As the global design industry turns its attention to Orlando this February, NKBA Global Connect has announced the largest international media tour ever hosted at KBIS, welcoming a curated group of editors from Europe and South America to report on the future of kitchen and bath design in North America.
Through the Global Connect programme, international journalists will take part in a guided editorial experience at KBIS 2026, offering a rare cross-continental perspective on the brands, innovations and design directions shaping the North American market. The initiative is designed to strengthen global dialogue, enabling editors to translate key trends, product developments and business insights back to their home markets.
The selected journalists, representing leading publications from the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and Brazil, will attend exclusive briefings, pavilion tours and presentations across the show, as well as curated visits to exhibiting Global Connect members. Their coverage will explore not only aesthetic direction, but also market nuance, manufacturing evolution and go-to-market strategies for international brands expanding into the U.S. and Canada.
Participating journalists include:
Javier Gómez, Editor in Chief, Cocina Integral, Spain
Emma Hedges, Editor, KBB Focus, UK
Gabriele Mühlen, Editorial Director, möbel kultur, Germany
Diane Larner, Founder, Kitchen Review & Bathroom Review, UK
Roberta Mutti, Editor in Chief, The Design Week Guide, Italy
Natalia Ramalho, Editor and Founder, The Luxe Resident, UK
Antonia Pozo Comas, Journalist, IM Cocinas y Baños magazine
Martin Allen-Smith, Editor, Digital Savvy Media, Colchester, UK
Matteo Lirosi, Journalist, FIRSTOnline, Italy
Susanne Koglin, Editor in Chief, Moebelnews, Germany
Laura Naito, Global Editor and reporter for Casa e Jardim, Brazil
Camila Santos, Assistant Design Editor, Casa Vogue, Brazil
This year’s programme reflects the growing importance of global exchange within the kitchen and bath sector, positioning KBIS not only as a trade show, but as an international knowledge hub. With the North American market now valued at over $228 billion, the presence of international media ensures that innovation, craftsmanship and commercial opportunity are communicated far beyond U.S. borders.
For readers of The Luxe Resident, the Global Connect media tour signals a broader shift, kitchens and bathrooms are no longer viewed purely as functional spaces, but as design-led, lifestyle-driven environments shaped by global influence and local expertise.
KBIS takes place 17–19 February 2026 at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando.
The Luxe Resident 