The 90th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) opens its doors today, bringing together more than 1,000 exhibitors, 25 participating countries, 11 thematic sections and a packed programme of events at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition and Congress Centre.
The anniversary edition also marks 100 years since the first TIF in 1926, with organisers presenting a special exhibition celebrating the institution’s history alongside a major showcase of Japan, this year’s honoured country.
Japan takes centre stage
TIF-Helexpo has selected Japan as the honoured country for the 90th edition, highlighting one of the world’s largest economies and its combination of centuries-old traditions with technological innovation.
Visitors will explore Japan’s presence in Pavilion 13, which covers 3,200 square metres and brings together 25 companies and organisations. The presentation centres on the Japanese TAKUMI philosophy — the concept of the master craftsperson — which emphasises dedication to perfecting a craft through skill, precision and human-centred design.
The Japanese pavilion will showcase a broad range of industries, including automotive, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, energy and climate solutions, digital transformation, agriculture, manufacturing, insurance, tourism and shipping.
Participants include Astellas, Daiichi Sankyo, Daikin, Fujifilm, H.I.S. Dream Travel, Interwater, JTI Hellas, Efthymiadis Agrotechnologies, Konica Minolta, Mitsubishi Electric, Moro Technology Corporation, Nic. J. Theocarakis, Petros Petropoulos Group, Saracakis Group, Syngelidis Group, Takeda, Toyota Hellas and Weathernews.
The participation also includes the Japan National Tourism Organization, the Japan-Greece Society and the Honorary Consulate of Japan in Thessaloniki.
More than 40 events will promote Japanese culture, technology and development throughout the fair. The programme includes Taiko drumming, shamisen concerts, Japanese calligraphy and traditional dance demonstrations, as well as events dedicated to anime, manga and cosplay.
Visitors can also sample Asian cuisine at a restaurant curated by the Athens Asian Food Festival, which will offer four themed menus. Thessaloniki has also adopted Greek-Japanese symbols in its decorations to mark Japan’s participation and the 90th anniversary edition.
Exhibition marks 100 years of TIF
The anniversary programme centres on “TIF 100 YEARS OF FUTURE,” a specially designed exhibition marking a century since the first fair in 1926.
TIF-Helexpo and the Museum of Contemporary Art of the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki (MOMus) have jointly organised the exhibition, which will operate within the fairgrounds with free admission.
Archival material, historical documents, rare photographs and contemporary audiovisual presentations will trace key milestones in TIF’s history and its longstanding connection with technological progress.
The Hellenic Post will also mark the centenary by issuing a commemorative stamp, which it will present during the exhibition.
11 thematic sections
The 90th TIF features 11 thematic sections covering a wide range of modern production and services.
The “Greece and Entrepreneurship” section brings together 41 Chambers of Commerce and 320 businesses from across Greece under the auspices of the Union of Hellenic Chambers.
“Flavours from Greece” showcases products with protected designation of origin and local cooperatives, while “Gastronomy and Nutrition” focuses on contemporary dietary trends, food and beverages.
The “Energy and Circular Economy” section features solutions for heating, cooling and green infrastructure, while “Furniture and Home Equipment” highlights new trends in design and interior decoration.
This year also introduces a new “Economy” section in Pavilion 13, focusing on private businesses and issues including economic governance, tax compliance and transparency.
The fair also features Public Bodies and Organisations, Cosmos and International Participations, Akademia for higher education, Technology, Research and Innovation, and Retail Sales for consumer products and gifts.
Pavilion 17 will serve as a unified hub for education, technology, research and innovation. The Regions of Attica, Western Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Central Greece and the Peloponnese will participate, alongside the Region of Central Macedonia.
Another new feature, the Wellness & Fitness Arena in Pavilion 16, will focus on health, nutrition and sport through activities running throughout all nine days.
Business meetings strengthen the commercial focus
The fair will also place strong emphasis on business networking.
TIF-Helexpo, together with the Federation of Industries of Greece and the Enterprise Europe Network, will organise pre-arranged business meetings focused on sectors including automotive, pharmaceuticals and tourism.
A dedicated business-contact programme will also connect Greek businesses with participating Japanese companies.
Music, family activities and entertainment
Families will have access to JuniorLand, an interactive park featuring theatre performances, sports activities and games. The Smile of the Child will also organise special workshops inspired by Japan.
Daily performances by municipal philharmonic bands from across Greece will create the “Musical Walk” through the fairgrounds.
Each evening, the Music Events Live programme will bring concerts to the area beneath the fair’s landmark Arch, with performances starting at 9:30pm. The admission ticket includes access to all concerts.
Metro and ticket information
For the needs of the 90th TIF, the Thessaloniki Metro will operate around the clock today, as well as on Friday, September 11, and Saturday, September 12.
Organisers have introduced different prices for online purchases and tickets bought at the exhibition-centre box offices in an effort to reduce queues and speed up entry during peak periods.
A daily ticket costs €9 online and €12 at the box offices throughout the event.
Official 90th Thessaloniki International Fair website and events programme
The fair operates from 10:00am to 10:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays, while weekday opening hours run from 4:00pm to 10:00pm.
