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. FESPA 2026 comprising FESPA Global Print Expo, European Sign Expo, Personalisation Experience, WrapFest, 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 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, Netherlands, Poland, Belgium and Switzerland (in descending order). This reinforces the value of FESPA’s peripatetic pattern, making the 2026 event easily accessible to southern European printers and supporting exhibitors to make connections 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% directors, CEOs, owners or managers. The collective median visitor budget was €3.5 billion, a 20.68% increase on 2025, signalling strong propensity to invest.
Michael Ryan, Head of FESPA Global Print Expo, commented, ‘By bringing together six clearly defined events, our aim was 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, usage of the FESPA app and conference attendance made 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.’
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, while 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 were able to 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 delivered 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 relating to: print, signage, packaging, wrapping, textile decoration and personalisation.
FESPA Global Print Expo, European Sign Expo, Personalisation Experience, WrapFest and Textile will return to Messe Munich, Germany from 6–9 April 2027. FESPA Africa, which is co-located with Africa Print, Sign Africa, Graphics, Print & Sign and Modern Marketing, will be held from 8-10 September at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand.
