The 21st edition of Packaging Innovations & Empack has reportedly attracted 8,021 unique visitors this year, an 8% increase on the previous year’s record numbers. The annual UK exhibition sees the packaging and associated industries come together to explore new solutions, discover future trends, and connect with like-minded professionals. This year’s exhibition featured over 500 exhibitors, a step up on last year’s figures of just over 450. Packaging Innovations & Empack 2027 will expand into Halls 6 to 9 of the NEC Birmingham next year, in response to what the event's organiser, Easyfairs, described as “record-breaking growth” and “overwhelming acclaim." The 2027 event will take place on February 24th and 25th, 2027. This year’s event featured four dedicated stages for expert speakers, with over 120 professionals hosting talks examining the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of packaging. Industry leaders including Pack UK, Exchange for Change, Nestlé, Recoup, GS1 UK, WRAP, Terracycle, Biffa, McKinsey, and Material Connexion all hosted talks, with insights on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), the upcoming UK deposit return scheme, and the importance of system-wide coordination to make recyclability and circularity a reality. The exhibition also presented ten new show features for 2026 including a showcase from Material ConneXion about “the materials of tomorrow,” the first-ever UK exhibition appearance of the ‘Museum of Failure’, and a dedicated Automation and Robotics Zone. Also on show was new hardware from International Graphic Supplies (IGS), which had a particularly busy stand due to printers and packaging suppliers wanting to provide more short-run packaging. The equipment displayed was a new specialised Suction Feeder for the Cobalt SP800 single-pass printer and the new Titanium IL-330 digital label finisher. The new Suction Feeder for the Cobalt SP800 has been developed in response to what IGS sees as a surging demand for automation in short-run and direct-to-packaging printing. While previous configurations relied on friction feeding, the new suction system enables more seamless handling of a wide range of substrates including porous materials such as napkins, varying board thicknesses, and delicate bags prone to marking. The event hosted over 500 exhibitors and over 120 expert speakers this year Another “record-breaking” year for Packaging Innovations By Jonathan Pert The Federation of European Screen Printers Associations (FESPA) has announced that WrapFest 2026 will move from its standalone UK format at Silverstone Race Circuit, instead taking place as part of the upcoming FESPA 2026 at the Fira Barcelona from May 19th to 22nd. Designed as a hub for the vehicle wrapping and customisation community, Wrapfest describes itself on its website as “the ultimate festival for wrapping, tinting, PPF, and detailing.” After two UK editions in 2023 and 2024, WrapFest will now run alongside FESPA Global Print Expo and its co-located events, European Sign Expo, and Personalisation Experience, as well as the new Corrugated and Textile events. In the words of FESPA: “The strategic move brings the wrap, vinyl, PPF, window tint, architectural interior, and detailing industries closer to the heart of the action – and the wider speciality print industry – than ever before.” Confirmed WrapFest exhibitors for 2026 include 3M, APA, Antalis, Arlon, Hexis, LX Hausys, GSWF, Legend PPF, and SOIF. Visitors to WrapFest 2026 will also get to experience World Wrap Masters Europe and series final competitions. Over the first two days of the event, World Wrap Masters Europe will see regional competitions, during which vehicle wrappers from across Europe will go head-to-head to wrap a variety of special objects and vehicles. On days three and four of the event, regional champions will battle to be crowned World Wrap Masters 2026 champion in the finals of the global series. Visitors to WrapFest can also attend a series of live wrapping demonstrations with industry experts, as well a dedicated conference programme. Duncan MacOwan, head of marketing and events at FESPA, says: “Although WrapFest has built real momentum in the UK, by integrating it into FESPA 2026, we’re giving the global wrap community a bigger stage and a far more international platform. “The show at Barcelona will allow us to connect wrap installers, brands, and suppliers with a much wider audience. The result will be more energy, more knowledge-sharing, and more opportunities for our visitors and exhibitors to learn, compete, and make crucial connections – all under one roof.” WrapFest to join FESPA Global Print Expo By Jonathan Pert EVENTS | NEWS The strategic integration aims to transition WrapFest from a standalone UK-based show into a larger global platform 20 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk March | April 2026 - Issue 359 printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine printmonthly_signlink
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