FESPA to launch dedicated corrugated packaging and POS display event at FESPA 2026
FESPA is set to broaden its event portfolio by launching a dedicated exhibition and conference focused solely on the corrugated packaging and point of sale (POS) display production sectors. This event, named "Corrugated," will debut alongside the flagship Federation of European Screen Printers Associations Global Print Expo and its co-located shows, Personalisation Experience, European Sign Expo, and Textile, at the Fira Barcelona from 19 to 22 May 2026. The launch marks a significant expansion of FESPA’s normally print-centric offerings, reflecting growing industry interest in sustainable packaging solutions and innovative corrugated materials.
The new venture, developed in conjunction with Brunton Publications, a respected family-run leader in corrugated market publishing, aims to provide a 1,500 square metre platform where manufacturers of corrugated cardboard packaging and display solutions can meet suppliers of related materials, machinery, workflow software, and other technologies. According to FESPA’s announcement, the event is designed to attract a diverse audience, including printers focusing on POS and packaging, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), material suppliers, and leaders from small- to medium-sized box and sheet plants.
A headline feature of the Corrugated event will be a robust conference programme addressing critical topics shaping the future of the industry. These include new EU legislative frameworks such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), security issues pertinent to modern box production plants, and emerging opportunities brought by artificial intelligence. Additionally, the conference will explore the influence and support roles of national and international trade associations. Case studies will highlight brands and design agencies adopting corrugated packaging, often due to its sustainability advantages, a factor increasingly driving procurement and production strategies in the packaging sector.
Neil Felton, CEO of FESPA, emphasised the strategic rationale behind the launch, noting elevated interest in packaging and 3D display using corrugated materials at recent FESPA events. He described Corrugated as an "ideal environment for converters and display producers to explore fresh opportunities for growth and diversification," underscoring FESPA’s commitment to evolve alongside market trends. Supporting the initiative, Nick Kirby, Non-Executive Director at Zeus Packaging and newly appointed Corrugated Ambassador for FESPA, will help build ties within the global corrugated community and raise awareness of FESPA’s activities within that sector.
The Corrugated event complements another new launch, Textile, within the FESPA 2026 portfolio, which highlights technologies and materials transforming textile and garment printing, an area tied closely to FESPA’s established expertise. Together, these two additions, alongside the European Sign Expo, Personalisation Experience, and FESPA Global Print Expo, consolidate into an extensive multi-event gathering designed to serve a wide spectrum of speciality print and signage markets.
FESPA Global Print Expo 2026 itself anticipates drawing over 14,000 visitors and 550 exhibitors from more than 126 countries, further emphasising the scale and international reach of this consolidated event at Fira Barcelona, a venue with good transport links and well-regarded in the industry, having last hosted FESPA’s flagship show in 2012.
Overall, the introduction of Corrugated reflects the importance of corrugated packaging and POS display production as growth vectors within the print and packaging sectors. By offering a dedicated exhibition and conference, FESPA and Brunton Publications aim to create an essential meeting point for industry players seeking to navigate evolving regulatory landscapes, leverage new technologies such as AI, and capitalise on sustainability trends, an increasingly dominant force shaping packaging innovation today.