Fespa updates on 2026 show with 10 weeks to go

In a press briefing held this morning (10 March), Fespa said it is approaching 600 exhibitors for the events, which will be held at Fira de Barcelona, Spain on 19-22 May.

Running with the theme ‘The place for experts’, the flagship Global Print Expo will run alongside European Sign Expo, Personalisation Experience, WrapFest and two new additions – Corrugated and Textile.

The events will be held across Halls 2 and 3 of Fira de Barcelona and Fespa said it will be the largest post-Covid event in terms of space used.

Head of Fespa Global Print Expo Michael Ryan said the co-located events would create a platform “that covers the full spectrum of speciality print and visual communications and their related sectors”.

“Alongside the exhibitions, we will host three conference programs: the Fespa Conference, the Corrugated Conference and Wrap Talks. Visitors will also be able to experience the World Wrap Masters, an energetic and engaging live feature on the show floor in Hall 2.

“Together, all of these elements will ensure the event delivers both commercial opportunities and valuable knowledge exchange for our visitors and exhibitors alike.”

He added: “This year's conference programs are designed to complement the exhibition by offering practical insights, industry trends and real-world case studies.

“Importantly, these sessions are all free to attend for visitors with an event ticket, making knowledge accessible to the entire community that attends our events in Barcelona. The programs reflect the diversity of the speciality print sector and cover applications from signage and textiles to personalisation and packaging. Ultimately, our aim is to help businesses adapt, innovate and grow in a rapidly developing industry.”

Confirmed print names across the events include Agfa, Bobst, Brother, Canon, Durst, EFI, HP, Kornit Digital, Mutoh, Roland DG and SwissQprint. Post-press names will include Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems, Summa, Zünd and Morgana Systems.

Neil Felton, CEO of Fespa, revealed that Club Fespa would also return to the show in May.

“This feature will not only serve as a networking spot for more than 1,200 printers, it will also host 15 Fespa Association events,” he said.

He also shared updates about the Fespa Foundation initiative that transforms surplus event materials into educational resources for schools around the world.

“Its mission is to reduce the waste from the Fespa exhibitions whilst helping underserved communities through educational printed materials and other means of support, such as school renovations.

“Our exhibitors are invited to donate printed graphics and materials during the show. This time last year in Berlin, I think we had something like 6,000 printed materials, which we sent from Berlin to our schools in Africa.”

Felton said the initiative had raised over €120,000 (£104,000) in its first year, “and we’re looking to double that in years to come”.

“In addition, items donated during Fespa Global Print Expo have already been delivered to the schools we support, and this demonstrates the practical impact of the initiative.

“Through these donations, we’ve changed the education and the lives of hundreds of children. In fact, we have 1,400 children who attend the five schools we’re currently supporting.” 

(Source: PrintWeek.com)