The International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings will be back in the Bologna Exhibition Centre from September 23-27. The show is a must-attend event for global industry professionals, renowned for the quality and innovation of the showcased products, the scope and depth of its cultural and educational initiatives, and its unique ability to bring together industry players from all over the world.
Cersaie 2024 is envisioned as a space for architectural design, spanning everything from residential living spaces to large-scale contract proposals. It focuses on the interplay between personal and public spaces, from private buildings through to large public areas and urban landscapes.
This year, the exhibition spaces at the show span 15 halls, including the newly reopened Hall 18 dedicated to the ceramic industry. The fact that all exhibition spaces are once again fully sold out underscores the show’s enormous global appeal. The 145,000 sqm exhibition floor hosts a total of 606 exhibitors, including 38% non-Italian companies from 25 different countries. Ceramic tile is the most strongly represented sector, accounting for 55% of the total space, followed by bathroom furnishings, non-ceramic surfaces, finishings and tile installation companies.
Thousands of visitors to Cersaie are attending through Cersaie Business, the destination management event that involves the participation of more than 230 companies this year. The show’s appeal is further enhanced by a packed program of initiatives and events organized with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Trade Agency ITA.
The Square
This year, Cersaie is featuring a new exhibit in the Services Centre called “The Square”, a 1,000-square-meter space that includes a conference auditorium, a design bookshop, a booth for a local radio station and a lounge. It acts as the central hub of Cersaie and is hosting numerous events including those organized as part of the 15th edition of the “building, dwelling, thinking” cultural program. Curated by architect Dario Curatolo, the exhibit revisits the concept of a Bologna square as a place to meet, share information and socialize.Following the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony in the Services Centre at BolognaFiere, Cersaie’s first event will be the Inaugural Conference to be held in the Europauditorium of the Palazzo dei Congressi on Monday, September 23 at 11.00 a.m.
Press Conference
The Ceramics of Italy International Press Conference will be held at 6.00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 24 in the Auditorium of The Square – Services Centre. The event serves as a traditional meeting point with media and journalists from around the world to discuss current trends and future prospects in the ceramic sector. During the International Press Conference, the 27th Ceramics of Italy Journalism Award will be presented to the author of the best article on Cersaie and the Italian ceramic industry published in a foreign magazine along with three honorable mentions. A conference given by Belgian architect David Van Severen from Office KGDVS Architecture will be held at 3.00 p.m. on Wednesday September 25 in the Auditorium of The Square – Services Centre as part of Cersaie’s “building, dwelling, thinking” program of talks given by leading international figures from the worlds of architecture and between humans and technology, a combination capable of creating value through a more sustainable, safe and inclusive working environment. A large space in Tiling Town is occupied by Assoposa and features a special area devoted to the Academy, the association’s educational hub, with an exhibition of spaces and furnishing items tiled with ceramic products of all sizes.
Three conferences to be held at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will explore the relationship between manufacturers and distributors, the effects of the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and new housing models. The conference area will host technical seminars on large ceramic slab installation aimed at architects and designers, who will be eligible for educational credits.
There will also be booths organized by the national training, safety and labor services agency Formedil and the radio station Casa Radio.
Tile Installation Competition
In the area outside Hall 32, the “Bathroom Tiling at Cersaie” initiative will see four teams of tile layers from different countries (Italy, Switzerland, Denmark and Brazil) compete in the installation of ceramic tiles in different bathrooms.
This year Cersaie is introducing a new feature to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday September 24-25 consisting of educational and training meetings. These events will take place in a dedicated area located in the Gallery between Halls 21 and 22, which is part of the Upstairs first-floor pedestrian walkway extending into Gallery 25/26, where there is also a space dedicated to catering.
Career Days
On Thursday and Friday September 26-27, Cersaie will host the Career Days, consisting of a series of meetings between 26 exhibitor companies and students. Thursday’s sessions will be aimed at university graduates and graduating students who are taking part through cooperation with the inter-university consortium AlmaLaurea and the placement offices of the Universities of Bologna, Modena and Reggio Emilia, and Ferrara. Friday’s program will be devoted to high school leavers who are participating as part of agreements between the individual schools and Confindustria Ceramica.
The 12th edition of Cersaie Designs Your Home will be held in Mall 29/30 on Thursday and Friday September 26-27 in its usual format in which homeowners will receive home renovation advice from designers from 15 leading Italian interior design magazines: 100 Idee per Ristrutturare, CasaFacile, Casa Naturale, CasaOggiDomani, CerMagazine, Cose di Casa, Home, I Love Parquet, Il Bagno Oggi e Domani, La casa in ordine, La Repubblica – Casa e Design, Ville & Casali, Wellness Design, Youbuild and Youtrade.
