Source: www.fibre2fashion.com
EDANA’s INDEX 26, the world’s leading trade fair for nonwovens, co-organised with Palexpo, officially concluded last Friday 22 May with a successful edition.
In a context marked by uncertainty and continued pressure, the 2026 edition of INDEX concluded successfully. With a diverse range of 625 exhibiting companies from 44 countries, an important number of visitors, and an expanded international reach, the event confirmed its role as a central hub for innovation and a representative showcase of the nonwovens’ ecosystem. Driven by the strong presence of exhibitors, the 2026 edition confirmed the continued relevance of the event. With 11,452 visits, the four-day event brought together a strong mix of global decision-makers and technical experts, who came to explore the sector’s evolution from mass-produced disposable items to high-tech, durable and sustainable solutions. The professional events were well attended, establishing the exhibition as an indispensable meeting place for sharing experience and passion for the industry.
The seminars were designed to provide strategic and technical insights into how nonwoven materials are evolving in response to global trends such as sustainability, circular economy policies, mobility transformation, infrastructure modernisation, and supply chain pressures. Topics included the impact of geopolitical events on plastics markets, access to EU and US public funding, sustainable innovation driven by regulation, advanced filtration technologies, and the role of nonwovens in next-generation vehicles and construction. They also served as a networking and knowledge-sharing agenda, presenting moderators, speakers, and key discussion questions for each session, while positioning the nonwovens sector as an industry undergoing rapid technological and regulatory transformation.
The exhibition offered a consistent experience-oriented approach, as evidenced by the numerous areas dedicated to innovation and technical demonstrations. The event also strengthened its networking dimension, introducing a unique 'Women's Networking Breakfast' to build mentoring networks for the future of the community. The new immersive experience, 'Nonwovens: In Every Layer of Life', was well received, offering visitors a deeper understanding of the integral role these materials play in modern society. Over four days, Geneva provided the setting for an exhibition that remains a place of discovery for current and future technologies.
Murat Dogru, General Manager of EDANA and CEO of GNA, concluded: “INDEX 26 has demonstrated how innovation in the industry is now being driven by global collaboration. The synergy between automated machinery, smart chemistry, and extreme weight reduction has pointed to a promising direction for a more efficient, circular manufacturing landscape. We are already looking forward to INDEX 29 (15-18 May 2029), to discuss the latest developments.”
