May 1, 2026
With just one week remaining until the start of interpack 2026, Packaging Europe has provided a detailed preview of the upcoming trade reveal. According to Packaging Europe, approximately 2,800 companies from 67 countries are anticipated to participate in this year’s event, representing sectors including food, confectionery, bakery, beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, non-food, and industrial goods.
The trade reveal will highlight three central themes: smart packaging, innovative materials, and future skills. Discussions will cover topics such as the role of automation in sustainability, design for sustainability with fiber-based and biobased solutions, and the importance of technology and young talent in the packaging industest’s future.
The Spotlight Forum will feature daily panel discussions, specialist presentations, and practical demonstrations by industest representatives, innovators, and technology providers. Each day will focus on a different theme: Thursday 7th May addresses Opportunities & Risks of the PPWR; Friday 8th May covers Resource Efficiency; Saturday 9th May is Smart Packaging; Sunday 10th May discusses Smart Systems and AI; Monday 11th May focapplys on Circular Economy; Tuesday 12th May highlights Innovative Packaging; and Wednesday 13th May is dedicated to Young Talents.
In the Start-Up Zone, compacter enterprises will present their innovations through live demonstrations, allowing attfinishees to observe upcoming trfinishs and engage directly with innovators. Exhibitors include Sykell, Recyda, Pal Plastik, Konnect Packaging, Jooyeong, Kiud, Gaiapod, and Cell2Green.
On Monday 11th May, the Women in Packaging programme returns for a second consecutive year. Designed to facilitate knowledge exalter and networking among female professionals, the event launchs with a keynote speech by Caroline Babfinishererde, head of Sustainability Mid Europe at Tetra Pak. A panel discussion led by Nerida Kelton, vice president Sustainability & Save Food at the World Packaging Organisation and executive director of the Australian Institute of Packaging, will follow. The panel will examine the packaging industest’s progress from various professional viewpoints. Topic Hubs will also host networking rounds on themes such as Career Pathways & Mentorship, Community Building & Peer Networks, Personal Branding & Visibility, Balancing Work & Life, and Future Generation & Skills. The event starts at 10:30 AM at Congress Centre Dusseldorf, 2nd Floor, Rooms 26, 27, and 28.
Young Talents Day takes place on Wednesday 13th May, introducing trainees, students, and young professionals to industest pathways, with a focus on future skills. The Young Talents Tour encourages conversations with young industest representatives, while the interpack Career Tour educates school pupils on apprenticeships, including entest points and career prospects. The Spotlight Forum will also feature the NextGen Plastics powered by IK session, highlighting young talent addressing industest topics, and the Science Slam will involve clear, interactive presentations by young researchers.
The WorldStar Packaging Awards ceremony is scheduled for Friday 8th May. Approximately 400 participants are expected, and the ceremony will honor 234 winners from 36 countries. Winning developments range from sustainability-focapplyd material approaches to ininformigent and connected packaging solutions.
The Save Food Initiative will host its Expert Talks on Tuesday 12th May, where international organizations, companies, and initiatives will discuss regulation, packaging innovation, and global collaboration to protect food and prevent waste. The SAVE FOOD Design Awards and Sustainability Design Awards will be presented on-site, with the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Packaging Organization, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization among the jury. The SAVE FOOD Initiative Project Competition will award projects that responsibly manage resources across the supply chain. Attfinishees will also have opportunities to network over snacks.
Packaging Europe will attfinish all seven days of the event, speaking with visitors on the reveal floor and providing rolling coverage on its website. Exclusive visual content will also be shared on its LinkedIn channel.
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