New experience zones for tomorrow’s retail: the special areas at EuroShop 2026

From 22 to 26 February 2026 the Exhibition Centre will once again become the global platform for retail innovations at EuroShop in Düsseldorf. Alongside the ranges on show, a central component will be EuroShop’s special areas bringing trends to life, promoting interaction and providing inspiration for those in the retail industry.

Food Service Innovation Hub: future recipes for food service in retail

The mega trend food service in retail is changing retail fundamentally. This dynamic development is reflected in the Food Service Innovation Hub. Here you can clearly see how retail areas turn into zones for food enjoyment, experiences and performances. On display will be robots preparing coffee or cooking meals, other smart kitchen technologies, new food concepts or integrated solutions from planning to payment. The Hub provides a compact overview of innovations that improve the customer journey, simplify workflows and tap into new sales potentials in retail. In addition, the exhibitors and partners of the Food Service Innovation Hub will also present their solutions and other trending topics on the Blue Stage of Hall 6 on Monday, 23 February 2026, from 2.00 pm to 3.20 pm. Hall 13, Stand A86

Designers’ Village: re-designed, as international as ever

The Designers’ Village remains one of EuroShop’s central ports of call for creative store design that creates a pleasant shopping environment. In 2026 this special area will come in a new design offering more scope for networking with renowned designers’ and architects’ offices from Europe, Asia and North America exhibiting at the fair. The exhibitors will showcase trends and concrete examples revolving around store layout, visual merchandising, lighting design, modular furnishing systems and multi-sensory design. The focus will be on exchange, inspiration and how retail architecture can respond to altered shopper needs, sustainability requirements and technology developments.  Hall 12, Stand A46

VM Experience: Visual Merchandising reimagined

Launching the VM Experience EuroShop 2026 will create an interactive new format for modern visual merchandising together with “Fachschule für Werbegestaltung Stuttgart” (Technical College for Advertising Design Stuttgart). The special area will showcase the College under the motto “Dare to Create” on a maze-like exhibition stand featuring exemplary College project works that invite visitors to interact on the one hand. On the other, international mannequin manufacturers will stage their latest exhibits on the themes of sport and fashion. The VM Experience is synonymous with the aspirations of the parties involved to show solidarity and courage for creative solutions even in challenging times and to sustainably support physical retailers with their sensory strengths to create an authentic shopping experience. Hall 10, Stand A02-C02

These other special areas below will address the wide and varied aspects of the retail world:

• The Italian Lighting Lounge displays lighting design from Italy for indoor, outdoor use and for industrial design.
• The 60s Lounge at EuroShop celebrates the 60th anniversary and history of the trade fair.
• The Joint stand of the German Shopfitting Association (Deutscher Ladenbau Verband, dLv) serves as central point of contact for shopfitting “Made in Germany”.
• The IFES Global Village pools international expertise in exhibition and event construction.
• The Shop! Global Village focuses on POS marketing and brand activation.
• At the Start-up Hub and Young Innovators by BMWE newcomers showcase their innovations.

For further details on the special areas go to: www.euroshop-tradefair.com.