Metpack 2026, the world’s leading trade fair for metal packaging, opened at Messe Essen on 5 May 2026 with more than 350 exhibitors from 32 countries presenting innovations across the sector. The event runs until May 8.

Organizers said the exhibition has recorded a 15% increase in floor space compared to its previous edition. The fair spans the full metal packaging value chain, covering machinery, plant engineering, printing, coating, filling, sealing technologies and related services.

Participants range from global industrial players such as ArcelorMittal Europe and Belvac to specialized technology providers and niche innovators, according to organizers.

“This mix is exactly what makes Metpack so successful. The 15% increase in exhibition space underlines its importance,” said Christina Kleinpab, project manager of Metpack. “With ‘Talk in a Can’, we are also creating a platform where this very dynamic becomes visible – compact, international and in direct exchange with the industry.”

A new addition this edition is ‘Talk in a Can’, a forum format located within the exhibition halls. The platform features presentations, product demonstrations, panel discussions and podcasts intended to facilitate direct engagement between exhibitors, visitors and media.

The event will also host the Metpack Innovation Awards, with 26 entries from 22 applicants across ten countries being evaluated by an expert jury.

Alongside the exhibition, the Metpack Conference at the Congress Center West will offer technical sessions led by industry experts. Clarissa Odewald will deliver the opening keynote, becoming the first woman to do so. The conference program will address decarbonization strategies, emerging technologies and ongoing projects in metal packaging.