Is IFA becoming “too Chinese”? Its CEO has a straightforward answer

Walking the halls of IFA 2026 in Berlin this week, you can feel a quiet but clear shift happening. The world’s oldest major consumer electronics show looks different from even a few years ago, and the question some people are starting to ask is whether it’s becoming “too Chinese.” The answer from the top is pretty straightforward and pragmatic.

This year’s show runs from September 4 to 8 at Messe Berlin. It’s the 102nd edition, with nearly 2,000 brands and around 220,000 visitors expected. IFA has always been a good barometer for home appliances, consumer tech, AI, smart homes, and newer areas like robotics.

This time, Chinese companies make up nearly half of all exhibitors, roughly 930 from the mainland alone, plus more from Hong Kong. That’s a clear high point. By floor space the share is a bit lower, at 38%, according to IFA CEO Leif Lindner.

Lindner has been pretty direct about the growing Chinese presence. He says IFA isn’t concerned about where innovation comes from and is simply reflecting the realities of the market. He also points out that the event’s partnership with Chinese companies goes back about 20 years and has grown gradually rather than suddenly.

Xiaomi is making its formal international debut with a big presence, Dreame has expanded its booth, and familiar names like Hisense, TCL, and Anker are taking up prominent spots. Chinese humanoid-robot and embodied-intelligence companies have been especially popular.

Lindner sees the robotics surge as a wake-up call for Europe. Technologies that once felt like distant science fiction are now getting close to practical and affordable use within the next two or three years, potentially helping with household chores and family care. He believes one of the most important things now is making people more aware of the possibilities these technologies could bring in the future.

He also puts the current moment in context. Six years ago, a lot of the breakthroughs were coming from South Korea. Twenty years before that, the wave started in Japan. If the next major wave comes from Malaysia, he says, that would be fine too. IFA’s mission, he emphasizes, is “Innovation For All,” bringing the best global ideas to Berlin.

From IFA’s perspective, it’s less about where these companies come from and more about the technology and ideas they are bringing to the show.

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(Source: ITHome)