in.

From an organizational point of view, the B1+B2 configuration announced for September 17-20, 2026 offers organizers the chance to demonstrate that they can manage a complex B2B wood industry event. Two pavilions means two distinct audiences to be attracted and managed simultaneously, it means dual logistics and coordination at a higher level. But it also means the potential to create the most comprehensive event in Romania for the wood industry. It's a challenge.

The question that remains open is whether this configuration will be sustained consistently or will be subject to adjustments depending on the number of registrations. For the industry, it is essential that this decision remains firm - only then can BIFE-SIM restore the confidence of international contractors, large companies in the industry and return to the standard that made it relevant more than a decade ago.

The Romanian furniture industry is going through a period of consolidation and modernization. The 30% increase in visitor numbers reported by Romexpo for 2025 suggests an industry actively seeking solutions and partnerships. The B1+B2 setup for 2026 may be just the tool needed to turn this search into concrete business.

A return to the successful formula of the past, complemented with the format innovations of the present, can restore BIFE-SIM's position as the reference event for the wood industry in Romania and the region. It remains to be seen whether the promise of the expanded configuration will materialize according to the announced plans.