InterTabac 2026: the shisha trade meets in Dortmund

In short: InterTabac, one of the world's biggest trade fairs for tobacco and smoking accessories, took place in Dortmund, Germany, from 15 to 17 September 2026. Shisha has its own area at the fair, and this year the mood was shaped by Germany's plan to sharply raise its shisha tobacco tax.

New days of the week

For the first time the fair ran from Tuesday to Thursday instead of its old Thursday-to-Saturday slot. The organisers made the change after surveying exhibitors and visitors, to make it easier for shop owners to attend during the working week.

The numbers

• Around 750 exhibitors from 64 countries, across 10 halls (InterTabac is held together with sister fairs for the wider industry).
• About 60% of visitors came from abroad.

Shisha at InterTabac

Shisha has its own themed area at the fair, covering shishas, shisha tobacco and accessories. The German shisha tobacco trade association was among the industry groups attending, and this year it had plenty to talk about: just a week after the fair, Germany's planned rise in shisha tobacco tax had its first reading in the Bundestag. Read more in Europe's shisha tax war.

InterTabac or Frankfurt?

Germany has two big dates in the shisha calendar. InterTabac in Dortmund covers the whole tobacco and accessories trade, while the Frankfurt Shisha Messe in spring is all about shisha. See our Frankfurt Shisha Messe 2026 report.

Next year

The next InterTabac is planned for 14 to 16 September 2027, again in Dortmund.

Many of the brands we stock come from Germany and the rest of Europe. Browse our German shishas or all shishas.

Sources: InterTabac organisers (Messe Dortmund), Tobacco Journal.