Nuremberg – Around 220 exhibitors and co-exhibitors showcased their products and services at Stone+tec in the areas of ‘Building with Natural Stone’, ‘Equipment for Professionals’ and ‘Place of Remembrance’. Over 8,000 visitors attended Stone+tec 2026, generating very good sales for the exhibitors, in some cases as early as the first few days of the fair.
For the exhibiting companies, Stone+tec was the ideal opportunity to meet customers in person, hold discussions and secure business deals. Given the current economic climate, some companies went into the trade fair with cautious expectations, but these were often exceeded thanks to successful business deals. Stone+tec 2026 offered a good mix of exhibitors’ products and services, high-calibre specialist presentations, practical workshops and plenty of opportunities for face-to-face exchanges. National and international associations and trade media were present in person at Stone+tec and took the opportunity to network.
In the natural stone sector in particular, there were a number of companies exhibiting that had not been present at Stone+tec in previous years. This meant that visitors were able to choose from a wider range of products, which proved very popular.
Particularly in the ‘Equipment for Professionals’ section, where machinery and technology were on display, companies that did not attend this year have already announced that they wish to return to Stone+tec 2028 to reach their customers, showcase their machinery in person and be part of the industry family.
The major players in the industry were represented in the memorials section. With their appealing exhibition stands, they were able to attract many customers and secure successful business deals. Visitors specifically sought out this section, keen to make investments.
The new Stone+tec Expert Forum, which was situated in the centre of the hall, proved very successful; many visitors took the opportunity to further their knowledge and learn more about specialist topics. Thanks to the stage’s central location, the presentation of the German Natural Stone Award was also integrated into the exhibition programme, and the prestigious architecture competition attracted a large number of additional visitors.
The managing directors of AFAG, the organisers of Stone+tec, Henning and Thilo Könicke, sum up this year’s Stone+tec as follows: “It’s always a pleasure to welcome the industry family to Nuremberg: Stone+tec has once again proven its status as a key industry gathering, and we are delighted that all the major players – whether as exhibitors or visitors – were represented here. We are very proud of the participants in the young talent competition, who performed well despite the midsummer heat and produced intricate stonework. And we are impressed by the high-calibre works that were honoured at the German Natural Stone Awards.”
Alexander Stein has been the new project manager for Stone+tec since March and took the opportunity to get to know the industry in person in Nuremberg: “I am grateful that the natural stone industry has given me such a warm welcome, and I look forward to the further development of Stone+tec and to continuing discussions with the industry. Numerous companies have already confirmed their participation in Stone+tec 2028, and we look forward to welcoming the natural stone industry back to Nuremberg in June 2028. The aim is to showcase a greater diversity of exhibitors at Stone+tec 2028 and to expand the range of products and services on offer at the trade fair once again.”
The next Stone+tec Nuremberg, the trade fair for natural stone and stone technology, will take place from 21 to 24 June 2028 at Messe Nürnberg. The technical sponsors of Stone+tec are the Federal Guild Association of German Stonemasons and Stone Sculptors (BIV) and the German Natural Stone Association (DNV).
Save the Date: Wednesday 20 June to Saturday 24 June 2028
Exhibitor comments on the Stone+tec 2026:
Leon Rossittis, CEO, ROSSITTIS
We are pleased with Stone+tec 2026. It was important for us to have a presence here and to engage with our customers. At the trade fair, we finally got to meet some customers in person whom we had previously only spoken to on the phone. It was good for us to have been at Stone+tec 2026, and we are already making plans for 2028.
Mirko Adam, JUST Naturstein
After a two-times break, we were back at Stone+tec in 2026, and we had modest expectations. But things went really well for us, and we’ll be there again next time. There are lots of potential customers for us at Stone+tec, which is why we wanted to be there.
Edith Strassacker, Geschäftsführerin, Ernst Strassacker GmbH & Co. KG
We are very pleased with how things went at our stand: we had lots of customers visiting us who were keen to buy. The atmosphere was good and the investment in the new exhibition stand has paid off. We believe in Stone+tec and hope that the trade fair will go from strength to strength. Stone+tec is the only trade fair that devotes so much space to the subject of gravestones.
Jens Niebergall, L. Hietel
It was a successful trade fair for Hietel. Stone+tec attracted the right visitors, who were also willing to invest.
Hermann Graser, Präsident, Deutscher Naturwerkstein Verband (DNV)
Stone+tec 2026 was brilliant for us because it attracted exactly the kind of audience we need. The high-calibre conference programme, in particular, brought a lot of relevant visitors to our stand.
Markus Steininger, Bundesinnungsmeister, Bundesverband Deutscher Steinmetze (BIV)
It was a very successful trade fair for the BIV. The young talent competition attracted a lot of attention and we had plenty of visitors at our stand. We view the trade fair as a success and are definitely going to continue; we’re already making plans for 2028. It’s a shame that some companies weren’t there; hopefully they’ll be back next time.
Hanlin Li, CEO, Xiamen Rikata Commercial Trading Co., Ltd.
Stone+tec, one of the world's three major stone exhibitions, brings together Europe's leading companies and experts in natural stone, processing technology, and tombstones. This was our second time attending Stone+tec, where we met old and new clients, and once again witnessed the organizer's exceptional ability to organize a professional exhibition. We'll definitely be back in Nuremberg next time! We also look forward to seeing our colleagues from the global stone industry at the 2027 Xiamen Stone Fair.