glasstec 2026: world-leading trade fair provides guidance for the future of the glass industry

Decarbonisation, Circular Economy as well as AI & Digital Technologies drive transformation in the glass sector. glasstec 2026 will highlight these developments in Düsseldorf from 20 to 23 October and bring the international industry together to network over solutions, innovations and investments. Even at this early point in time there are signs of high international attendance with leading glass industry companies from 48 countries announcing their participation.

The international glass sector in one place

glasstec brings together the stakeholders along the complete value chain, from glass production to glass processing and finishing to products and applications. Here, international market leaders and technology vendors meet with decision-makers from industry, mechanical engineering, skilled crafts, architecture and research. The world’s leading trade fair provides the ideal setting for directly comparing innovations and solutions, strengthening personal contacts and establishing new business relationships.

Tomorrow’s topics in focus

glass technology live (gtl) will also be among glasstec’s central “ports of call” once again in 2026. In cooperation with the technical universities of Delft, Darmstadt, Dresden and Bochum gtl will showcase research projects, technology developments and innovative applications that will pave the way for industrial implementation.

This special show demonstrates how current research translates into market-relevant solutions and highlights the impetus it provides for the future of the glass industry.

Accompanying programme provides guidance for the sector

The glasstec conference will feature an expert programme with an international focus. Experts from industry, science, research and practice will pick up on current trends, debate challenges and introduce potential solutions for the future of the glass industry.

The programme will include the glass trends sessions, CircuClarity Two, the architecture forum, GLASS MELTING POT, the Start-Up Sessions and "Handwerk Live” organised by the “Federal Association of Glazier Trades” (Bundesinnungsverband des Glaserhandwerks – BIV). A new programme feature is the networking format Women in Glass. Another debut will be the special show “sicher – innovativ – nachhaltig” (secure – innovative – sustainable) presented by glasstec jointly with ift Rosenheim, moving resilient and security-critical glass solutions for buildings and critical infrastructure centre stage.

Daniel Feische, Director of glasstec and the Glass Technologies Portfolio explains: “glasstec brings the international glass sector together precisely at a point in time where orientation and personal exchange are in particular demand.  Here innovations encounter concrete applications, research meets with practice and international decision-makers with new business partners. It is this combination that makes the world-leading trade fair the platform for investment decisions and the further development of the industry.”

glasstec – International Trade Fair for Glass Production, Processing and Products – will run from 20 to 23 October 2026 at Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre.

For the full accompanying programme of the glasstec conference, the exhibitor and product database as well as tickets go to www.glasstec.de . Visitors can already plan their visit to the trade fair right now: glasstec MyOrganizer

About glasstec

glasstec is the world-leading trade fair for glass production, finishing and products. Every two years it maps the entire value chain of the glass sector – from glass machinery construction and glass production to the glazier trade. From 20 to 23 October 2026, it will bring together decision-makers, market leaders and experts from the entire glass industry at Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre.

A programme of side events with an international focus links science with practice and addresses the industry’s key issues. The focus here is on the Hot Topics: Circularity, AI & Digital Technologies and Decarbonisation. These topics of tomorrow are discussed in conferences, forums and expert events where leading research, science and industry representatives share their approaches.