EDANA unveils the professional development and events 2026 calendar

EDANA, the international association for the nonwovens and related industries, is pleased to announce its comprehensive 2026 calendar. This year, headlined by the return of INDEX™26, the world’s premier nonwovens exhibition, will have a robust schedule of professional development courses designed to equip the workforce for a sustainable and innovative future.  

Brussels, Belgium, 14 January 2026 – EDANA, the international association for the nonwovens and related industries, is pleased to announce its comprehensive 2026 calendar. This year, headlined by the return of INDEX™26, the world’s premier nonwovens exhibition, will have a robust schedule of professional development courses designed to equip the workforce for a sustainable and innovative future.  

The industry’s global meeting points  

INDEX™26 (19–22 May | Geneva, Switzerland): The flagship triennial gathering of the entire value chain. Taking place at Palexpo, INDEX™26 will showcase the latest technological breakthroughs and facilitate unparalleled networking for over 12,000 professionals. In addition, the INDEX™26 awards, the highest accolade that can be given to a company for achievement in the nonwovens and related industries, are open for application until the 30 January 2026. Don’t miss your chance!  

IMPERVIUS™ (10–11 June | Italy): IMPERVIUS™ is a 2-day conference by the industry for the industry, specially aimed at professionals in the waterproofing bituminous membranes sectors. It is designed to offer great insights, best practices and information on market trends, regulatory and technical topics, environmental aspects as circular economy, as well as potential issues that could affect the whole supply chain.  

OUTLOOK™ 2026 (22–24 September | Cascais, Portugal): Discover the latest market growth trends, opportunities, sustainability initiatives, innovations, technological advancements, and regulatory updates across the diaper, wet wipe, femcare, and incontinence product sectors. Inspirational speakers will be on stage as well to expand the audience’s perspectives by delivering thought-provoking speeches on the major global trends shaping the future.  

FILTREX™ India (7–8 October | New Delhi, India): From challenges of mobility and air pollution control, to the opportunities and impact of new standards and regulations, FILTREX™ India offers in 2 days a unique series of presentations that reflect the dynamism of the whole filtration supply chain from media to finished products, testing and manufacturing equipment. 

Sustainability & Policy Forum (8–9 December | Brussels, Belgium): Our year-end summit integrates the policy dimension as a key factor in developing effective sustainable solutions for the future of the nonwovens industry. It addresses key topics such as stakeholder expectations, circular economy, green claims, sustainability reporting, and corporate due diligence, and provides an opportunity to learn, share knowledge, and network on sustainability and policy issues.  

Stay tuned! E-learning is on its way!  

For several years, EDANA has heard a clear message from its members: e-learning is needed. We are responding by evolving our course catalogue and becoming part of how professionals live and work today. E-learning means learning whenever and wherever people want, and at their own pace — a format that respects busy schedules and the value of time. It allows EDANA to reach those who cannot attend live courses and to engage newer generations through interactive, mobile-friendly content.  

This approach also makes training more practical: it works for lower budgets, scales easily for corporate training and onboarding, and offers clearer, trackable ROI for B2B purchasers through team-level progress and performance data. All courses are accessible (WCAG-compliant) and written in clear English for a global audience.  

Developed in partnership with INDA as a joint initiative under the Global Nonwovens Alliance (GNA), the programme brings together global expertise and sector relevance to support learning across the nonwovens community.

Advancing expertise: 2026 Professional Development courses 

Nonwovens Introduction (Online): 27 January | 28 May | 15 September. If you are a newcomer to the industry or want to refresh your basics on nonwovens, this course is tailored for you. 

Nonwovens Essentials: 3–5 March (Brussels) | 13–16 October (Online). Designed for technical and commercial professionals who already have a robust foundation, this course delves into a comprehensive survey of the entire nonwovens value chain, covering raw materials, manufacturing processes, and diverse market applications.  

Sustainability Introduction (Online): 28 April. This briefing is specifically designed for professionals across the nonwovens value chain who are not sustainability specialists but whose roles are increasingly impacted by environmental mandates and market expectations.  

Nonwovens Advanced – Carding: 18–19 March | 18–19 November (CETI, France). Go a step further with this 2-day advanced course to focus on understanding the various production parameters in nonwoven manufacturing, and how these can be used to modify product properties in the area of carding. 

Nonwovens Advanced – Spunbond & Meltblown: 25–26 March | 25–26 November (CETI, France). Go a step further with this 2-day advanced course to focus on understanding various production parameters in nonwoven manufacturing, and how these can be used to modify and tailor product properties in the areas of meltblown and spunbond technologies and applications.  

Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHPs): 25–26 March (Brussels) | 3–6 November (Online). This Absorbent Hygiene Products course will give you a unique overview of all aspects of hygiene products, processes and markets, with a focus on baby diapers, menstrual products and adult incontinence.