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The large trade fair is asking members of the industry to “save the date” ready for its next exhibition
Drupa, a global trade fair for printing technology, has confirmed that it is sticking to its four-year cycle and holding its next exhibition in May 2028.
Taking place once more in Düsseldorf, Germany, the event will be held between May 9th and 17th, 2028, which is two days shorter than the 2024 eleven-day show.
Wolfram N. Diener, chairman and chief executive officer of Messe Düsseldorf, comments: “Drupa 2024 was more international than ever, and the positive atmosphere throughout the halls reflected our industry’s determination to drive profound change in order to make the printing and packaging industries more sustainable through automation, artificial intelligence, and strategic partnerships.”
The 2024 event was eagerly awaited by the industry as drupa had not taken place for eight years prior, largely due to the pandemic.
The show previously reported visitors of 170,000, a significant drop since 2016 which stated a total of 260,000 visitors. Despite this drupa 2024 still attracted visitors from 174 countries with a large percentage of visitors visiting from Asia and America.
The 2024 show also led to the announcement of a partnership between PRINTING United and drupa which means the two organisations will be working together to reach more visitors throughout the globe.
The sharp decline in 2024 visitors did not come as a surprise to many in the industry due to the drastic changes that have taken place in the industry since 2016. Many print businesses have since merged, condensed, and diversified, as well as changed the way they attend live events.
Speaking about the 2024 show, Diener adds: “What was also apparent 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. That’s why we want to facilitate trade fair visits with maximum efficiency”.
Speaking about the change in duration for the event, Sabine Geldermann, director of drupa, adds: “We comprehensively and carefully analysed the recommendations of our drupa committee, the results of exhibitor and visitor surveys and feedback from partners and associations”,
“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.”
The organisation has confirmed that it will reveal the conceptual direction, key visuals, and ‘future claim’ of drupa 2028 next year. Drupa also has other events over the next year including Pack Print Plas Philippines this month as well as Printpack Alger in February 2025 and PRINT & DIGITAL CONVENTION in May 2025 in Düsseldorf.
