The world's leading nonwovens exhibition—Index26—closed in Geneva after four days, bringing together 625 exhibiting companies from 44 countries and recording 11,452 visits. The 2026 edition centred on the integration of environmental responsibility and technical performance, with carbon footprint reduction, circular design and PFAS-free protective textiles emerging as the defining priorities across the exhibition floor and seminar programme.
- The event drew an expanded international reach, with exhibitors spanning 44 countries and a strong mix of global decisionmakers and technical experts among those recorded as visiting.
- The sector's evolution from mass-produced disposable items to high-tech, durable and sustainable solutions was a central theme running through exhibitor presentations and professional events.
- High-performance protective textiles meeting new safety standardswithout the use of PFAS were among the developments presented across the four-day exhibition.
- Professional events were well attended, establishing the exhibition as a meeting place for decisionmakers and technical experts to share experience and advance industry discussions.
UNDER PRESSURE: The 2026 edition closed against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty that affected travel conditions and budgets across the global nonwovens community. Despite those pressures, the industry demonstrated a strong commitment to attend, with exhibitors presenting high-quality stands that reflected the sector's ambition. Held every three years at Palexpo in Geneva, the event reaffirmed its position as an indispensable meeting place for the global nonwovens community.
- Geopolitical pressures affected travel conditions and budgets for attendees, yet the industry demonstrated a strong commitment to attend, maintaining participation across all four days of the Geneva exhibition.
- Participants used the four days to reconnect with peers and advance discussions, with the exhibition described as a key opportunity for the young generation to discover innovations gathered under one roof.
- Exhibitors were credited by the exhibition's director for their engagement and continued commitment throughout the four-day event.
- Professional events were well attended throughout, drawing industry participants who came to share experience and passion for the nonwovens sector.
THEMES AND TAKEAWAYS: The 2026 edition placed technical innovation and environmental responsibility at the centre of exhibitor activity, with sustainability and performance presented as a unified mission running through the entire value chain. The seminar programme reinforced the message that competitive advantage now depends on going beyond regulatory compliance, with the edition's closing reflections pointing to global collaboration as the direction the industry is heading.
- Carbon footprint reduction has become the nonwovens industry's primary performance indicator, with exhibitors presenting the latest production technologies to increase throughput and produce finer fibres.
- New single-material recyclable structures replaced complex multi-layer constructions across product categories, with circular design identified as a major development focus across the exhibition floor.
- Exhibitors demonstrated advances spanning both performance and environmental targets, with production technologies drawing attention for their potential to reduce material weight and improve output.
- Numerous areas dedicated to innovation and technical demonstrations were featured across the exhibition floor, alongside a Women's Networking Breakfast introduced to build mentoring networks for the future of the community.
- The 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, with Geneva described as a place of discovery for current and future technologies.
WHAT THEY SAID
Despite the current geopolitical context, affecting travel conditions and budgets, the industry demonstrated a strong commitment to attend. Participants were keen to meet in person, reconnect with their peers and advance discussions… Exhibitors played a decisive role in the success of the edition, with high-quality, prestigious stands that reflected the strength and ambition of the sector.
— Magali Fakhry Dufresne
Director
INDEX
The INDEX26 seminar programme and products presentations showcased developments demonstrating how companies are achieving a competitive edge by going beyond regulatory compliance. It showed that it is vitally important for companies to adapt and be agile to successfully master new market challenges such as the Iranian and other crises.
— Pieter Meijer
Chairman
INDEX Advisory Board
INDEX26 had 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 INDEX29 (15-18 May 2029), to discuss the latest developments.
— Murat Dogru
General Manager
EDANA
