#Techtextil 2026

2026-04-07

AI, Start-ups, Research: Techtextil and Texprocess bring together players in the textile industry

From start-ups to universities and research institutes: at Techtextil and Texprocess, the world’s leading innovation trade fairs in Frankfurt am Main, exhibitors present future-oriented concepts for the global textile industry. With the international Campus & Research area, a strong participation from start-ups and the latest AI applications for textile processing, both trade fairs showcase current developments in the textile industry. By bringing together innovation, research and application, they enable new partnerships across the textile value chain.

Universities, research institutes and start-ups present their visions for the global textile industry at Techtextil and Texprocess – ranging from new materials and smart design tools to automated production chains. “Techtextil and Texprocess bring together global research with textile and user industries. This leads to new ideas and collaborations that bring innovations to the market more quickly,” says Sabine Scharrer, Director Brand Management Technical Textiles & Textile Processing at Messe Frankfurt.

Campus & Research: A global meeting point for textile research The Campus & Research sector continues to grow and is even more international in 2026: around 40 research institutes and universities from Europe, Asia, Africa and South America share their latest findings with the textile industry here. Participants include Saxion University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), the InnoFiber Research Lab at the University of Minho (Portugal), IMS Bauhaus Latino América (Uruguay), the Higher Institute of Technological Studies of Ksar Helal (Tunisia) and TU Dresden. The TFI – Institute for Flooring and Interior Systems at RWTH Aachen University demonstrates in a special exhibition how a textile-based guidance system for the visually impaired enables accessibility in indoor spaces. The research institutions and universities are identified by a special sign at the exhibition stand and in the online exhibitor search for visitors.

https://techtextil.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/exhibitor-search.html?exhibitorProgramId=mf_sip_sap_20260340000_SI_05&page=1&pagesize=30

Start-ups lead the way for the textile industry About 20 start-ups exhibit their ideas and technologies on the exhibition grounds. At Techtextil, numerous newcomers present innovative approaches to fibres and yarns: the Swiss company Climatex displays circular textile technologies and fully recyclable products, whilst qCella (Switzerland) showcases a cellulose fibre innovation and ultra-thin surface heating technology. R.O.A.M Systems (USA) presents a new type of nonwoven fabric production using additive fibre placement.

At Texprocess, the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design (AiDLab, Hong Kong) demonstrates an AI-supported textile inspection technology for automated textile fault detection and real-time quality control. The Bulgarian start-up Prodactive Solutions showcases, among other things, an AI-supported SaaS platform for production control in the apparel industry. These and other start-ups can be easily found via a sign at their exhibition stands and in the online exhibitor search.

https://techtextil.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/exhibitor-search.html?exhibitorProgramId=mf_sip_sap_20260340000_SI_15&page=1&pagesize=30

Experience AI innovations first-hand

AI can be experienced first-hand at Techtextil and Texprocess: visitors can interact with two robots at the Style 3D/Assyst booth. The company demonstrates how training software can be used to manage complex processes in apparel production. The Italian exhibitor Willy Italiana presents a checklabel machine that uses self-learning AI to inspect the quality of ribbons and labels. The Spanish exhibitor Picvisa Machine Vision Systems demonstrates how AI-supported optical sorting systems can assist recycling processes by identifying and separating textiles by material or colour. Exhibitors and presentations on the topic of AI can be easily found with the “Texpertise Focus AI” sign.

Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris highlights evolving global sourcing landscape

From 31 August to 2 September 2026, Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris will bring together more than 1,000 international exhibitors at Paris-Le Bourget Exhibition Centre. This edition reflects the new global balance of textile and apparel sourcing, highlighting a strong diversity of sourcing countries — some unexpected.

Messe Frankfurt commits further to East Africa: three textiles trade fairs during Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week from 2027

Messe Frankfurt and its Texpertise Network continue their steady, successful trajectory in the region. As Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) opened today, Member of the Executive Board Detlef Braun announced that Messe Frankfurt is licencing its three leading international trade fair brands Texworld, Apparel Sourcing and Texprocess to Nairobi, Kenya for the first time in 2027. From now on, they will take place annually as part of the Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) Nairobi.

FET’s revolutionary gel spinning system wins Techtextil Innovation Award

FET has received the prestigious Techtextil Innovation Award 2026 in the New Production Technology category. The Techtextil Innovation Award honours outstanding ideas in textile technology, sustainability, AI and the creation of technical textiles, selected by an international jury of experts. Ranging from new materials to new production technologies, this award recognises progressive ideas that are driving forces for numerous industries, such as automotive, medical and construction.

Young talents honoured – 60 years Walter Reiners Foundation

At the Techtextil trade fair in Frankfurt at the end of April, Peter D. Dornier, chairman of the VDMA’s Walter Reiners Foundation, presented awards to five successful young engineers. Promotion and sustainability awards were presented in the categories of bachelor’s/project theses and diploma/master’s theses. Academic theses are eligible for the sustainability awards if, for example, they develop solutions for resource-efficient products and technologies.

Techtextil 2026: KARL MAYER impresses as an innovative sector partner

KARL MAYER looks back with satisfaction on its participation in Techtextil 2026. From April 21 to 24, the international industry leader used the trade show in Frankfurt to meet with numerous key customers at its booth and, at the same time, establish many new contacts. Most visitors came from Germany, followed by major markets such as Poland, the United Kingdom, Turkey, France, and Portugal.

Speed and connectivity: Techtextil and Texprocess provided market-ready solutions for industries under pressure

With more than 36,000 visitors and 1,700 exhibitors from a total of 112 countries, Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 demonstrated how innovation comes into industrial use. The convergence of research, industry and application proved to be a breeding ground for new material solutions, manufacturing and processing technologies. Natural fibres, performance apparel, connected systems and AI-driven processing technologies emerged as key growth and future markets.

Rieter sees Barmag integration on track as orders and sales rise

The first half of 2026 was shaped by the successful completion of the largest acquisition in Rieter’s history. The Man-Made Fiber Division enables entry into the growth segment of man-made fibers and sustainably strengthens Rieter’s market position in the Asia region. The expanded Group is now the world’s leading system supplier for the processing of natural and man-made fibers. In the first half of the year, initial cost savings in material costs and operating expenses have already been realized. The targeted synergies are expected to amount to at least CHF 20 million by the end of the 2028 financial year. Due to the completion of the acquisition on February 2, 2026, the first half of the year for the Man-Made Fiber Division only amounts to five months.