Preparations begin on Monday for the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair in Greece, welcoming Japan as the honoured country and over 1,000 exhibitors from around the world.
Work on the exhibition pavilions starts on August 24 ahead of the nine-day event, which runs from September 5 to September 13 at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre.
Organisers state that the 2026 exposition marks 100 years since the first trade fair took place in Thessaloniki in 1926. Officials describe this year's staging as a milestone event that opens a new era for the institution.
The fair traditionally serves as a major national platform, where the Greek prime minister delivers an annual address from the podium to announce economic support measures for citizens.
Thessaloniki is Greece's second-largest city and a major commercial hub in the Balkan region. Organisers say the exhibition venue has been redesigned as a modern center for entrepreneurship, culture, and innovation.
Japan features as honoured country
Japan serves as the official honoured country for the 2026 trade fair, bringing a panorama of companies and organisations from multiple commercial sectors.
Japanese delegates are setting up a modern, multi-level exhibition inside Pavilion 13. Organisers state the display aims to offer visitors an experience of Japanese culture, technology, entrepreneurship, and creative expression while connecting tradition with innovation.
More than 200,000 visitors are expected to attend the fair over its nine-day duration. The event features more than 1,000 exhibitors, over 10 thematic features, and more than 400 scheduled business-to-business meetings.
Organisers have also scheduled parallel events, cultural activities, and dedicated programming for children in a specialized area called JuniorLand.
Live concerts and accommodation surge
Live music remains a central part of the festival program, with seven evening concerts scheduled to begin daily at 9:30 p.m. The fair has supported Greek music for many years, hosting established and emerging artists across genres.
The concert lineup opens on September 6 with performances by Lefteris Pantazis and Angela Dimitriou. On September 7, Stavento performs featuring Daphne Lawrence, alongside Marseaux, followed by Panos Mouzourakis and Kostis Maraveyas on September 8.
Elli Kokkinou and Andromachi take the stage on September 9, followed by Eleonora Zouganeli on September 10. Singer Akylas performs on September 11, and Ria Ellinidou closes the music program on September 13.
City movement and visitor activity are expected to peak across Thessaloniki in the coming days. Hotel occupancy across local accommodation has already surpassed 85 percent, according to reports by Greek state broadcaster ERT and journalist Faidon Tomosoglou.
