New direction, new opportunities - industry comments on changes to STONE trade show formula
Next year's edition of STONE promises to be a breakthrough - the change of date and the merging of the event with the largest construction and architecture trade fair have generated a lot of interest among industry leaders. How do company representatives themselves comment on these changes?
The STONE trade fair has for years been the most important meeting place for the stone sector in Poland. Moving the event to February 2026 and integrating it with BUDMA and INTERMASZ fairs is a decision that aims to maximize the exhibition and business potential for exhibitors and visitors. The change in formula is not just a new date on the industry calendar - it is, above all, a new audience and new opportunities for cross-sector cooperation.
We asked representatives of leading stone companies who have been co-founding the STONE fair with us for years what they think about the changes. Their voices confirm that the decision on the new direction of development was highly appreciated and opened space for further joint activities.
"On behalf of Magemar Poland Ltd. I would like to express our satisfaction with the decision to move the STONE stone fair from November this year to February 2026 and to organize it jointly with the Budma construction and architecture fair. We believe that this change is an excellent step towards refreshing and enriching the STONE trade fair formula. The stone industry will certainly benefit from the thematic synergy with the Budma fair." - Adrian Buraczynski, CEO of MAGEMAR POLAND Ltd.
"In my opinion, the combination of the Stone Fair with the Budma Fair is a move that the stone industry has been waiting for for a long time from the organizers of the Poznań Fair. I could encapsulate it in one word: FINALLY.
Getting out of the hermetic formula of the fair for our own stonemasonry community and opening up to investors, potential business partners or, finally, architects visiting Budma is a shot in the arm. To show how our industry has changed, what possibilities stone masonry companies have thanks to new processing technologies, and to present new materials, whether natural or stone-derived, is a chance for exhibitors, but also for visitors to make contacts and expand their knowledge of each other.
I think this move should increase interest in our industry by visitors to Budma, but also show the stone brothers which way the trends in architecture and interior design are going, which can be useful in our daily work." - Krzysztof Piotrowski, Managing Director, PACIFIC Polska.
"I am pleased with the decision of the Poznan International Fair to merge the STONE stone fair with the Budma fair in February 2026. I believe that this change will benefit our industry by creating synergy between the construction, architecture and stone sectors. Participants will be able to present a wide range of products - from blocks, slabs, to finished products for road and residential construction - and modern technologies will enrich the exhibition. I believe that the combination of the two events will create a platform for sharing knowledge and establishing new relationships. I look forward to the upcoming event, which is sure to become an important meeting of the industry, and the new formula of the fair will bring a lot of inspiration and opportunities for all participants." - Boguslaw Solima, President of the Board of the National Association of Manufacturers of Stone Products.
"The organization of the STONE fair during BUDMA is a very good decision. We have been reporting to the organizer for some time that it would be worth thinking about such a move, which could have a great impact on refreshing our industry event.
There will definitely be more potential customers for our company at BUDMA than at a specialized stone fair. Moreover, as far as we know, quite a few stone companies would like to interest designers and architects in particular in their offer, as they have a big influence on the choice of stone in both private and public investments. The BUDMA fair hosts events for this professional group, so there is a good chance to establish contacts with architects and educate them about stone.
BUDMA is a very popular event that attracts a large group of visitors. This will allow stone companies to reach a wider potential audience. That's why the decision to hold the STONE trade fair simultaneously with BUDMA is - in our opinion - very correct." - Włodzimierz Ratajczak, Chairman of the Board of Wrimar sp. z o. o.