FESPA Global 2026 Multi-Event format, ‘showed value’, say organisers
From 19 – 22 May, FESPA 2026, comprising FESPA Global Print Expo, European Sign Expo, Personalisation Experience, WrapFest, and Corrugated and Textile, welcomed visitors from the speciality print, signage, packaging, personalisation, wrapping and textile sectors to the Fira de Barcelona.
The event was the first flagship exhibition in Southern Europe since 2012 and, with six co-located events and three conference programmes under one roof, it was its most varied and multi-faceted to date.
The expansion into new print-related vertical markets reinforced the organisation’s FESPA Future strategy to Connect, Inspire and Support increasingly diverse global business communities. The co-located event portfolio also broadened FESPA’s reach and audience, strengthening its position as a leading platform for innovation, knowledge exchange and business growth across the speciality print industry and beyond.
FESPA 2026 welcomed visitors from 126 countries, with the largest audiences coming from Spain, Italy, the UK, Germany, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, Poland, Belgium and Switzerland (in descending order). Show organisers say this reinforces the value of FESPA’s peripatetic pattern, making the 2026 event easily accessible to southern European printers and helping exhibitors connect with new prospective buyers.
FESPA 2026 achieved a total visitor attendance of 24,798, making it one of the most successful editions of the global event to date. 15,495 unique visitors attended the show, a 10% year-on-year increase on the 2025 event.
85% of visitors were senior decision-makers, with 77% being directors, CEOs, owners, or managers. The collective median visitor budget was €3.5 billion, a 20.68% increase on 2025, signalling a strong propensity to invest.
Michael Ryan, Head of FESPA Global Print Expo, comments: “By bringing together six clearly defined events, we aimed to give FESPA visitors a richer mix of opportunities to learn, be inspired and explore adjacent market sectors and applications. The patterns we’ve seen in event registration, FESPA app usage, and conference attendance make it clear that most visitors have several overlapping areas of interest, so this approach serves their needs perfectly. For example, they might come to the show primarily for FESPA Global Print Expo and also engage with European Sign Expo, Textile and our FESPA Conference programme. This highlights the exceptional value of a comprehensive global event with multiple exhibition and content strands; it gives decision-makers access to a vast spectrum of specialist expertise to validate their current direction while also investigating new growth opportunities – all in one place.”
Mathew Faulkner, EMEA Marketing & Innovation Director, Canon Europe, states: “FESPA is the ideal event for us in the wide-format market. It united the wide-format community and offered us a unique opportunity to explore emerging technologies and the latest developments shaping the industry. Whether it’s décor, personalisation, or Corrugated – which we were proud to exhibit in and sponsor – FESPA is the perfect platform to showcase the power of digital print-on-demand across multiple verticals. Packed with inspiration, insights, innovative applications and creativity, it truly is the place to be and is the destination for industry experts.”
Folker Statchetzki, Marketing Manager, Brother, says: “FESPA Global Print Expo has always been the ideal platform for us to showcase our latest innovations. The event is a highly professional exhibition, where exhibitors openly share market developments, and meaningful discussions take place between industry experts and visitors. Ultimately, attending FESPA offers a complete, all-in-one experience for anyone looking to stay connected with the print industry.”
CO-LOCATED EVENTS AND CONFERENCE PROGRAMMES
FESPA Global Print Expo’s returning co-located events, European Sign Expo and Personalisation Experience, further enhanced the visitor offering. European Sign Expo showcased the latest innovations, products and solutions for the signage and visual communications sectors. At the same time, Personalisation Experience provided a dedicated platform for industry professionals to explore the commercial potential of customisation and discover new opportunities for personalised print applications.
This year, FESPA also launched two new co-located events – Corrugated and Textile – and it included WrapFest in the flagship event portfolio for the first time.
Corrugated brought together manufacturers of corrugated packaging and display solutions, as well as leading suppliers of machinery, print technology, software, materials and automation systems to create a hub for innovation and collaboration across the sector.
Textile offered a focused environment for professionals in printed textile applications across fashion, apparel, sportswear and interior décor. Visitors could explore emerging trends, discover new technologies and applications, and exchange knowledge with industry experts.
WrapFest 2026 showcased the full spectrum of vehicle and surface wrapping solutions, including self-adhesive films, software, design tools and accessories. Complementing the exhibition, the event offered a programme of live demonstrations, practical workshops, technical advice, and skills-development opportunities, providing valuable hands-on learning for wrap professionals.
Visitors also had the opportunity to attend three conference programmes at the event: The FESPA Conference, The Corrugated Conference, and WrapTalks.
Each programme delivered valuable industry insights, expert-led sessions and panel discussions, and practical takeaways. Together, the three programmes covered key topics in print, signage, packaging, wrapping, textile decoration, and personalisation.
Amit Shvartz, General Manager & COO, Scodix, comments: “FESPA’s new Corrugated event was a must-attend for us. As a company that serves the signage and display market, it offered us the perfect opportunity to connect with key decision-makers, strengthen customer relationships and showcase our latest innovations and product developments.”
João Sá, Head of Sales, ROQ International, also says: “ROQ has exhibited at FESPA for many years and, thanks to these events, we have been able to expand and strengthen our presence in different markets. This year, we were pleased to exhibit at the new Textile event and, as a manufacturer of screen and digital printing equipment with a strong focus on apparel and garment decoration, it was a logical decision for us to do so. For businesses operating in this market, Textile provides a platform to engage with a broad audience and connect with customers looking for solutions to their business challenges.”
Gencho Andreev, Professional Installer and Demo Expert, Terminax, explains: “WrapFest is one of the leading events for vehicle wrapping professionals, not only in Europe, but globally. It provides a fantastic opportunity to connect with people from across the print, vinyl, and wrapping industries, while sharing knowledge, expertise and experiences. The inclusion of World Wrap Masters also highlights the exceptional talent and craftsmanship within the sector.”
FESPA Global Print Expo, European Sign Expo, Personalisation Experience, WrapFest and Textile will return to Messe Munich, Germany from 6 – 9 April 2027.
