Dortmund is preparing to host one of the tobacco and nicotine sector’s largest international business gatherings. InterTabac 2026 will connect finished product brands with buyers, distributors, specialist retailers, manufacturers, technology companies and supply-chain providers.
The organizer expects about 14,500 trade visitors from roughly 80 countries. Around half of the event’s visitors typically come from outside Germany, giving participating companies access to an internationally diverse group of commercial decision-makers.
The 2026 edition will be staged from Tuesday to Thursday, a timetable introduced following consultation with exhibitors, associations and visitor representatives. Messe Dortmund says the revised schedule is intended to support more efficient business travel, meeting preparation and purchasing activity.
Event snapshot
- Dates: 15-17 September 2026
- Venue: Dortmund Exhibition Center, Germany
- Expected suppliers: Around 800 from 70 countries
- Expected visitors: Around 14,500 from approximately 80 countries
- Access: Verified industry professionals aged 18 and above
- For registration, visit intertabac.de
Three platforms across the value chain
The combined format divides the market into three connected areas. InterTabac covers established tobacco categories and smoking accessories, including cigars, cigarettes, pipe and fine-cut tobacco, rolling products, water pipes, lighters and specialist retail lines.
NUBIZ is dedicated to next-generation products, including electronic cigarettes, vaping systems, heated-tobacco products, nicotine pouches and other oral formats. Its role is commercial rather than medical. Descriptions such as ‘alternative’, ‘next-generation’ or ‘smoke-free’ do not establish that a product is harmless or approved by health authorities.
InterSupply addresses the industrial infrastructure behind production. Exhibitors in this area cover machinery, raw materials, ingredients, processing systems, packaging, software, automation and traceability technologies.
This structure allows visitors to examine consumer-facing products, manufacturing processes and compliance-related systems at the same venue.
What professional buyers can assess
- Product quality, positioning and portfolio suitability
- Manufacturing capacity and delivery reliability
- Packaging, traceability and production technologies
- Distribution prospects and market-entry requirements
The exhibition environment can shorten early-stage supplier evaluation, but it does not replace technical testing, legal review or commercial due diligence.
Cigars, education and specialist retail
Premium cigars remain a prominent part of the event. Confirmed names include Joya de Nicaragua with Quesada, E.P. Carrillo, La Flor Dominicana, Villiger Söhne, August Schuster, Drew Estate through GRE Trade and Arturo Fuente.
Announced newcomers include Rocky Patel, Matilde Cigars, Blackbird Cigar, Don Emmanuel Cigars, Dynasty Cigars with Victor Calvo Cigars, and Casa DR with SansPareil.
The cigar programme extends beyond exhibition stands. Master blender Claudio Sgroi will return with the Blending Experience on 15 and 16 September, offering specialist retailers practical instruction in tobacco selection, flavour balance and blend development. Participation is limited and requires prior registration.
Anthony Azar, founder of the International Cigar Sommelier Institute, will lead a technical session examining combustion, cigar performance and flavour development.
Mechelle Merkerson’s three-part Modern Cigar Consumer Series will explore digital product discovery, women’s expanding influence within the sector and the commercial importance of brand storytelling.
The Crossover Lounge will provide an informal setting for cigar-and-spirits pairing sessions led by consultant Jens Tausch. Separate registration is not required for the lounge, although several workshops and masterclasses have limited capacity.
Selected learning formats
- Blending Experience with Claudio Sgroi
- Decoding Cigars by ICSI with Anthony Azar
- Modern Cigar Consumer Series with Mechelle Merkerson
- Crossover Lounge pairings with Jens Tausch
Visitors should confirm programme times and participation requirements before travelling because event schedules can be updated.
Summit and industry discussions
The second Cigar Culture Summit will take place on 14 September, one day before the main exhibition.
Under the theme ‘New Products. New Markets. New Execution,’ it will bring together manufacturers, retailers, media representatives and industry strategists to examine international expansion, regulation, distribution, quality and brand development.
Its market-entry discussions will consider business conditions across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The summit will be followed by a separately ticketed evening reception.
The wider conference programme will address regulatory change, sustainable production, international market dynamics and industry innovation.
Other scheduled formats include PouchXChange on 15 September, the Get Together Evening, and the InterTabac World Alternative Awards on 16 September. CB Expo will also run alongside the wider Dortmund programme.
Programme access
- A valid trade-fair ticket is required for programme activities
- Newsroom sessions require advance registration
- Most presentations and panels need no separate booking
- The Cigar Culture Summit and selected networking events require additional tickets
Regulation shapes every commercial decision
International exhibition does not equal regulatory approval. A product presented in Germany may face different legal requirements in the European Union, Britain, the Gulf, Asia, Africa or the Americas.
Importers and distributors must independently examine product registration, ingredients, testing, customs classification, excise duties, packaging, health warnings, advertising restrictions, traceability, environmental obligations and minimum-age requirements.
The same caution applies to machinery and technical systems. Exhibition participation does not prove that equipment satisfies every national certification, safety or production standard.
Nicotine is addictive, and tobacco and nicotine products carry health risks. Any health or reduced-risk claim requires credible scientific support and must comply with the laws of the market in which it is made.
Tickets, timings and discount
The fair will open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on 15 and 16 September, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 17 September.
The venue address is Dortmund Exhibition Center, Rheinlanddamm 200, 44139 Dortmund.
The current official ticket overview lists:
- Day ticket: €33
- Permanent ticket: €52
- Cigar Culture Summit: €49
- Cigar Culture Reception: €99
- PouchXChange: €69
Ticket purchases require one-time professional verification and the creation of a customer account.
International visitors needing a Schengen visa should begin preparations early, particularly when flights, accommodation and business appointments must also be coordinated. Messe Dortmund opened ticket sales earlier than usual to provide additional planning time for overseas participants.
Save 10% on your ticket
- Use code: IT26WELCOME10
- Register through the official InterTabac ticket platform
- Confirm the code’s validity and conditions before payment
InterTabac 2026 is positioned as a concentrated international marketplace for companies assessing products, technologies, suppliers and potential partnerships. Its practical value will depend heavily on preparation. Visitors who identify priority exhibitors, arrange meetings and review regulatory requirements in advance will be better placed to convert three exhibition days into measurable commercial outcomes.
Disclaimer: This report covers a legally permitted business-to-business event restricted to verified trade professionals aged 18 and above. It does not challenge the laws, regulations, or sovereignty of any country. Trade World News does not promote tobacco, vaping, or nicotine use, endorse any exhibitor or product, or replace independent legal, technical, and regulatory due diligence.
TRADE WORLD | U.S. Urges EU to Ease Trade Rules Amid Tariff Negotiations
