This article was originally published in Technical Textiles Magazine, Issue 1, 2026 (English edition). Republished with permission. All rights reserved.
Nonwovens production has recently reverted to pre-pandemic levels in terms of weight, following 2 consecutive declines in previous years. His analysis highlights that while some sectors have faced contraction, others have demonstrated double-digit growth. These figures suggest that the Index 26 trade fair will be a vital forum for companies to calibrate their production processes against these shifting market segments.
From May 19–22, 2026, the Index 26 will take place in Geneva/ Switzerland. Owned by EDANA and organized in collaboration with Palexpo SA, the exhibition builds on a documented record of global participation, cross-sector representation and measurable business relevance demonstrated at previous editions.
The 14th Index 23 brought together 610 exhibiting companies from 42 countries, confirming a return to pre-pandemic participation levels. The exhibition recorded 12,017 on-site entries, with visitors originating from 103 countries worldwide, underlining the global reach of the event.
Exhibitor origin data illustrates the international balance of the nonwovens sector. Western Europe accounted for 43% of exhibitors at Index 23. When measured by occupied exhibition space, the leading exhibiting countries were Italy, Germany, Turkey, China, the United States, India and France, reflecting both European manufacturing strength and the globalization of nonwovens production and technology supply.
The exhibitor category breakdown shows broad representation across the nonwovens value chain, including nonwoven roll goods producers and suppliers, machinery and technology providers, raw material suppliers, converters and end-use solution providers etc.
The distribution of both exhibitor numbers and rented square meters by category demonstrates a structurally balanced exhibition. This configuration supports Index’s role as a neutral marketplace where upstream and downstream actors interact directly.
Survey data indicates that exhibitors’ primary motivations for participating included meeting new customers, maintaining relationships with existing clients, presenting products and innovations, and monitoring market trends. These motivations remained consistent with previous editions, suggesting continuity in how companies use INDEX™ strategically.
Overall exhibitor satisfaction with Index 23 reached 89%, with particularly strong ratings for: quality of visitors, opportunities for business development and international visibility.
Visitor data shows that the Index attracts professionals across a wide range of corporate functions. The most frequently cited departments were sales, corporate management, production, research and development, and purchasing, indicating that the exhibition is used for both operational sourcing and strategic evaluation.
Index 23 visitor surveys show strong multi-sector engagement. The main application sectors represented among visitors’ companies were: 46% hygiene products, 36% wipes, 27% medical and surgical applications, 23% packaging and 18% automotive applications (excl. carpets).
Multiple selections were possible, reflecting the diversified application portfolios of many nonwovens companies. This breadth reinforces the exhibition’s position as a cross-application platform rather than a narrowly focused sector event.
In terms of outcomes, satisfaction levels were particularly high: 93% were satisfied with opportunities to meet new suppliers, 96% were satisfied with opportunities to enhance their professional network, 97% were satisfied with opportunities to meet all levels of the value chain and 99% were satisfied with opportunities to meet current suppliers.
Outlook towards Index 26
Continuity indicators are particularly relevant for assessing the strategic weight of Index 26. At the exhibition in 2023, 60% of visitors were repeat attendees, while 40% were visiting for the first time. Importantly, 89% of surveyed visitors stated that they would “definitely” or “probably” attend the next edition, providing a strong data-based signal of sustained industry engagement. Against this quantitative backdrop, Index 26 enters its next edition with a well-documented foundation: global reach, balanced value chain representation, senior decision-maker participation and high satisfaction levels among both exhibitors and visitors. For professionals in the European and international nonwovens ecosystem, the exhibition functions as a structured environment for benchmarking technologies, assessing market direction and maintaining international business networks based on demonstrable industry participation rather than promotional claims.