ALUMINIUM brings together producers, processors, end users and technology suppliers from across the entire value chain. In 2026, the trade fair takes place from 6 to 8 October at the Düsseldorf exhibition grounds under the motto „Sharing a Vision“.

More than 800 exhibitors and partners are expected, along with over 20,000 trade visitors from more than 100 countries, around 73% of whom are decision-makers, according to the organiser. The exhibitor line-up includes major international players as well as numerous highly specialised small and medium-sized companies and start-ups. Exhibition halls 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 (and, new this year, hall) 7a will showcase products and solutions spanning raw materials, primary production and recycling through to semi-finished and finished products, machinery, software and services. Hall 7a will be dedicated entirely to semi-finished products for the first time; it is also home to the established ALUMINIUM Conference.

Tried-and-tested formats are also making a return. The themed pavilions Foundry, Primary, Surface, Magnesium and Sustainability once again offer concentrated expertise and direct exchange with specialists from key application areas, just as in previous years. The Foundry pavilion, for example, provides a platform for foundries, furnace construction and heat treatment, while the Surface pavilion focuses on semi-finished products and surface treatment, with an emphasis on rolling technology.

The ALUMINIUM Conference takes place on 6 and 7 October alongside the trade fair. Across seven panels, it examines current developments in the industry, with a focus on future viability and innovation. The trade fair is organised by RX Deutschland GmbH.

Sustainability & Recycling

Sustainability runs through the entire 2026 event programme as a common thread. New to the programme is the Sustainability & Recycling Conference, featuring expert talks on the circular economy and low-carbon production. It is complemented by the Sustainability & Recycling Area, or Plaza, a dedicated exhibition zone with a showcase, pavilion and networking lounge presenting aluminium as a material for the circular economy. There is also a dedicated Start-up Plaza, as well as the Innovation Plaza for Additive Manufacturing & Digital Manufacturing.

Awards

For the first time, the trade fair, together with the International Aluminium Journal, is presenting the ALUMINIUM Innovation Awards. All ALUMINIUM 2026 exhibitors are eligible to enter, with submissions open to solutions that have been implemented, piloted, developed as a prototype or validated within the past 48 months. Awards are given for innovations in three categories: Sustainable & Low-Carbon Manufacturing, for developments that measurably reduce the environmental impact of aluminium production and processing; Technology & Product Innovation, for technologies or products that unlock new capabilities or applications; and Smart Manufacturing, Automation & Connectivity, for solutions that improve efficiency and decision-making through connected, automated processes. The submission phase ran from May, and in September the industry voted on the nominated entries. The award ceremony takes place on the second day of the fair, 7 October, on the conference stage in Hall 7a.

Following their debut in 2024, the Women with Metal Awards are also returning as part of the programme. They are organised in partnership with Women with Metal, the Aluminium Federation (ALFED) and Aluminium International Today. In 2026, six awards will be presented: Role Model, Future Leader, Unseen Impact, Sustainable & Innovative Leader, and Women with Metal Champion (Individual and Company).

Platform for the Industry

In terms of content, ALUMINIUM 2026 continues the sustainability course it set out on in 2024, reinforcing it with new formats such as the Sustainability & Recycling Conference and the newly launched Innovation Awards. For companies in the thermal processing and metals industries, the trade fair thus offers both a comprehensive showcase and a barometer of where the industry is heading in the years ahead.

Sources

• technik-einkauf.de: „ALUMINIUM 2026 in Düsseldorf: Tickets für die Weltleitmesse der Aluminiumindustrie“

• foundry-planet.de: „Richtungsentscheidend: Besucherregistrierung für die ALUMINIUM 2026 läuft an“

• ALUMINIUM Exhibition: Offizielle Seite zu den Innovation Awards

• ALUMINIUM Exhibition: „ALUMINIUM Innovation Awards 2026: Einreichungen ab sofort möglich“

• Aluminium Deutschland e. V.: Veranstaltungsseite zur ALUMINIUM 2026

• messen.de: „ALUMINIUM 2026 – Messe Düsseldorf“