SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- June 2, 2026 -- The BHB-GardenSummit, now in its eleventh edition, returns on June 23 with a revised format that reflects feedback from long-standing attendees. Germany's trade association for the home improvement and garden retail sector has shifted the event from the closing day of the spoga + gafa fair in Cologne to the fair's second day, a change developed in coordination with KoelnMesse. The summit closes with a joint garden party co-hosted by BHB and partner association IVG in Hall 6, positioning the networking finale as a centerpiece of the event.
New Date Position at spoga + gafa Responds to Participant Demand
The timing change is the most structural adjustment to this year's summit. For several years, the event had been scheduled on the final day of the Cologne garden trade fair. BHB moved the date forward to Day 2 following repeated requests from participants who wanted more runway to engage with both the summit content and the broader fair. The shift was planned jointly with KoelnMesse, the fair's organizer.
The core format stays intact. Summit attendees can expect the same compact mix of presentations, panel discussions, and structured networking that has defined previous editions. What changes is the rhythm - more fair days remain available after the summit concludes.
OBI's COO Returns as Keynote Speaker After Last Year's Attention-Generating Address
Jochen Ludwig, Chief Operating Officer of OBI and a board member of BHB, will open the summit and deliver his assessment of the current situation facing the garden and home improvement sector. His appearance last year drew significant attention after he called publicly on the industry and KoelnMesse to advance the further development of spoga + gafa. He returns in 2026 as the event's keynote voice.
Separately, OBI's Vice President for the Garden Division, Katrin Beyer, will present the retailer's strategic direction for its garden segment. Her session covers how OBI plans to develop the garden category commercially - connecting established retail practice with newer approaches to the segment.
GfK/NiQ Analysts to Present Market Data and 2026 Season Assessment
Christiane Klietz and Alexander Theile from GfK/NiQ will deliver a market analysis session covering how current macroeconomic conditions are affecting sales and sector revenues. Their presentation addresses the 2026 season start and the trends currently driving decision-making among both retailers and suppliers in the garden trade.
For operators and buyers, this session carries direct planning relevance. Understanding where consumer spending is moving - and where it is contracting - shapes ranging decisions, promotional calendars, and supplier negotiations. It is one of the more practically grounded sessions on the agenda.
Garden and Mental Health Take Center Stage in Academic Address
Prof. Dr. Mazda Adli, chief physician at Fliedner Klinik and affiliated with Charité Berlin, will present research on the relationship between green environments and psychological health. The session examines how contact with garden spaces affects the brain and what that means for mental wellbeing.
The topic connects consumer motivation with product relevance in a way that garden retailers and suppliers can draw on. It runs alongside the commercial and strategic sessions rather than replacing them, giving the 2026 program a broader thematic range than a purely market-data-focused agenda would offer.
Pet Economy and Brand Strategy Round Out the Speaker Program
Prof. Dr. Renate Ohr from the University of Göttingen will address the growing economic weight of pet ownership and what that means for the DIY and garden retail sector. The session explores how retailers in the home improvement space can better connect their offer to a category that has proven resilient even during periods of broader consumer caution.
The final speaker slot goes to Hans-Jürgen Herr, formerly a Vice President at Weber-Stephen and now an advisor to younger businesses. His session, framed around what he calls strategic pit stops, examines why brands lose direction when they focus primarily on avoiding mistakes - and why pausing to reassess can be the more effective course. It is a practitioner-led perspective aimed at brand managers and category leaders operating under current market pressure.
Joint Garden Party with IVG Closes the Summit in Hall 6
The closing event marks a structural addition to the summit format. BHB has partnered with IVG, its fellow association in the garden sector, to host a shared garden party in Hall 6 of the Cologne fair. The joint format gives the summit a formal networking close that extends beyond the BHB membership base to include IVG's constituency as well.
Tickets and updated event information for the 11th BHB-GardenSummit are available at www.gardensummit.de