interpack 2026 Opens Its Doors to the Future of Packaging
interpack 2026 kicks off today, bringing the global packaging and processing industry together for a week of innovation, collaboration, and debate around the future of manufacturing.
With around 2,800 exhibitors expected to attend, this year’s event once again demonstrates the scale and influence of interpack across several sectors including: food and beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and consumer-packaged goods. But beyond the exhibition halls, the 2026 programme reflects an industry navigating rapid technological and regulatory change.
Three major themes dominate this year’s agenda: smart manufacturing, innovative materials, and future skills.
Smart manufacturing technologies such as automation and AI are expected to take centre stage as manufacturers look for ways to improve efficiency, resilience, and sustainability. From connected operations to intelligent systems, the exhibitors will explore both the opportunities and the practical challenges involved in digital transformation.
Sustainability will also remain firmly in focus, particularly around innovative materials and circularity. Discussions around fibre-based packaging, biobased materials, design-for-recycling, and the realities of scaling a circular economy are likely to shape many of the conversations taking place across the week.
Alongside technology and sustainability, interpack is also spotlighting the people behind the industry. The programme’s focus on future skills and attracting young talent reflects a growing recognition that the packaging sector’s long-term success depends just as much on workforce development as it does on innovation.
Among the companies demonstrating how these themes are being applied in practice is Rockwell Automation, which is showcasing a fully virtualized cookie production and packaging line developed alongside several OEM partners. The demonstration highlights how digital twins and AI-enabled systems can help manufacturers design and optimise operations before physical commissioning even begins; an example of how the industry is increasingly moving toward more connected, data-driven production environments.
If interpack 2026 is any indication, the future of packaging will be increasingly connected, collaborative, and circular. Find out more here: https://www.interpack.com/