#Techtextil 2026

2026-02-23

Over 1,500 exhibitors: Techtextil 2026 grows in key future sectors

Techtextil 2026 continues to grow: more than 1,500 exhibitors from 49 countries present their products and innovations in Frankfurt am Main from 21 to 24 April 2026. Over 120 of them are first-time exhibitors. Texprocess is taking place at the same time, remaining stable with around 200 exhibitors despite challenging market conditions. Together, the two events bring more than 1,700 exhibitors to the Frankfurt exhibition grounds.

With over 1,500 exhibitors from 49 countries, more than 120 first-time exhibitors and 16 strong country pavilions, including those from France, Korea and Switzerland, Techtextil in Frankfurt is once again the central meeting place for technical textiles and nonwovens. The Netherlands and Tunisia are also presenting themselves with their own country pavilions for the first time. The leading trade fair is also recording growth from European and intercontinental markets such as India, the Netherlands and Portugal. In addition, there are new exhibitors from Australia, Colombia, Nigeria, Hungary and Uruguay. At a time of recession, tariff pressures and geopolitical tensions, Techtextil brings together decision-makers from a wide range of industries to open up new markets, forge partnerships and accelerate the transfer of applications into practice.

Performance Apparel Textiles: Doubled exhibition space in Hall 9.0

Whether for protection, thermoregulation, insulation or cooling, performance materials must deliver at the highest level in extreme conditions – in workwear, protective and military clothing as well as outdoor and sports apparel. The Performance Apparel Textiles area (Hall 9.0) doubles in size in 2026, bringing together around 130 exhibitors from 13 countries, including approximately 30 first-time exhibitors. A special highlight is the live presentation “Performance Apparels on Stage” (also in Hall 9.0). This dedicated area showcases functional end products and wearables in action – based on materials supplied by exhibiting companies.

Top exhibitors: Concordia Textiles (Belgium), Getzner Textil (Austria), Kermel (France), Klopman International (Italy), Lenard (Spain), Noble Biomaterials (USA), Outlast and Prym Fashion (Germany), Textil Santanderina (Spain), and YKK Europe Limited Germany Branch (United Kingdom).

First-time exhibitors: DuPont de Nemours International Sàrl (Switzerland), Francis Dinsmore (United Kingdom), Heliotextil (Portugal), Khosla High Performance Textile (India), Osmar Buckle (Taiwan), Paskal Zipper and Fasteners (Israel), PPH Polexim (Poland), RTS Textiles and Stretchline (United Kingdom), Technitiger (Spain), and Xinke Protective (Netherlands).

Nature Performance: Sustainable material solutions

Customer requirements and regulatory frameworks are increasingly influencing material selection. At the same time, functionality, quality and performance must remain uncompromised. Under the Special Interest Nature Performance, Techtextil highlights exhibitors offering corresponding materials and solutions. The Nature Performance label is displayed directly at the exhibitors’ stands. In addition, visitors can use the online exhibitor search to filter specifically for this feature and identify relevant suppliers.

In Hall 9.1, Barnet Europe as well as CORDENKA (Germany), Kanpur Plastikpack (India) and Longcell Europe (Germany) showcase fibres made from natural polymers and other bio-based fibres. Corresponding fibres are presented by Calloni (Italy) and Senbis Polymer Innovations (Netherlands) in Hall 9.0.

Also in Hall 9.1, Fiacao da Graca (Portugal) exhibits yarns made from organic natural fibres, while Gülipek Kumas (Turkey), Inovafil Fiacao (Portugal) and Karafiber (Turkey) present yarns based on natural fibres. Belchem (Germany) complements the offering with inorganic natural fibres.

Textile Chemicals & Dyes debuts as a dedicated product segment

Techtextil, for the first time in 2026, brings together Textile Chemicals & Dyes within a dedicated product segment – responding to growing demand from users and the desire among suppliers for a clearly structured, centralised platform. More than 30 exhibitors from eleven countries present their products in Hall 9.0.

The consolidation creates shorter distances: Textile Chemicals & Dyes are located in direct proximity to Fibres, Yarns and Performance Apparel Textiles. This makes it easier for suppliers, manufacturers and users to connect, align requirements more efficiently and develop solutions together. The segment is relevant for applications ranging from outdoor and protective clothing to industrial and automotive uses, as well as aerospace, medical technology, filtration and construction.

Exhibitors include Archroma (Switzerland), CHT (Germany), CTF2000 (Belgium), EMS-Chemie (Switzerland), Icap - Sira Chemicals and Polymers and IMA (Italy), Interplast Kimya Sanayi Ve Ticaret (Turkey), Livinguard (Switzerland), Novotex (Italy), Rudolf and Schill+Seilacher (Germany), Sarex Chemicals (India), Schmits Chemical and Tanatex Chemicals (Netherlands).

Messe Frankfurt commits further to East Africa: three textiles trade fairs during Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week from 2027

Messe Frankfurt and its Texpertise Network continue their steady, successful trajectory in the region. As Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) opened today, Member of the Executive Board Detlef Braun announced that Messe Frankfurt is licencing its three leading international trade fair brands Texworld, Apparel Sourcing and Texprocess to Nairobi, Kenya for the first time in 2027. From now on, they will take place annually as part of the Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) Nairobi.

Speed and connectivity: Techtextil and Texprocess provided market-ready solutions for industries under pressure

With more than 36,000 visitors and 1,700 exhibitors from a total of 112 countries, Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 demonstrated how innovation comes into industrial use. The convergence of research, industry and application proved to be a breeding ground for new material solutions, manufacturing and processing technologies. Natural fibres, performance apparel, connected systems and AI-driven processing technologies emerged as key growth and future markets.

FET’s revolutionary gel spinning system wins Techtextil Innovation Award

FET has received the prestigious Techtextil Innovation Award 2026 in the New Production Technology category. The Techtextil Innovation Award honours outstanding ideas in textile technology, sustainability, AI and the creation of technical textiles, selected by an international jury of experts. Ranging from new materials to new production technologies, this award recognises progressive ideas that are driving forces for numerous industries, such as automotive, medical and construction.

Young talents honoured – 60 years Walter Reiners Foundation

At the Techtextil trade fair in Frankfurt at the end of April, Peter D. Dornier, chairman of the VDMA’s Walter Reiners Foundation, presented awards to five successful young engineers. Promotion and sustainability awards were presented in the categories of bachelor’s/project theses and diploma/master’s theses. Academic theses are eligible for the sustainability awards if, for example, they develop solutions for resource-efficient products and technologies.

Techtextil 2026: KARL MAYER impresses as an innovative sector partner

KARL MAYER looks back with satisfaction on its participation in Techtextil 2026. From April 21 to 24, the international industry leader used the trade show in Frankfurt to meet with numerous key customers at its booth and, at the same time, establish many new contacts. Most visitors came from Germany, followed by major markets such as Poland, the United Kingdom, Turkey, France, and Portugal.

STFI highlights textile circular economy and alternative fibres at INDEX™ 2026

From 19 to 22 May 2026, INDEX will invite visitors to Lake Geneva for the world's leading nonwovens trade fair. The Centre of Excellence in Nonwovens at the Sächsisches Textilforschung- sinstitut e.V. (STFI) will be in attendance to present the latest developments in nonwovens research. In the field of the textile circular economy, the STFI will present acoustically effective nonwovens made from chemical recycling residues. The range also includes innovations aimed at replacing conventional raw materials, such as the biobased and biodegradable polymer polybutylene succinate (PBS) and Kendyr as an alternative to cotton.

Savio Macchine Tessili will exhibit at ITM Istanbul 2026 presenting its flagship technologies

Savio Macchine Tessili will participate in ITM Istanbul 2026 in a corporate booth of Vandewiele Group, showcasing a selection of its most advanced winding and spinning solutions designed to support textile mills in achieving higher efficiency, flexibility and yarn quality. The company will bring to the show three flagship solutions: Proxima Smartconer®, Lybra Smartspinner® and the Phoenix Assembly Winder.