Kind + Jugend will return to Cologne from 15th to 17th September 2026, bringing together around 700 exhibitors from more than 40 countries to showcase the latest products and developments for babies, toddlers and parents.
Alongside the exhibition, the event programme will offer retailers and industry professionals opportunities to explore emerging trends and topics shaping the nursery market.
AI takes centre stage at Trend Space
The Trend Space – Playground for Innovation, Networking & Knowledge in Hall 11.2 will focus on this year’s theme, “Growing with AI – New opportunities for the baby & toddler products industry”.
A series of talks will examine how artificial intelligence is influencing areas including product development, services, e-commerce, brand management and consumer behaviour.
Tor Ivry of Nanit will look at how AI and data-driven applications are changing the infant sleep category, while Stefan Warner will explore how online retail needs to adapt in the age of AI. Other sessions will cover topics including chatbots, AI-generated visuals and international e-commerce.
“Artificial intelligence is changing how products are developed, services are created and target groups are reached. The Trend Space gives the industry the opportunity to explore what this development means – not just technologically, but also from a retail and market perspective. This kind of knowledge exchange is precisely what makes Kind + Jugend so valuable for the international professional community,” says Jörg Schmale, Director of Kind + Jugend.
The Trend Space will also look beyond AI, with sessions exploring future trends in children’s retail, consumer behaviour and the key trends expected to influence 2027.
Innovation and new products
The Kind + Jugend Innovation Award will be presented on the opening day at 11am in the Europasaal. The award recognises new products across the baby and toddler sector, while the Midwives’ Choice award, presented in partnership with hebammen-testen.de, will return for its fourth edition.
Winning and nominated products will then be showcased in the Innovation Award Exhibition within the Trend Space.
The New Product Trail in Hall 10.2 will provide visitors with a dedicated overview of some of the latest launches at the show, while the Start-up Area in Halls 10.1 and 10.2 will introduce new companies, ideas and business models from around the world.
Networking will also feature, with the AFTER SEVEN PARTY taking place at the Gürzenichin Cologne’s Old Town at the end of the second day.
The complete event programme can be found here: www.kindundjugend.com/events/event-search
While tickets for Kind + Jugend and the AFTER SEVEN PARTY can be purchased here: www.kindundjugend.com/trade-fair/tickets/buy-tickets
