The current market environment highlights the importance of resilient supply chains, flexible production processes, and technological innovation. Additive Manufacturing provides practical solutions to these challenges, enabling companies to respond more quickly to market changes, develop new applications, and strengthen their long-term competitiveness.
Particularly strong growth momentum is currently being observed in industries such as aerospace, defense, energy, medical technology, and semiconductors.
Against this backdrop, Formnext 2026 will once again present the latest developments across the entire Additive Manufacturing process chain, as well as a broad range of application examples and business cases from numerous industries.
As the AM industry continues its dynamic industrialization phase, Formnext further reinforces its position in 2026 as the leading platform for next-generation manufacturing technologies. With around 800 expected exhibitors, the major players from across the global Additive Manufacturing ecosystem will be represented, covering the entire AM value chain. Throughout all four days of the exhibition, face-to-face networking, expert exchange, and practical application insights will remain at the center of the event experience.
“Especially in the current market environment, the importance of exchange, market orientation, and access to innovation has become increasingly evident,” says Sascha F. Wenzler, Vice President Formnext at Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH. “Formnext brings together the industry’s key stakeholders and provides the framework where new momentum for the industrial adoption of Additive Manufacturing can emerge.”
Discussions with Formnext’s exhibitor advisory board indicate that sentiment across many sectors is considerably more positive than in previous years. An increasing number of companies report successful industrial applications, new projects, and continued market scaling. Showcasing these developments and fostering dialogue around them remains one of Formnext’s core objectives.
In response to current industry developments, the organizer has further optimized the exhibition layout for the 2026 edition. To reduce walking distances, improve navigation, and ensure a consistently high-quality visitor experience, the exhibition will be consolidated into Halls 11.0, 12.0, and 12.1, rather than being spread across four hall levels, while maintaining nearly the same total exhibition space.
Extensive Supporting Program with New Highlights
Formnext 2026 will once again offer a comprehensive supporting program featuring a wide range of topics and numerous opportunities for professional development and networking.
“While Additive Manufacturing has already become an established production technology in many industries, the technologies remain complex and require expertise, as well as the identification of viable business models and growth opportunities,” explains Christoph Stüker, Vice President Formnext. “Through a variety of program formats, we aim to facilitate exactly this exchange, including across different industries.”
The freely accessible conference program for trade show participants will address both cross-industry topics and concrete application examples on the Industry & Application Stage, delivering valuable insights for users, technology providers, and decision-makers from various sectors. The program will be complemented by the Technology Stage, where exhibitors will present their latest technological innovations and solutions.
Among the new content highlights is the Formnext Defence Summit, which will explore current developments and requirements in security- and defense-related manufacturing environments. In addition, a special exhibition dedicated to post-processing will showcase key steps within the industrial value chain.
Established Formnext highlights will also return. The Formnext Awards will once again recognize outstanding innovations and developments, while the Discover3DPrinting seminars will provide newcomers with practical insights into the world of Additive Manufacturing. Additional formats such as the Start-up Area and Pitchnext will continue to foster connections between innovators, investors, and strategic partners.
Further program highlights include:
- Showcase by the VDMA Additive Manufacturing Working Group focusing on Additive Manufacturing in mechanical engineering
- BE-AM showcase and BE-AM Symposium dedicated to Additive Manufacturing in the construction industry
- Showcase and guided tours on the topic of post-processing
- Career@Formnext, featuring a job wall, personalized career consulting, professional photo sessions, and networking opportunities
- Partner Country United Kingdom, showcasing its strong manufacturing sector and leading role in Additive Manufacturing through a powerful ecosystem of technologies and industrial applications
- AM Innovation and Standards Summit, organized by ASTM International and taking place on the day prior to the exhibition opening
Visitors can purchase tickets now through the online ticket shop and benefit from the early bird discount until 22 October 2026: www.formnext.com/visitors
Formnext
International exhibition and convention on the next generation of manufacturing technologies
The Formnext will be held from 17 - 20 November 2026.
Press information and photographic material:
Links to websites:
Formnext – Hub for Additive Manufacturing
https://www.facebook.com/formnext
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/formnext
https://www.instagram.com/formnext/
Your contact:
Franziska Richter Levin
Phone: +49 711 61946-574
Franziska.Richter-Levin@mesago.com
Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH
Rotebuehlstraße 83 -85
70178 Stuttgart
Germany
Background information on Formnext
Formnext is the hub for Additive Manufacturing, industrial 3D Printing and the next generation of intelligent manufacturing solutions. In addition to the annual highlight, the expo in Frankfurt/Germany, we provide our clients worldwide with a variety of relevant updates, insights and events around Additive Manufacturing (AM) as well as the related technologies along the entire process chains. Formnext is organized by Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH (formnext.com).
Background information on Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH
Since 1982, Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH has specialized in creating B2B formats for specific technology topics. Having originally emerged from the trade fair and congress sector, the company now offers much more than internationally established technology events. Thanks to the consistent development of its portfolio, Mesago connects leading players worldwide through innovative platforms in the form of industry-specific technology hubs, available 24/7, 365 days a year. Alongside traditional expos and conferences, these hubs comprise digital events, in-depth knowledge formats, and comprehensive services that are tailored to the specific requirements of individual industries.
These hubs create a dynamic space for a timely exchange of information and technological innovation, providing a year-round flow of content. With a view to the ever-changing needs of trade communities, Mesago creates ideal conditions through its forward-looking formats, primarily to further develop an even more efficient global network and to ensure that it is always up to date with the latest developments. This is true to the company's motto: 'Connecting bright minds'.
As part of the Messe Frankfurt Group, Mesago employs around 170 people at its headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. (mesago.com)
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
www.messefrankfurt.com/background-information
Sustainability at Messe Frankfurt
www.messefrankfurt.com/sustainability-information
Background information on the Working Group Additive Manufacturing (Honorary Sponsor)
Within the Working Group Additive Manufacturing, about 200 companies and research institutes collaborate under the direction of the German industry federation VDMA. Here, plant engineers; component and material suppliers; industrial companies that work with metals and plastics; service providers in software, manufacturing, and processing; and numerous researchers all work toward the same goal: the industrialization of Additive Manufacturing techniques. (am.vdma.org)