Tradeshow Insight: InterTabac 2025

Celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2025, Inter Tabac once again positioned Dortmund, Germany as the global hub for tobacco and nicotine innovation. Held from 18th to 20th September at Messe Dortmund and spanning nine pavilions, the event welcomed 14,500 visitors and around 800 exhibitors from 70 countries, making it the world’s largest trade fair for tobacco products and smoking accessories. Its sister show InterSupply ran in parallel, focusing on the production and supply chain side of the industry.

This year’s edition reinforced the growing dominance of novel nicotine products, especially modern oral formats and reduced-risk alternatives, with innovation, regulation and product design taking centre stage both on the show floor and in the supporting conference programme.

International participation remained a key pillar, with 80% of exhibitors coming from outside Europe, from locations as diverse as the United States, South Korea, Tunisia and Brazil. While much of the event remained familiar, one notable expansion was the debut of the Cannabis Business Expo (CB Expo), signalling the organisers’ intent to reflect the interconnection of tobacco, nicotine and cannabis, as each sector evolves at pace.

The spotlight this year clearly shone on next-generation nicotine products, particularly nicotine pouches, which featured prominently across exhibitor stands and in dedicated side events such as PouchXchange – a high-level networking forum for the pouch sectors that offered a focused platform for in-depth discussion on compliance and commercialisation in the oral segment.

The focus on novel oral nicotine was also reflected in product innovations that pushed the boundaries of format, function and consumer experience. In a major departure from traditional sachets, two exhibitors showcased nicotine-infused fabric strips – a more discreet and flexible delivery method designed for improved comfort and absorption. Elsewhere, one exhibitor presented a 300-pouch storage can with a detachable travel-sized tin, an indication that bulk-buying could be a trend to watch in the novel nicotine space. Notably, the product included a rehydration feature: consumers could spray water into the can and shake it to restore moisture to drying pouches, making for a practical solution for long-term storage. Another format innovation came in the form of a slim, cigarette-style box holding pouches, tapping into a familiar user experience while repackaging a novel category.

A standout from the e-cigarette category, meanwhile, was a lighter-shaped vape device, combining retro aesthetics with pod-based functionality: a clear nod to the convergence of nostalgia and innovation in product design.

Beyond the product displays, InterTabac 2025 also played host to a number of well-attended events that reflected the industry’s ongoing transformation. The InterTabac World Alternative Awards, now in its second year, transitioned from on-stand presentations to a dedicated gala, recognising innovation across 14 categories. This elevated format gave added prestige to businesses shaping the future of novel nicotine. The conference programme delivered packed sessions covering the regulatory landscape, with particular attention on the EU Tobacco Products Directive, Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) and the implications for next-gen categories. Sessions on oral nicotine innovation, consumer trends, and product development drew large crowds, underscoring the pace of change in this fast-evolving space.

The next edition of InterTabac is scheduled for 15th to 17th September 2026.