The heart of the natural stone industry will beat in İzmir. Leading figures from design, architecture, and global trade will come together on the Marble Talks stage on 14–17 April.

Hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and organized by İZFAŞ on 14–17 April 2026, Marble İzmir will feature a special program held in Hall D, designed under the “D-ESIGN Arena” concept. The program will bring together industry professionals, architects, designers, and academics. As part of the three-day Marble Talks series, key topics such as the role of natural stone in architectural projects, design approaches, sustainability, global market dynamics, and digitalization will be discussed. The sessions are expected to attract a wide audience, particularly industry representatives, academics, designers, architects, and students.

Leading Names of the Industry at Marble Talks
The program will begin on 14 April, the opening day of the fair, at 15:00 with the session titled “Trace of Time,” moderated by Assoc. Prof. Selçuk Demirci from Ege University, featuring Interior Architect Yeşim Kozanlı as the speaker. On the same day, at 17:00, the Marble İzmir Sculpture Workshop Appreciation Ceremony and the 8th International Novel Natural Stone Design Competition Award Ceremony will take place.

From Stories to Changing Dynamics
On the second day of the fair, 15 April at 12:00, the session titled “Natural Stone Stories in Architectural Projects” will be held, moderated by Uğur Onur, Chairman of the Board of İzmir Association of Freelance Architects, with architect Melis Varkal as the speaker.
At 13:00, the session “Natural Stone in the Global Market: Local Strength and Changing Dynamics” will feature Hanifi Şimşek, Chairman of the Board of TÜMMER (the umbrella organization of Türkiye’s natural stone sector), and Flavio Marabelli, Honorary President of the Italian Confederation of Marble Machinery Producers.
At 14:00, the session titled “Changing Times,” moderated by Dr. Can Özcan from İzmir University of Economics, will host distinguished speakers including Dr. Despoina Zavraka (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), Prof. Ilia Palaguta (Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design, Saint Petersburg), Prof. Marinella Ferrara (Politecnico di Milano), and Prof. Michal Stefanowski (Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw).
At 15:15, the session “The Meaning, Possibilities and Limits of Natural Stone in Design Approach,” moderated by Dr. Dürrin Süer, will feature architects Burçin Demirsoy, Derya Akdurak, and Tolga Kezer.
At 16:15, the session “Best Use of Stone by Turkish Stones,” moderated by Funda Bekişoğlu from the Istanbul Mineral Exporters’ Association, will include speakers Ahmet Tekin (Western Mediterranean Exporters’ Association), Reyhan Sezgin (Aegean Mineral Exporters’ Association), Architect Burak Pekoğlu, and Landscape Architect Dr. Oktan Nalbantoğlu.

Is Good Design Enough?
Marble Talks will continue on 16 April at 13:00 with the session “Thinking with Marble: From Nature to Interior,” moderated by Reyhan Sezgin, Board Member of the Aegean Mineral Exporters’ Association, featuring Interior Architect Hasan Burak Akyıldız.
At 14:00, the topic “Sustainable Design and Natural Stone” will be discussed by Architect Öznur Turan Eke and Industrial Designer Adnan Serbest, moderated by Assoc. Prof. Selçuk Demirci.

Architect Sedat Bayrak, known for his work in architecture and new media and his notable presence on social media, will present a contemporary perspective at 15:15 in the session titled “Is Good Design Enough? The Codes of Visibility in New Media.”

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