By Alice Chambers |
Hannover Messe 2026 will take place from 20–24 April in Hannover, Germany, under the theme ‘Think tech forward’ to focus on how digital technologies are reshaping industrial production at scale.
The show will explore how AI, cloud, data and automation are moving from strategy plans into real-world industrial applications. Brazil, the partner country for 2026, will showcase its growing role in digitalisation, innovation and sustainability, highlighting how emerging markets are using technology to drive industrial competitiveness.
“This partnership represents a historic opportunity for the Brazilian industry to present to the world its innovative, sustainable and competitive potential,” said Jorge Viana, president of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency.
The event’s Center Stage programme will bring together 80 speakers from across industry, academia and politics to explore the technologies shaping the future of manufacturing. Confirmed speakers include Cedrik Neike, executive board member and CEO of Digital Industries at Siemens, who will demonstrate how AI is already delivering measurable gains in competitiveness, sustainability and resilience; Amy Webb, futurologist and CEO of the Future Today Institute, who will examine how AI, new data economies and global risk dynamics will influence industry over the next decade; and Julie Sweet, chair and CEO of Accenture, who will focus on why technologies such as AI, cloud and data only deliver lasting value when paired with innovation-led cultures and strong talent strategies.
The 2025 edition of Hannover Messe featured robots during the opening ceremony
Hannover Messe 2026 will also debut a new thematic and site concept, designed to make it easier for visitors to navigate the technologies driving industrial transformation. Three core exhibition areas – automation and digitalisation, energy and industrial infrastructure, and research and technology transfer – will connect solutions across the industrial value chain. Plus, a new Defense Production Area will provide a dedicated platform for manufacturers and suppliers involved in security-relevant production, reflecting growing demand for resilient and scalable industrial capabilities.
“Hannover Messe shows how AI, digitalisation and automation are making the factories of today and tomorrow more efficient, flexible and productive,” said Dr Jochen Köckler, chairman of the managing board of Deutsche Messe AG. “The new Defense Production Area offers visitors from the defence and security industry in particular a central location to learn about solutions for scaling their production safely and efficiently.”
More than 1,600 organisations will exhibit at the event, spanning mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and energy. Microsoft will be among the exhibitors, alongside key partners including Accenture, Dell Technologies, Infosys, NVIDIA, Schneider Electric and Siemens, offering attendees insight into how the Microsoft partner ecosystem is supporting industrial innovation through cloud, AI and data platforms.