On Course for interpack 2026

The countdown is on! Tickets are booked, bags are packed – interpack Director Thomas Dohse is setting off on a journey around the globe to meet with decision-makers, innovators, and visionaries of the processing and packaging industry, preparing them for the world’s leading trade fair in Düsseldorf. 

His first stops: the USA, Thailand, and Brazil, followed by further visits to international hotspots of the packaging sector. Anticipation for 2026 is running high – and interpack is more important than ever, emphasizes Dohse. “Against the backdrop of profound transformation in many areas, numerous topics are on the agenda – from AI and automation, new regulations, and the need for future skills to innovative materials. Now is the time to tackle these challenges together.” 

The trade fair, which will open its doors from 7 to 13 May, is therefore the must-attend event for the industry next year – a place to shape the future together, strengthen networks, and set new impulses. Around 2,800 exhibitors from more than 60 countries are currently preparing their brand presentations on the Rhine, ready to showcase their latest developments. 

Thomas Dohse’s world tour marks the official kick-off on this journey. And he is not traveling alone. Joining him are Markus Rustler (Managing Partner of Theegarten-Pactec GmbH), Christian Traumann (Managing Director of the Multivac Group), and Richard Clemens (Managing Director of the Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Associations at VDMA).  

Clemens also emphasizes the importance of the fair: “Especially in today’s dynamic market situation, a global summit like interpack is a key driver of innovation and therefore of particular value. Here, solutions are presented that help conserve resources, increase efficiency across processes, and secure long-term competitiveness along the entire value chain. Those who want to actively shape change need not only innovative technologies but also a strategically smart direction – because only then can the ecological and economic challenges be successfully mastered.”