Expanding Maison&Objet’s digital presence globally is paramount for its new leader Vincent Lhoste.
The former chief executive officer of cloud storage solutions firm Kalima Blockchain succeeded Mélanie Leroy in January as the CEO of trade show organizer Safi.
Going forward, one of his main tasks will be increasing the fair’s relevance and traffic on- and offline. In the fall of 2025, the fair drew about 51,550 unique visitors, a steep drop from the pre-COVID-19 pandemic highs of more than 76,000 visitors.
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Strategically, Maison&Objet is elevating the fair deeper into the premium and high-end market, with stronger curation and a clearer separation between design/decor and retail. Digitally, Lhoste is working on incorporating the exhibitors on a new, enhanced platform. From January 2027 on, 100 percent of its show-floor exhibitors will be listed on its digital platform and design marketplace MOM [Maison&Objet and More], alongside 500 to 600 non-exhibiting brands. A zero commission will be charged for six weeks around each fair, to incentivize collaboration, Lhoste told WWD.
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“Technology will allow us to better understand buyers’ needs and challenges, support them in developing their projects and connect them with the right solutions throughout the year,” Lhoste added.
For buyers at the fair, the revamped platform will help them prepare their visit more effectively, identify the right brands and products ahead of the show and make the most of their time at Maison&Objet, he explained.
This year MOM celebrates 10 years since its inception. It now brings together a global community of more than 400,000 professionals, including concept stores, retailers, architects, interior designers and hospitality industry players. MOM will continue to help exhibitors and brands discover the latest trends, connect with other Maison&Objet exhibitors and grow their business all year round.
“We need to make this platform an efficient tool for buyers and exhibitors all along the year, providing the opportunity for people to connect, to buy and to generate leads,” Lhoste commented.
On Sept. 28, Safi will announce new show innovations for the January 2027 edition. Updates will include detailed information about how the firm is focused on increasing its contract and hospitality business.
A New Vision
After taking the baton from Leroy, Lhoste has revamped Maison&Objet’s image further. Leroy spearheaded the evolution of the September edition of Maison&Objet into a more consumer-driven format in 2024. That edition is now referred to as Maison&Objet Pulse. The revised edition will bring together emerging design and sustainable actors, collectible and artisanal design voices and more.
“Maison&Objet Pulse is our creative rentrée. It’s the moment when the industry comes back together in Paris, when people are looking for what’s new, what’s changing and what will matter next — and when the creative and business agenda for the months ahead begins to take shape,” he said.
In January, Maison&Objet, which has always been regarded as the edition that brings together premier players and most recently embraced a new hospitality and a fashion component, is now Maison&Objet Premier. This new format is ever more focused on high-end and luxury design from design-forward and established firms in the business.
Inside the Fair
Maison&Objet 2026 will take place Thursday to Monday at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre in Paris under the theme “Pulse in Motion.” The September edition’s identity, campaign poster and two installations, has been shaped by creative ambassadors Valencia-based studio Masquespacio led by Ana Milena Hernandez and Christophe Penasse.
The fair will span seven sectors — Decor & Design, Fine Craft, Cook & Share, Wellness & Beauty, Fragrance & Ambiance, Fashion & Accessories, and Gift & Play. Key features include the Design District, an incubator for emerging designers, studios and start-ups; new retail and hospitality concepts; the “kidult” trend; and Elizabeth Leriche’s In Materia, a showcase of materials and artisan-made pieces.
The trend observatory within the Design District has been led artistically by Hall Haus — the Paris-based design and architecture studio founded in 2020 by Abdoulaye Niang, Sammy Bernoussi, Teddy Sanches and Zakari Boukhari and whose work draws on popular culture.
Paris Design Week will run concurrently and throughout the city, closing Sept. 19, with projects staged across major landmarks. The Paris Design Week Factory will feature more than 200 young designers.