At the 43rd edition of Cersaie in Bologna, ceramic tile shifted from finishing touch to integral architectural element. By moving the material from “surface to system,” this year’s exhibition explored the tremendous ability high-performance ceramics and porcelains have to completely transform environments of all scales, from “tile-drenched” interiors and playful ceramic-clad furniture to exterior settings, facades and even infrastructure. Palettes were warmer, textures were dynamic and nature continued to be a main source of inspiration, with other influences like ancient motifs and enduring hand-crafted traditions helping to transition the industry towards a richer material expression. Below, we round up five tile collections that exemplify this approach and left a lasting first impression at Cersaie 2026.

1

Eterea by Gardenia&Ariana

Named after the Italian word for “ethereal,” the new Eterea collection from Gardenia&Ariana (an ABK Group brand) highlights the timeless beauty and understated elegance of onyx through two coordinated offerings: a smooth porcelain stoneware in four hues inspired by the semi-precious stone and a three-dimensional fluted wall tile (called Righe, also porcelain) that introduces architectural depth. Together, the two surfaces — one smooth and distinct, the other textured and dynamic — create a harmonious balance of organic form with geometric precision.  

With luminous translucency and subtle mineral variations, the four colour options for the onyx-like stoneware include the warm, blush-toned Powder, the neutral beige Sand, the crisp and light Ice, and Jade, a pearlescent and expressive soft green; each is available in three finishes, Lux (glossy and reflective), Soft (velvety smooth and understated) and Nat (timeworn and characterful). Each can be paired with one (or more) of the four tonal variants available for Righe — Borgogna (burgundy), Ambra (amber), Gesso (plaster) and Blu Pavone (peacock blue) — to craft individualized spaces with undeniable visual impact. 

2

Stilla by Sant’Agostino

Influenced by one of nature’s most delicate and fleeting phenomena, Stilla by Sant’Agostino translates the beauty of morning dew into a small-format decorative tile. Reflecting the ephemeral moment when tiny water droplets cling to flower petals and blades of grass, the series features a reflective surface that amplifies the quality of natural light to transform interiors. 

Made using the brand’s advanced DeepVeil technology, which enlivens flat ceramic surfaces with a sense of movement and fluidity, the porcelain stoneware has a subdued stippling effect that harnesses light and turns it into a decorative element. The Stilla collection is available in three tile styles — a small square (10 x 10 cm), an elongated subway (5 x 20 cm) and a wider subway with oval depression (10 x 20 cm) — and eight nature-inspired glossy colours: Forest, Black, Cream, Ocean, Sage, White, Arctic and Wine. 

3

Three Elements, One Matter by Francesco De Maio

A collaboration between Francesco De Maio and architect Kengo Kuma, the “Three Elements, One Matter” project at Cersaie 2026 showcased a shared material vision that imagines ceramic as an organic element that brings life to architecture. Kuma translated three natural elements — Rain, Mist and Earth — into expressive surfaces that absorb, reflect and return light. 

With Rain, fluid, hand-applied brushstrokes evoke falling raindrops and flowing currents that lend the ceramic surface a compelling depth that is at once ephemeral and vibrant. Like vapour rising among leaves, Mist features subtle gradients and a delicate layering of soft brushstrokes that dissolve contours and soften light’s perspective. Referencing sand moulded and shaped by wind over time, Earth has a primal and material dimension with soft shadows partially exposing the terracotta underneath. Produced through a combination of traditional hand-decorated Vietri majolica techniques and modern material research, the three styles create a dialogue between Italian ceramic expertise and Japanese design ethos.

4

Arca and Palea by Decoratori Bassanesi

In an exploration of memory and material, Decoratori Bassanesi presented two new collections — Arca and Palea — that approach ceramic surfaces as a “narrative and identity-defining element” by translating imprints from the past into a contemporary design language. While sharing an essential balance between craftsmanship and innovation, the two offerings retain strong and distinct personalities. 

For Arca, designer Roberto Sironi drew inspiration from ancient Mesopotamian engravings and early Mediterranean sculptures to create a full-body porcelain combining solid and empty spaces that play with light and shadow. Interpreting the tile as a mere fragment of a bas-relief, Sironi transforms the square module (14 x 14 cm) into a dynamic and textured wall covering that shifts perspective depending on where it’s viewed. With Palea, artistic director Federica Biasi devised an “ancient landscape” that preserves organic marks and cavities that recall terrestrial and marine fossils. Sedimentations, impressions and geological stratifications inspired the porcelain flooring and wall tiles, whose serenely sculpted surface can be used to devise a unified architectural language across vertical and horizontal planes. 

5

Tulipani by Ceramica Bardelli

For Antwerp-based artist, designer and landscape architect Ronald van der Hilst, the tulip has been a source of fascination and inspiration for decades. With his Tulipani collection for Ceramica Bardelli, he translates the slender and sculptural flower into three different wall coverings that share a contemporary design language: Tuli Poni, Tuli Piqué and Tuli Charme. Each 60-by-120-centimetre porcelain stoneware slab is developed using different decorative technologies that lend the surfaces depth and tactility.

With Tuli Poni, raised illustration-like black outlines are accented by bands of colour that vary in depth, intensity and restraint. Tuli Piqué, on the other hand, presents an imaginary botanical landscape in which the tulip is engaged within the water lily’s aquatic world; two variants are offered, Side A and Side B. Both Poni and Piqué are made using cold digital printing with material deposition, which builds tactile reliefs in different textures and heights. The most austere of the three, Tuli Charme turns the statuesque flower into an architectural element: Comprising four individual buds with one stem, the slabs can be combined to form a variety of striking vertical compositions. Innovative laser engraving technologies allow the botanical beauty to be engraved directly onto the ceramic surface. 

Stay tuned for more Cersaie coverage in our Winter 2027 issue.