ALUMINIUM 2026 demonstrated the innovation and determination with which the aluminium industry is tackling today’s challenges. From 6 to 8 October 2026, more than 800 exhibitors and partners from 55 countries, together with 21,115 trade visitors from 105 countries, came together in Düsseldorf. In a time of profound change, the strong international participation once again highlighted the importance of collaboration and exchange across borders and throughout the value chain.
The world’s leading trade fair provided the ideal platform for exactly that: Across 80,000 square metres of exhibition space, companies and industry representatives from the entire value chain presented new products, technologies and solutions. The event was complemented by a comprehensive conference programme and new formats such as the inaugural ALUMINIUM Innovation Awards. The combination of exhibition, expert content and face-to-face exchange once again made ALUMINIUM 2026 the leading meeting place for the global aluminium industry.
Patrick Herman, Event Director of ALUMINIUM at organiser RX Global, welcomed the event’s success: “ALUMINIUM 2026 has been a tremendous success, bringing the global industry together with real energy and ambition. It has been inspiring to hear the conversations happening across the event and see new connections taking shape. The value of these three days will extend well beyond Düsseldorf and this point in time through the partnerships, investments and innovations that follow.”
An Industry in Transition Needs Dialogue
Security of energy and raw material supplies, growing international competition, new regulatory frameworks such as CBAM, the development of a functioning circular economy and skills shortages are creating an increasingly challenging environment for the aluminium industry worldwide. At the same time, aluminium continues to gain strategic importance through electrification, the energy transition and digital infrastructure.
Against this backdrop, ALUMINIUM demonstrated the importance of international exchange and collaboration across the entire value chain while showcasing the progress the industry has already made in more efficient production processes, new alloys, digital applications and advanced recycling solutions.
For Paul Voss, Director General of European Aluminium, this is one of the event’s greatest strengths: ”At a time when the aluminium industry is facing significant challenges, it is encouraging to see so many companies and industry experts from around the world coming together at ALUMINIUM 2026. The fair is a reminder of the strength of our industry, the expertise behind it and the innovation that continues despite a difficult operating environment. It is also an opportunity to have the conversations that matter, exchange experiences and learn from each other. European Aluminium is proud to be an official partner of an event that brings our industry together on this scale.”
Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia, described ALUMINIUM during the opening ceremony as a ”global showcase for industrial value creation, climate protection and technological sovereignty.” She sees particular opportunities for European industry in a stronger circular economy and the rapid expansion of renewable energy. In her view, the key is shaping this transformation together: “I believe Europe has a strong future ahead. However, this requires politics and industry to agree on a common objective and pursue that objective together, as united as possible and free from ideology.”
The Topics Shaping the Industry
The two conference stages at ALUMINIUM 2026 focused on the issues that matter most to the industry today.
The ALUMINIUM Conference, organised together with Aluminium Deutschland, provided strategic insights for decision-makers. Highlights included Arctial’s plans for a fossil-free aluminium smelter in Finland and a discussion featuring Novelis and Constellium on the competitiveness of the European automotive industry. Former Formula 1 strategist Neil Martin also explored how data-driven decision-making in motorsport can be applied to business and industry.
The Sustainability & Recycling Conference, organised jointly with market intelligence provider CRU, also delivered valuable insights. Topics such as the circular economy, supply chain transparency, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and sustainable production processes featured prominently throughout the programme.
The numerous presentations, panel discussions and debates made it clear that the aluminium industry is not simply reacting to change but actively shaping it. This was also reflected in two awards programmes that placed outstanding people and innovations in the spotlight.
Recognising Innovation and Commitment
Following their successful debut in 2024, the Women with Metal Awards returned to ALUMINIUM 2026. The awards play an important role in strengthening the future of the industry by recognising achievement and equal opportunity, while celebrating women who are helping shape the aluminium industry through expertise, commitment and leadership. At the same time, they honour companies actively supporting the advancement of women. More
than 70 nominations from around the world underlined the initiative’s growing international reach.
The world’s leading trade fair also introduced the ALUMINIUM Innovation Awards, creating a platform for the industry’s leading innovators. The awards highlighted technological developments in the categories of Sustainable & Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Technology & Product Innovation, and Smart Manufacturing, Automation & Connectivity. More than 70 submissions and over 9,700 public votes made the inaugural awards one of the most talked-about features of ALUMINIUM 2026 and demonstrated the global aluminium industry’s remarkable capacity for innovation.
Together, the two awards programmes highlighted what continues to define the sector: the courage to pursue new ideas, technical excellence and the people driving both forward.
An International Stage for the Technologies of Tomorrow
The ALUMINIUM 2026 exhibition covered everything from primary production and semi-finished products to plant engineering, surface technology, software and recycling. Dedicated thematic pavilions showcased expertise in foundry technology, primary aluminium production, surface treatment and magnesium, while the Sustainability & Recycling Area provided a platform for comparing solutions in decarbonisation and circularity.
The event also provided an international platform for concrete industrial projects. For example, SMS group showcased a compact strip casting plant developed together with Golden Aluminum, capable of processing high-recycled-content aluminium melt directly into hot-rolled coils. (I am not sure if this is technically correct but is a smoother way of saying it? molten aluminium with a high recycled content directly into hot-rolled coils.) The company also presented an extrusion press developed with ASAŞ, featuring a pressing force of 150 meganewtons and enabling the production of particularly large aluminium profiles.
Many exhibitors used ALUMINIUM 2026 to unveil new developments. Briganto introduced a new saw for processing offcuts, IMA Schelling presented an automated profile cut-to-length saw for the first time, Fill demonstrated a new machining centre in live operation, and ALIT Technologies unveiled a new module for supplying chemicals directly at the pretreatment line.
Major aluminium producers also highlighted their latest developments. Trimet presented a new automated scrap-sorting facility, Hydro showcased an alloy designed to improve extrusion efficiency as well as technologies for processing post-consumer scrap, while Speira focused on a digital product passport providing verified data for aluminium coils.
The Global Meeting Point for the Aluminium Industry
For many companies, the exhibition represents the most important opportunity to bring together customers, partners, suppliers and industry peers from around the world in one place. Numerous exhibitors highlighted the value of face-to-face meetings for developing new business relationships, strengthening partnerships and generating new ideas.
The event’s international reach was a key factor in its success. Among the strongest exhibiting nations were Germany, Spain, Turkey, France, UK, India, Italy, China, USA and Taiwan, while the largest visitor groups travelled to Düsseldorf from Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, China, Switzerland, Belgium, UAE, Bulgaria, Canada and USA. This gave ALUMINIUM a unique platform for exhibitors and visitors alike to connect with key markets, customers and partners from all relevant regions of the world.
“For us at Speira, ALUMINIUM is the most important trade fair and the place where we meet our customers and partners across the entire value chain. We can exchange ideas, and customers can speak directly with our experts,” explained Mareike Asma, Marketing Manager at Speira. She added: “We are one industry, working together on important topics such as decarbonisation, sustainability and transparency.”
Henning Flaig, Vice President Business Development & Commercial Excellence Extrusion Europe at Hydro Extrusions, also emphasised the importance of personal interaction:
“It is a very important meeting place and marketplace for the sector. It is the largest event of its kind in Europe and has become increasingly international in recent years. Building relationships is not something that happens over Teams. It is easier to develop new ideas when people come together and discuss topics face to face.”
SMS group GmbH used the event for benchmarking and innovation-focused discussions. “It is very important for us because we meet everyone in the industry here,” said Susanne Döpp, Vice President at SMS group GmbH. “We have already had very detailed discussions at our stand that directly addressed the challenges our customers are facing. That is exactly what this event is for.”
For Derin Akersoy, Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager at Assan Alüminyum, the event’s role is clear:
“ALUMINIUM is the global meeting point for the aluminium industry. All stakeholders are here, suppliers are here, customers are here. It is definitely a step forward in building the future of the industry.”
Shaping the Future Together
ALUMINIUM 2026 demonstrated that the aluminium industry is not merely analysing its challenges but actively working on solutions. Innovation, investment and new partnerships were as visible in Düsseldorf as the willingness to share knowledge and learn from one another.
Angelika El-Noshokaty, Director General of Aluminium Deutschland, commented:
“ALUMINIUM 2026 provided the perfect setting for exchanging ideas, sharing expertise and strengthening connections. Once again, the show demonstrated just how innovative and forward-looking our global industry is. My sincere thanks go to all exhibitors for joining us here in Germany and for making this edition such a success. I am already looking forward to ALUMINIUM 2028 and to continuing these inspiring conversations.”
With its unique combination of exhibition, conferences, networking and industry dialogue, ALUMINIUM 2026 once again confirmed its position as the leading international platform for the aluminium industry.
The next ALUMINIUM will take place in Düsseldorf from 26–28 September 2028.
