Turnover in the Italian DIY sector fell by 0.8% year-on-year in Q1 2026.
According to figures released by Bricoday based on NielsenIQ data, sector turnover declined from €1,396.2 million to €1,384.7 million.
Household appliances, including large and small appliances, were the strongest-performing category, recording double-digit growth. The gardening sector also performed strongly, rising by 8%, while automotive and electrical materials sales increased as well.
In contrast, some traditional sectors weakened. Timber recorded the sharpest decline at 8%, while lighting fell by 5%.
Despite both declining by 3%, building materials and sanitaryware remained the market’s largest categories. Housewares remained broadly stable, while hardware continued to rank among the best-selling segments.
Overall, the results marked an improvement compared with H2 2025, when the market recorded an overall value decline of 3.5%.
“After a very disappointing 2025 for the DIY market, the Q1 2026 figures leave room for moderate optimism. Some sectors are struggling to emerge from the downturn, while others, particularly gardening, are showing signs of vitality,” stated Bricoday. “We are confident of a further improvement in market performance, and the strong pace of stand bookings for Bricoday gives us hope for a recovery in the second half of the year.”
Separately, by early May 2026, more than 380 companies had already registered for the next edition of Bricoday 2026, taking place in Milan from 23–24 September 2026.
The Home and Lighting segment currently accounts for around 40% of confirmed exhibitors, followed closely by the DIY/Technical sector. Gardening represents 16% of registrations and continues to grow, while companies participating in the Bricoday Digital exhibition account for 5%.
