PrintWeek’s top six trends for 2026
As we enter a new year, PrintWeek editors look at the market and suggest six trends that will play an important role in 2026
29 Jan 2026 | 466 Views | By PrintWeek Team
Prioritising operational discipline over scale: The industry is structurally shifting from chasing volume and raw scale to mastering internal efficiency. Profitability in the short-run, competitive market is now achieved through rigorous cost control, waste elimination, and adherence to quality systems (like GMP), as financial health and resilience become paramount.
Value-driven differentiation (the ‘narrative’ shift): Customers are moving past buying a commodity print product to seeking a partner who can provide ‘meaning,’ a ‘narrative,’ and a ‘solution.’ This drives growth in high-value, specialised work, such as complex finishing, hybrid embellishment, and consulting-led engagements that strengthen margins.
Sustainability as a cost-neutral operational mandate: Sustainability is transitioning from a premium feature to a non-negotiable, mandatory requirement. The focus is on embedding environmental efficiency (for example, waste reduction, optimised substrates) into the design and production process to be cost-neutral, as compliance becomes ‘table stakes.’
Agile production via hybrid and digital integration: The structural reality of shorter print runs, higher SKU counts, and fragmented demand is making hybrid and digital technologies essential. They are used as a backbone to solve complex problems, enabling the speed and flexibility needed for versioning and customisation without sacrificing the consistency of conventional print.
Manpower and skills gap as a critical constraint: As automation and data-driven workflows become more prevalent, the talent gap is widening. There is an urgent need for ‘techno-printers’ and for businesses to invest in cross-training, soft skills, and technical problem-solving capabilities to build a reliable and adaptable workforce.
Predictive intelligence and data-driven decisions: The next phase of efficiency will be driven by data. AI and data-driven tools are moving beyond buzzwords, with a practical focus on pre-production planning, quality monitoring, and predictive maintenance to prevent errors and waste before they impact margins.
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