In line with its four-year cycle, drupa 2028 will take place in Düsseldorf in May 2028, this time as a nine-day event. After the feedback from exhibitors, the drupa committee and careful analysis of visitor surveys, it was decided to adjust the fair‘s duration to meet the evolving needs of the dynamic industry and provide a more focused, efficient experience for exhibitors and visitors. While the printing and packaging industry is undergoing a dynamic transformation that requires industry events to evolve as well, drupa, the world’s leading platform for printing technology, will again emphasise its importance and relevance in this sense. The conceptual direction, new key visual and future claim of drupa 2028 to be held from 9 to 17 May 2028 will be shared with the industry in 2025.
drupa 2028 will offer a full fair experience during 9 days
At this year’s drupa, 76 percent of visitors were part of top and middle management. Wolfram N. Diener, Chairman and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, said that drupa 2024 was more international than ever, and the positive atmosphere throughout the halls reflected the industry’s determination to drive profound change in order to make the printing and packaging industry more sustainable through automation, artificial intelligence and strategic partnerships. Diener explained; “And these are exactly the kind of important goals that will continue to require a reliable platform such as drupa in future. What was also apparent, however, was that, as a B2B trade fair with a very high proportion of decision-makers from all over the world, the length of stays at drupa has become shorter.” Diener said that’s why they want to facilitate trade fair visits with maximum efficiency and stated: “We believe that this adjustment is also confirmed by the experience we have gathered at our leading global trade fairs in the fields of machinery, plants and equipment, interpack and K, that address comparable customer profiles and do very well with a similar duration.”
There will be special presentations of cutting-edge technology and machines in operation as always at drupa 2028 as well. The new rules for trade fair duration will continue to allow exhibitors to effectively present and stage wide-ranging product portfolios, machines and workflows as well as an impressive stage programme.
Dr Andreas Pleßke, chairman of the drupa committee and CEO of Koenig & Bauer AG, emphasised the trade fair’s importance and is a supporter of the new duration. Disclosing that for Koenig & Bauer, drupa offers an unbeatable marketing format, as this year’s event has once again impressively demonstrated, Pleßke stated: “We expressly welcome the new trade fair duration starting in 2028, as it will meet changing industry requirements without limiting the international scope of the trade fair. This is also demonstrated by the fact that visitors from 173 countries attended drupa, emphasizing the global appeal of the event. No other format generates such a high level of interest from the industry.”
“Shortening the fair’s duration is a direct response to the industry’s desire”
Sabine Geldermann, Director of drupa said that they comprehensively and carefully analysed the recommendations of the drupa committee, the results of exhibitor and visitor surveys and feedback from partners and associations, stating: “Shortening the fair’s duration is a direct response to the industry’s desire for a more focused, efficient event that continues to provide international participants with a unique opportunity to discover groundbreaking innovations and technology.”
Other important global drupa dates are Pack Print Plas Philippines in October 2024, Printpack Alger in February 2025 and the PRINT & DIGITAL CONVENTION in May 2025 in Düsseldorf.