Inter Tabac – Dortmund Tobacco and Cigar Exhibition, Germany

The 45th edition of the inter tabac tobacco and cigar exhibition in Dortmund, Germany, successfully took place from September 18 to 20, 2025, at the Westfalenhallen Dortmund. Hosted by Messe Dortmund, this year’s event marked the milestone of its 45th anniversary and was the largest and most internationally diverse edition in inter tabac’s history.

In terms of scale, the exhibition occupied 11 halls, bringing together over 800 exhibitors from 70 countries. International exhibitors accounted for nearly 80% of the total, with more than 300 NGP companies participating. The total exhibition area reached 40,000 square meters, attracting 14,500 professional visitors—approximately 50% of whom came from outside Germany, spanning Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa, and other regions. Among the visitor base, retail professionals represented about 35%, wholesale and international trade players around 20%, and manufacturing stakeholders roughly 15%. Nearly 90% of attendees expressed their intention to return in 2026, while almost 90% of exhibitors indicated their willingness to participate again.

A star-studded presence in the cigar sector. This year’s show drew more than 160 cigar and accessory manufacturers, creating one of the exhibition’s most traditional and captivating highlights. Notable participants included Belgium’s family-owned VCF J. Cortes, the United States’ oldest family-run cigar factory Newman Cigar Co., globally renowned Fuente Cigars, Conor McGregor’s Notorious Cigars, as well as France’s Maya Selva Cigars, Spain’s Gesinta International Tobacco and Humo Selecto , Switzerland’s House of Grauer SA, and others. Germany’s century-old brands such as Joh. Wilh. von Eicken, Kleinlagel, Kopp Tobaccos, and Villiger Söhne also made their appearance. First-time exhibitors like Selected Tobacco , ArtHabanos, Capital Group America Corporation, XO Havana, and Guri Cigars injected fresh vitality into the cigar section.

New-generation nicotine products (NGP) emerged as a central highlight. Over 300 NGP companies registered to exhibit, with nicotine pouches, heat-not-burn devices, e-cigarettes, and other innovative products taking center stage. Philip Morris International showcased IQOS Iluma and held a product launch event during the fair; British American Tobacco presented its Vuse Ultra e-cigarette, which won the “International Tobacco Show Star” award in the e-cigarette category. The nicotine pouch segment witnessed significant innovations: two exhibitors unveiled nicotine-infused fabric strips offering a more discreet and flexible delivery method, while another introduced a large-capacity storage container holding 300 pouches, complete with detachable travel-sized pods and a moisturizing spray feature. For the first time, the exhibition hosted the “PouchXchange” specialized forum on nicotine pouches, providing a high-level platform for industry dialogue. Zippo also exhibited its DBX Concept e-cigarette, earning the “International Tobacco Show Star” award.

A rich array of concurrent events. On the day before the official opening, the “Cigar Culture Summit” convened approximately 250 participants for five hours of expert discussions on various themes. During the exhibition, the second InterTabac World Alternative Awards ceremony was held, evolving from an on-site showcase into an independent gala dinner that honored innovative products across 14 categories. A seminar focused on regulatory issues, with lively debates on the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and related topics. The fair also partnered for the first time with CB Expo, the Cannabis Business Exhibition, reflecting the growing trend of cross-industry convergence between tobacco, nicotine, and cannabis sectors. Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, Zippo, and other companies organized new product launches.

Award-winning products: The “International Tobacco Show Star” awards were bestowed upon the following products: Philip Morris International’s IQOS Iluma in the heated tobacco category, Esse Hermann Hauser in the cigarette category, Vauen Champagne in the pipe category, Coy 25 in the long cigar category, Villiger Shots Melicious in the short cigar category, British American Tobacco’s Vuse Ultra in the e-cigarette category, and Zippo’s DBX Concept in the e-cigarette category.

Strong responses from exhibitors and industry stakeholders. Marc Fassbinder, National Sales Director at OCB Vertriebs GmbH, stated: “inter tabac has always been an excellent opportunity to maintain direct connections with international and German trading partners. We view it as a key platform for tobacco and smoking-related products, both now and in the future.” Christian Hinz, Executive Board Chairman of GIZEH Raucherbedarf GmbH, remarked: “We sell our products in 85 countries, and every year we meet nearly all importers here in Dortmund—this is the ideal venue for industry networking.” Exhibitors generally reported that the fair attracted high-quality professional buyers with clear purchasing intentions. Attendees agreed that inter tabac, as the world’s most influential B2B trade show for the tobacco industry, has become a strategic platform for companies to showcase products, connect with customers, gain insights into market trends, and expand globally.