Kolkata is set to host the largest-ever confluence of architecture, interiors, and building materials for East and Northeast India as India’s leading building materials exhibition, MATECIA Exhibition (Materials & Products for Construction, Interiors & Architecture), joins hands with SURFACES REPORTER, one of the country’s most respected architecture and design media platforms.
The three-day event will take place from 30 January to 1 February 2026 at Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan (BBMP), opposite Science City, Kolkata. National Award-winning actor, motivational speaker and founder of Ashish Vidyarthi & Associates, Ashish Vidyarthi, will grace the occasion as the chief guest.
Titled the MATECIA Exhibition & SURFACES REPORTER Architecture Event – East & Northeast India, the platform aims to spotlight the rising architectural and design strength of the eastern and northeastern regions. The event will bring together over 150+ leading architecture and design firms, interior designers, developers, dealers, brands, and channel partners from 12+ states, including Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim.
Positioning Kolkata as a vital cultural and regional bridge, the event will reinforce the scale, diversity, and creative depth of the regional design ecosystem.
Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, Verticaa Dvivedi, Director, Surfaces Reporter Architecture Event, said, “For far too long, East and Northeast India have been perceived as slow or difficult markets—regions many hesitate to enter, assuming they are not easily reachable. What often gets overlooked is the exceptional depth of architectural thinking emerging from these regions. Designers here work with climate, context, and culture not as constraints, but as strengths. In many ways, the rest of India has a lot to learn from them. Through the Surfaces Reporter Architecture Event – East & Northeast India, we aim to highlight, promote, and amplify this outstanding body of work. This edition is not an arrival—it is the first page of a much larger national narrative.”
Spread across over 1,50,000 sq. ft., the event will feature 100+ leading interior and surface brands and bring together 200+ architects and interior designers, showcasing 500+ landmark projects. The exhibition is expected to attract 14,000–16,000 visitors from 100+ towns and cities.
The event will commence with its inauguration on Thursday, 30 January 2026, from 10:30 AM onwards. A major highlight will be the Surfaces Reporter Salutes – Architecture & Design Honours, scheduled for 31 January 2026 from 4:00 PM onwards. As the first collective regional recognition initiative dedicated exclusively to East and Northeast India, the honours will celebrate around 100 leading architects and interior designers, recognising excellence across residential, commercial, hospitality, institutional, and urban design.
The lamp lighting ceremony and opening address will be led by Mr. Rajesh Mittal, President, FIPPI and CMD, Greenply Industries Ltd; Mr. Surinder Arora, President, ILMA and Managing Director, Virgo Industries Ltd; Mr. Ramesh Bagla, President, CTMA; and Ms. Meenakshi Ganeshan, Deputy Director General, BIS, East Zone. They will be joined by senior industry leaders including representatives from Merino Industries Ltd, Duroply, Durian, Rushil Décor, Saburi Plywood, BTIA, BTMA, and other key associations.
Highlighting the market potential of the region, Pragat Dvivedi, Director, MATECIA Exhibition, said, “2026 will mark the emergence of East and Northeast India as serious growth markets. These regions are witnessing rapid urban development, infrastructure expansion, and a new generation of design-conscious professionals. MATECIA Exhibition’s presence here reflects our belief that the future of India’s building materials market will also be equally driven by East and Northeast India.”
The event will also witness the presence of eminent architects and industry bodies from across the region, including representatives from Maniramka & Associates, Rupande Shah & Associates, Kham Consultants, Amber Creations, Agrawal & Agrawal Architects, Epsilon, and members of the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) from Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland.
In addition, the platform will feature India Interior Retailing (IIR), a knowledge-driven forum bringing interior retail leaders together for learning and networking, along with the Surfaces Reporter SHOWCASE, a dedicated presentation zone enabling direct interaction between brands and architects.
With its scale, regional focus, and national outlook, the MATECIA Exhibition & SURFACES REPORTER Architecture Event – East & Northeast India is poised to redefine industry perceptions and firmly place the region’s design excellence on the national stage.
