IKEA to close seven Mainland China stores from 2 February 2026

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• The seven stores to close are located in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Nantong, Xuzhou, Ningbo, and Harbin.
  
• IKEA will provide comprehensive support to all affected employees throughout the transition.
  
• The retailer will shift to “precision-driven penetration”, aiming to open more than 10 small-format stores in Beijing and Shenzhen over the next two years.

IKEA will close seven offline stores across Mainland China from 2 February 2026 as part of efforts to optimise its store network and enhance business resilience, the company announced in an official statement.

The furniture retailer noted that global economic uncertainties, accelerating digitalisation, and rapidly evolving customer behaviours have brought “unprecedented transformation” to the retail industry.

Following a comprehensive review and evaluation, IKEA China has decided to cease operations at seven stores: Shanghai Baoshan, Guangzhou Panyu, Tianjin Zhongbei, Nantong, Xuzhou, Ningbo, and Harbin.

“China is and will continue to be one of the most important and strategic markets for IKEA,” the company said in the statement.

“The decision is an important step of the transformation journey of IKEA in China to build a resilient foundation for business growth in the future.”

IKEA emphasised that it will provide comprehensive support to every affected employee during the transition period, ensuring “open communication and a fair, transparent process”.

“Our co-workers, values, and culture are the foundation of the sustainable development of IKEA,” the company added.

Across China, IKEA currently operates 41 offline customer meeting points, three owned digital channels, and two flagship stores on major e-commerce platforms, collectively reaching a potential customer base of 1bn people.

The company is consistently re-evaluating and optimising its omnichannel ecosystem in China to improve efficiency and outcomes. Recent initiatives include the re-designed Shanghai Xuhui store, five new stores of varying sizes nationwide, and the newly launched presence on JD.com.

Looking ahead, IKEA plans to shift from “scale-based expansion” to “precision-driven penetration”, with Beijing and Shenzhen identified as priority markets.

More than 10 small-format stores are slated to open in these cities over the next two years, including the new IKEA Dongguan store in February 2026, and IKEA Tongzhou store in April.