The 4th edition of the Landscape Istanbul Fair (LIF 2025), which was held in Istanbul from 8-11 October 2025, lived up to its promise: a meeting ground for the global landscaping, horticultural, and urban greening communities. With an expanded footprint, deepening industry support, and the return of the World Urban Parks Symposium, the event carved out a clear signal—that Istanbul is serious about being a hub for green infrastructure in the wider EMEA region. This is a recap of a week full of green feelings in the Turkish Metropole with impressions from exhibitors, organizers, and keynote speakers.
Powerful Statements at Landscape Istanbul Fair
The LIF 2025 inauguration ceremony brought together public officials, trade representatives, and international guests, each emphasizing one shared idea — that plants are no longer a luxury, but a necessity for the future of cities.
Mustafa Gültekin Gökgül, Chairman of Athena Fuarcilik, described the journey of LIF as “a long-term path that keeps growing with every edition,” highlighting the fair’s expanding partnerships and purpose.
The expo hosted for the third consecutive year a landscaping symposium organized by World Urban Parks. Where the focus last year was about the success stories of Istanbul and Turkey, the topics and speakers this year were globally oriented, learning from each other's experiences and best practices. Luis Romahn, CEO of World Urban Parks, thanked sponsors and speakers from 35 countries, calling the fair “an important investment in the global landscape industry” and urging participants to make the most of every exchange.
AIPH, the International Association of Horticultural Producers, is also very much committed to this landscaping event. This global organization represents and promotes the interests of the ornamental horticulture industry — basically, everything related to flowers, plants, and green living spaces. Its CEO, Tim Briercliffe, brought a global perspective, recognizing LIF as a platform that “connects international trade with the mission of creating more livable and sustainable cities.”
On the Turkish side, Ahmet Dündar, President of SÜSBİR, the Turkish Plant Growers Union, underlined how the fair strengthens national production and exports. He reminded the audience that Turkish growers “stand ready to supply the world, from Antalya to Trabzon,” and hinted at policy updates that could improve tax conditions for ornamental producers.
A Showcase of Innovation and Collaboration
The Istanbul Fair Centre welcomed more than 110 exhibitors across 7,000 m². Returning participants included Italian renowned growers Vannucci Piante and Piante Faro, joined by a strong showing of Turkish nurseries such as Aydo Tarım, Ekovizyon Peyzaj, and Gaye Süs Bitkileri.
This year’s exhibitors reflected a clear trend toward climate-smart plants, water-efficient systems, and lightweight, sustainable materials. One company turning heads was Star Art Concept, presenting large, handmade planters crafted from polypropylene — “lighter than concrete, unbreakable, and weatherproof,” explained founder İbrahim Ertuğrul, who added that their goal was to “show the richness of design and materials not yet seen in the market.” And what do you think of their unique mega mega-large, richly decorated earthenware plate of over two meters in diameter? Amazing handicraft.
At the other end of the scale, Italy’s Leonardo Lippi of Vannucci Piante emphasized how important the Turkish market has become for them.
“We’ve built not only collaborations but friendships here. This exhibition is less about orders and more about strategy — it’s where ideas grow before plants do.”
Newcomer Iris Plants, represented by Yusuf Efe Çobanoğlu, joined the fair for the first time:
“We’re here to meet new clients and make our company known. The fair started with great energy — it’s the perfect place to expand our network.”
Fatima Kiliç Yetim – Kuzey Ege Peyzaj
“Our company produces outdoor ornamental plants — shrubs, climbing plants, citrus, and herbaceous plants — from one-liter pots up to 55 liters. For us, LIF has strong potential — with landscape architects, construction firms, and economic power, there’s a lot of opportunity here. We want foreign visitors to know our company. We are strong and determined in production, and we want international buyers to see that.”
The World Urban Parks Symposium as a Platform for Green Ideas
Running alongside the exhibition, the 3rd World Urban Parks Symposium continued to link the event with the future of cities. Under the theme “NEXT – The Next Generation of Cities and Public Spaces,” speakers from around the world discussed climate resilience, inclusion, and green innovation.
Several striking examples of how cities can be turned into green spaces were given by Tim Geyer, the Chair of World Urban Parks; parking lots turned into parks and green recreation spaces, replacing concrete with green concepts. Bringing shade to streets and urban areas that were just heating up without their shade. All very stimulating for the professional audience to take back home to the Philippines, Greece, Mexico, New Zealand, Italy, the Netherlands, and so many other places they came from, all the way to Istanbul to learn from each other's best practices.
Luis Romahn reminded participants that the ultimate goal of all park and landscape projects is simple:
“Public spaces are about improving life quality. At the end of the day, the goal is happiness.”
Growing International Support and Industry Recognition
The institutional network behind LIF 2025 grew stronger this year. SÜSBİR and PMO (Turkish Chamber of Landscape Architects) both formally endorsed the fair, giving it added authority and reach. Together they represent more than 8,000 professionals and 1,000 producers — a significant voice for the ornamental plant and landscape sector.
AIPH’s official approval further confirmed the fair’s international standing, acknowledging its role in promoting plant-based solutions for sustainable urban development.
Andrew Furness is the international advisor of Athena Fuarcilik, organizer of the Landscape Istanbul Fair. He emphasizes international growth:
“It’s not just a show for Türkiye; it has a regional pitch. We saw the potential for this to be a regional hub. You could draw a circle and see what major cities and countries are within a two or three-hour flight. And with the collaboration with World Urban Parks, we have a shared goal; to balance local and international content and create a professional trade show not just for Turkey but for the whole region. Istanbul genuinely is a great location for that.”
From LIF 2025 to LIF 2026 - Connecting Trade, Design, and Purpose
With its mix of business, design, and vision, LIF 2025 positioned Istanbul as a crossroads where Europe, the Middle East, and Asia meet to talk green. Exhibitors praised the fair’s organization and international atmosphere, while buyers valued how easy it was to connect with Turkish producers ready for export.
Now that the fair and symposium have ended, the organizers are already looking forward to next year's edition. With all the positive energy that resonates after four days or feeling green, Istanbul will be happy to welcome an even more international crowd next year. So, this is your call to action to block your agenda for 7-10 October 2026.
