100 Years of TIF (1926–2026)

The 90th Thessaloniki International Fair, taking place from September 5 to 13, 2026, marks an exciting new chapter in its long and distinguished history. This landmark year celebrates both the 100th anniversary of its first edition and the beginning of a new era.

The Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) is held every September and, for a century, has been one of Greece’s leading trade and exhibition events, as well as a major institution for Southeast Europe. Dynamic and renewed, this year’s TIF continues to serve as a major hub for entrepreneurship, culture, innovation and international cooperation.

The presence of the country’s political and state leadership has established TIF as a key platform for announcing strategic priorities and public policies, while the participation of hundreds of exhibitors from Greece and abroad highlights its importance and international reach.

Its extensive program of cultural and entertainment events, designed to appeal to visitors of all ages, reinforces the Fair’s broader social and cultural role. At the same time, TIF makes a substantial contribution to the economic life of Thessaloniki and Greece as a whole, showcasing the country’s modern, outward-looking character. The Fair, first held in 1926, is today organized by HELEXPO.

90th TIF: Honored Country: Japan

This year’s ΤΙF welcomes Japan as its Honored Country, highlighting the country’s distinctive culture and its global reputation for quality, innovation and excellence.

Set within a contemporary and multifaceted exhibition environment, Japan will present its achievements, values, and distinctive identity, showcasing the harmonious interplay between tradition and innovation. Its participation seeks to offer visitors an immersive journey through Japan’s culture, technological excellence, entrepreneurial spirit, and creative expression, qualities that have come to define the Land of the Rising Sun.

More than simply the practice of a profession, Takumi represents a lifelong dedication to the pursuit of perfection in one’s craft. It is grounded in expertise, precision, meticulous attention to detail, and human-centered design, values that lie at the heart of Japanese culture and are internationally recognized as benchmarks of quality and excellence.

The Greek and international audiences of this year’s TIF will have the opportunity to discover the unique Japanese “universe” through the philosophy of Takumi (Ta-ku-mi), a Japanese term meaning master or artisan. Rooted in the values of wisdom, empathy, and purpose, Takumi embodies a tradition of knowledge and craftsmanship passed down from generation to generation.

Japan’s participation is being coordinated the Embassy of Japan in Greece, which will support the participation of a broad range of Japanese companies and organizations. The initiative aims to further strengthen the political, economic, and business relations between the two countries.

Japan’s participation will showcase dynamic sectors including tourism, infrastructure, technology and innovation, the automotive industry, energy, and healthcare, highlighting the country’s diverse and forward-looking business landscape.

A rich program of parallel events will complement the Japanese participation, featuring educational activities, networking events, corporate presentations and a series of cultural programs. These activities will introduce the Greek public to Japanese art and tradition, as well as to contemporary Japanese creativity.

Exhibition “TIF 100 YEARS OF FUTURE”

The Thessaloniki International Fair takes on a special commemorative character this year, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of its first edition in 1926. A century of continuous presence, development and contribution to the economic, business, social and cultural life of Greece provides the starting point for a unique exhibition that goes beyond a historical retrospective and instead turns its gaze towards the future.

In collaboration with MOMus-Museum of Contemporary Art, TIF presents a specially curated exhibition from September 5 to November 1, 2026, exploring the TIF’s enduring connection with innovation, technological progress, and the major transformations that have shaped each era.

Through a rich collection of archival material, rare photographs, historical documents, audiovisual projections and contemporary storytelling techniques, visitors will have the opportunity to discover the defining moments of TIF’s century-long journey, the pioneering achievements that marked its history, and the vision shaping its future.

The historical journey culminates in the presentation of the major redevelopment project for the exhibition center, marking the beginning of the institution’s second century.

At this turning point in its renewal, a historic site is being transformed without severing its ties with the past. Instead, it carries its memory forward as it prepares to welcome what has yet to happen.

The exhibition is hosted at MOMus-Museum of Contemporary Art, within the TIF premises, as one of the major commemorative events of this year’s Fair, creatively connecting the past, present and future.

Thessaloniki International Fair – A Historical Overview

The city of Thessaloniki has a long-standing tradition of hosting exhibitions and trade fairs. In many ways, the history of Thessaloniki can therefore be seen as running parallel to the history of the Fair. Against the backdrop of the interwar period, the idea of establishing the Thessaloniki International Fair emerged in 1925, just 12 years after Thessaloniki became part of the Greek state. The initiative was led by Nikolaos Germanos.

The preparation of the first TIF faced numerous and significant challenges. However, through the persistence of Nikolaos Germanos and the support of local institutions and economic forces, these obstacles were gradually overcome. Finally, on the morning of Sunday, 3 October 1926, the first Thessaloniki International Fair was inaugurated in a festive atmosphere. The event took place at Pedion tou Areos (Field of Mars), on the outskirts of the historic city center and only a few meters from the site of today’s Fair.

The first period of TIF’s operation, from 1926 to 1940, was a challenging one. The institution had to address numerous operational and organizational issues while also navigating significant rivalries and personal ambitions among the economic and political actors of the time. The primary objective of the Fair during its early years was to promote Greek industry and introduce the wider public to Greek products.

Through persistent efforts, these challenges were gradually overcome, allowing TIF to establish solid foundations and evolve into a major economic, political and social institution for Thessaloniki and Greece as a whole. Following the first major post-war Fair in 1951, which proved a great success, TIF entered a period of sustained growth, both in terms of the number of exhibitors and visitors, as well as official national participations.

Between 1951 and 1966, the number of visitors to TIF tripled, reaching an extraordinary 1,634,542 visitors in 1966. This figure was remarkable for the time, particularly considering that Thessaloniki’s population was approximately 300,000, while Greece’s total population stood at around 8.5 million. The year 1966 remains TIF’s all-time record for visitor numbers, a record that has stood to this day.

Following 1974, alongside the main Fair, which continued to take place every September, a number of specialized sectoral exhibitions were also developed. With a more focused industry orientation, these exhibitions attracted the interest of thousands of professionals from their respective sectors, further strengthening Thessaloniki’s position as a major exhibition and business hub.

Photo source: Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) — https://www.thessalonikifair.gr/en