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Design Milk’s report from Cersaie 2026 identifies six directions in ceramic and porcelain tile: saturated color, green and earthy palettes, dimensional surfaces, natural-material effects, large formats and intricate digital printing. The five-day Bologna trade show drew more than 90,000 visitors and 600 exhibitors from 24 countries, but the trends described reflect products and observations at the fair, not a measured forecast of sales or adoption.
A report from Cersaie 2026 in Bologna identifies six tile design directions on display: richer colors, green and earthy palettes, dimensional surfaces, natural-material effects, large-format tiles and intricate digital printing. The five-day trade show brought together more than 90,000 visitors and 600 exhibitors from 24 countries, offering manufacturers, architects and designers a look at new ceramic and porcelain surfaces.
Warm, saturated shades were among the clearest changes described in the report, with burgundy, brown, terracotta, red and yellow appearing in new collections. Danielle McWilliams, principal at Novità, the communications agency for Ceramics of Italy, said warm and moody colors were prominent both in the exhibition halls and in Bologna storefronts. One example, Era by Faetano, evokes terracotta and is available in six natural and neutral colors.
Green was another recurring palette, spanning deep forest shades to pale sage, alongside terracotta and other earthy tones. Cristina Faedi, a tile trend expert and consultant to Confindustria Ceramica, described green as calming and connected to nature, including landscapes, wild herbs, thermal waters and oceans. The report also points to glossy finishes and raised surfaces as ways manufacturers are giving color more visual depth.
Several exhibitors showed tiles designed to change how a surface reads through texture, reflected light or relief. Examples include Marca Corona’s decorative Multiforme Mira tiles, Moooi Ceramic Surfaces’ Hypnotic Owl with a tactile 3D-relief surface, and Appiani’s Lamiere, which uses a visual chiaroscuro effect to suggest sheet metal. The report also highlights porcelain made to resemble stone, slate, lava rock or limestone, as well as large formats and digitally printed patterns.
Color and Surface Shape New Collections
The trends matter to designers and specifiers because tile is being presented not just as a durable covering but as a more expressive part of a room or building’s architecture. Stronger colors can define a palette, while relief, gloss and printed detail can create visual interest without relying on separate decorative materials. The examples at Cersaie show manufacturers offering more ways to combine those effects with ceramic and porcelain surfaces.
Porcelain that resembles natural stone also offers a design option when real stone or marble is not suitable for a project’s cost or durability requirements, according to the report. That does not mean ceramic is interchangeable with every natural material: performance depends on the product and application. The show’s scale makes its displays a useful snapshot of what manufacturers are promoting, but the report does not establish how widely these styles will be used or how consumers will respond.
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A Snapshot from Bologna’s Tile Fair
Cersaie is an annual trade show focused on ceramic tile, architectural surfaces and bathroom furnishings. Its 43rd edition ran for five days at the end of September in Bologna, Italy. The report describes an exhibition attended by manufacturers, architects and designers, with 600 exhibitors across 24 countries and more than 90,000 visitors.
The six directions were identified by Design Milk through products and observations from the fair, alongside comments from industry representatives. Several themes build on existing capabilities: natural-stone effects have been a tile-market feature for years, while newer production methods can make printed color, texture and relief more detailed. The report’s examples are specific collections on display, not evidence that every manufacturer or project is adopting the same look.
““Warm, moody colors dominated the aisles of Cersaie 2026 and the windows of almost every storefront in Bologna.””
— Danielle McWilliams, principal at Novità
Trends Seen, Adoption Unknown
The report records what was displayed and discussed at Cersaie 2026; it does not provide sales figures, consumer research or a comparison with previous years that would show whether these styles are gaining market share. The reported attendance and exhibitor totals describe the event, not the popularity of any one tile trend.
It is also unclear how quickly the collections will reach particular markets, what they will cost, or how their finishes perform in different settings. Product specifications, availability and suitability vary by collection, and the source material does not provide a full technical comparison of the examples.
From Show Floor to Projects
The next indication of the trends’ reach will come as manufacturers bring their collections to market and designers specify them for projects. Buyers can check product details—including format, finish, installation requirements, availability and performance ratings—with manufacturers or suppliers rather than treating a trade-show appearance as a guarantee of local availability.
No further milestone or industry-wide adoption forecast is given in the source report. For now, Cersaie offers a snapshot of manufacturers’ design priorities in late September 2026; whether those priorities become lasting choices will depend on project needs and demand.
Key Questions
What are the six tile trends reported from Cersaie 2026?
The report highlights richer colors, green and earthy palettes, dimensional surfaces, natural-material effects, large-format tiles and intricate digital printing.
Where and when was Cersaie 2026 held?
The five-day Cersaie trade show took place in Bologna, Italy, at the end of September 2026.
How large was the event?
According to the source report, the show drew more than 90,000 visitors and featured 600 exhibitors from 24 countries.
Does the report prove these styles will become mainstream?
No. It describes products and observations from the fair, but supplies no sales data or consumer research showing how widely the trends will be adopted.
What does the report say about green tile?
Green appeared in shades from deep forest to pale sage, often alongside terracotta and other earthy tones. Faedi linked the color’s appeal to nature and a sense of calm.
Source: rss
