Drupa 2028 – Düsseldorf, Germany

What to expect

Drupa is the world’s leading trade fair for printing solutions and there is no other industry event that has such great international appeal as leading trade fair for printing technologies. Since first event in 1951, Drupa has been global stage for integrated printing technologies, automated production processes and industrial applications.

You can expect a nine-day focused, efficient event shortened from 11 days in response to industry’s desire for more focused, efficient event. The decision reflects confidence in international appeal, with need for face-to-face meetings, acquisition of new customers, and live presentation of running machines still existing.

The most recent edition in 2024 attracted 1,643 exhibitors from 50 countries and 170,000 trade visitors, with 1,427 exhibitors from 50 countries confirmed in latest figures, across more than 50 sessions in Drupa Cube covering issues including why printing is more important than ever in digital age, why customers not always perceive printed products as sustainable, and how you calculate carbon footprint. Previous peak in 2016 saw 1,828 exhibitors from 54 countries and 260,165 visitors from 183 countries.

Global printing platform: With around 80 percent international attendance on exhibitor side, Drupa occupies outstanding position by global standards.

International audience: Approximately 75 percent of executives, and half of them will have investment objectives, making endless networking opportunities.

Business momentum: With over 1,700 trade visitors, PRINT DIGITAL CONVENTION set new attendance record between Drupa cycles, underlining role as key meeting place for printing, brand and packaging community.

Event dates

Event Name: Drupa 2028 – Düsseldorf, Germany

Organizer: Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

Venue: Messe Düsseldorf, Stockumer Kirchstraße 61, 40474 Düsseldorf, Germany

Dates: May 09-17 2028

Duration: 9 days, shortened from 11 days

Cycle: Every 4 years, staying true to four-year cycle, inaugurated 1951

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm based on previous edition

Website: https://www.drupa.com/

Contact: +49 211 / 4560-01

Exhibitor Registration: Now open, registration deadline 31 October 2026, companies can register at www.drupa.com

Next Edition: Next Drupa from 9 to 17 May 2028, following 2024 outing which attracted 1,643 exhibitors and 170,000 trade visitors

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venue & exhibition site

Drupa takes place at Messe Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf Fairgrounds, one of world’s largest exhibition centres.

Exhibition Space: 158,200 sqm in 2016, 140,000 sqm net in recent edition with over 1500 exhibitors and net hall space more than 140,000 sqm, 19 exhibition halls historically.

Halls: 18 to 19 halls covering around 140,000 sqm, with 19 halls in 2016 and 18 halls in 2024.

First Event: 1951 with 270 exhibitors at that time, now expected 1,837 to 13,000 exhibitors based on estimates.

Global Appeal: World’s most important industry meeting place with 80 percent international exhibitors.

Outdoor Areas: Additional presentation areas for large machinery.

Full industry programme

Drupa programme includes special forums, guided tours, and Cube sessions.

Drupa Cube: More than 50 sessions covering why printing more important than ever in digital age, why customers not always perceive printed products as sustainable, how you calculate carbon footprint, with thought leadership.

Special Forums: Drupa touchpoint textile, packaging, and other touchpoints for details regarding programme, partners and speakers of each special forum at https://www.drupa.de/en/Program

Guided Tours: Trend topics in industry in compact explainers, tickets available from Drupa ticket shop, covering automation, sustainability, and digital transformation.

Print Digital Convention: Between Drupa cycles, PRINT DIGITAL CONVENTION set new attendance record with over 1,700 trade visitors, bringing together diverse perspectives from worlds of branding, technology, communication and production, offering lively and practical insight into latest industry developments.

Touchpoints: Dedicated areas for packaging, textile, and sustainability.

Featured companies & exhibitors

Approximately 1,837 exhibitors from 54 countries expected at Drupa 2028 Trade Fair, attracting diverse and global audience and making it critical event for businesses to participate in. In 2024, 1,427 exhibitors from 50 countries, in 2016 1,828 from 54 countries.

Machine Providers: Global leaders in printing equipment including offset, digital, flexo, gravure, and screen printing.

Technology Providers: Software and workflow specialists, automation, and Industry 4.0 solutions.

Brand Owners and Designers: Creative industry participants alongside machine providers.

International Nations: Strongest exhibiting nations include Germany, China, Italy, USA, Japan, and others with 80 percent international attendance.

Packaging Community: International print and packaging community across all industrial processes.

New Partners: New partners gaining new momentum alongside established exhibitors.

Industry sectors & technologies

Drupa covers all industrial processes from machine and technology providers to software and workflow specialists, brand owners, designers and creative industry.

Printing Technologies: Offset, digital, flexo, gravure, screen, and hybrid printing.

Packaging: Packaging printing and converting technologies.

Textile Printing: Touchpoint textile showcasing textile printing innovations.

3D Printing: Industrial applications of additive manufacturing.

Automation: Automated production processes and industrial applications.

Sustainability: Carbon footprint calculation, sustainable printed products, and circular economy.

Digital Age: Why printing more important than ever in digital age, bridging physical and digital.

Software and Workflow: Workflow automation, color management, and production software.

Products, machinery & innovations

Comprehensive range of products for printing industry with live presentation of running machines still existing as core need.

Printing Machinery: Large format, commercial, packaging, and industrial printing presses with live operation.

Finishing Equipment: Cutting, folding, binding, and embellishment systems.

Materials: Inks, substrates, and consumables with sustainable options.

Digital Solutions: Digital printing solutions, workflow software, and automation platforms.

Packaging Solutions: Integrated printing technologies for packaging production.

Textile Applications: Textile printing machinery and inks.

Sustainable Technologies: Technologies addressing why customers not always perceive printed products as sustainable and how to improve.

Innovation Launches: Many companies launching innovations to global public for first time at Drupa.

Demonstrations & technical presentations

Live demonstrations are hallmark with acquisition of new customers and live presentation of running machines still existing as core requirement.

Running Machinery Demos: Full production lines operating live at fair, from prepress to finishing.

Guided Tours: Trend topics in industry in compact explainers with tickets from Drupa ticket shop, covering sustainability, automation, and digital transformation.

Cube Sessions: Over 50 sessions with expert presentations on carbon footprint, sustainability, and future of printing.

Touchpoint Demonstrations: Live demonstrations in touchpoint textile, packaging, and other special areas.

Print Digital Convention Demos: Practical insight into latest industry developments with diverse perspectives.

Technical Presentations: Exhibitor presentations on integrated printing technologies and automated production processes.

Ticket types & registration

Tickets for Drupa available via online ticket shop with one, three and five-day tickets available. Tickets for guided tours available from Drupa ticket shop. For information on parking vouchers and local public transport tickets consult ticket shop.

Pricing for upcoming edition will be published later, therefore pricing from previous editions is used and converted to USD.

1-Day Ticket Online Regular: USD 65.00. Price EUR 60 regular online price, Monday to Friday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

1-Day Ticket Discounted: USD 50.00. Price EUR 46 discounted online price for members via PIAG.

3-Day Ticket Online Regular: USD 178.00. Price EUR 165 regular.

3-Day Ticket Discounted: USD 146.00. Price EUR 135 discounted.

5-Day Ticket Online Regular: USD 275.00. Price EUR 255 regular, entrance ticket 1-day EUR 60 or 5-day EUR 255.

5-Day Ticket Discounted: USD 243.00. Price EUR 225 discounted.

Parking and Public Transport Tickets: Available via ticket shop www.drupa.de/1130 and www.drupa.de/2130.

All tickets include access to special forums and Drupa Cube sessions.

Trade visitor & professional access

Drupa is open for trade visitors and visiting professionals, with international appeal as leading trade fair for printing technologies.

Visitor Profile: Trade visitors from 183 countries in 2016 with 260,165 visitors, 170,000 trade visitors in 2024, expected 260,000 in 2028.

Decision Makers: 75 percent executives, half with investment objectives, 80 percent international exhibitors.

Professional Categories: Machine and technology providers, software and workflow specialists, brand owners, designers, creative industry, printers, converters, and packaging producers.

B2B Focus: Pure trade fair with business platform focus.

Press: Extensive international media coverage with press department.

Exhibition halls & floor plan

Messe Düsseldorf offers 18 to 19 exhibition halls covering around 140,000 sqm net and 158,200 sqm total.

Hall Layout: 18 halls in 2024, 19 halls historically, assigned by product categories: printing technologies, packaging, textile, and finishing.

Exhibition Space: Over 140,000 sqm net hall space with over 1500 exhibitors at high booking level.

Floor Plan: Available online and in official app with searchable exhibitor database.

Interactive Hall Plan: Exhibitor and product database, interactive hall plan, Drupa app and other services available.

Outdoor Areas: Additional presentation areas for large machinery.

Business meetings & networking

Endless networking opportunities as it will have international audience comprising 75 percent executives, and half of them will have investment objectives.

Business Platform: Global printing and packaging industry relying on Drupa as business platform and world’s most important industry meeting place.

Matchmaking: Digital platform for pre-scheduled meetings between exhibitors and visitors.

Guided Tours: Networking during guided innovation tours with trend topics.

Cube Networking: Networking during Cube sessions with thought leaders.

Print Digital Convention Networking: Meeting place for printing, brand and packaging community between Drupa cycles.

Exhibitor Registration Networking: Companies from all over world can now register, creating opportunities for early networking.

Event rules & visitor information

Trade Visitors: Open for trade visitors from Tuesday to Sunday with specified hours, admission only for professionals.

Online Tickets: Tickets only available online via ticket shop, sent directly to smartphone.

Photography: Allowed for private use, commercial requires exhibitor permission.

App Usage: Drupa app free, providing hall plan, exhibitor database.

Code of Conduct: No harassment, follow staff instructions.

Safety: Follow safety instructions in halls with machinery.

Guided Tours Tickets: Separate tickets required for guided tours, available from ticket shop.

How to get there

Address: Messe Düsseldorf, Stockumer Kirchstraße 61, 40474 Düsseldorf, Germany.

By Train: Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof is main hub. From Hauptbahnhof take U-Bahn U78 or U79 to Messe Ost/Stockumer Kirchstraße, journey 15 minutes. Long-distance ICE trains connect Düsseldorf.

By Plane: Düsseldorf Airport DUS is 3 km away. Take bus 896 or taxi 5 minutes to Messe. Connected via SkyTrain.

By Car: Messe Düsseldorf near A44 motorway. Follow signs for Messe. Extensive parking areas.

By Bus: Bus lines 722, 896 stop at Messe.

Public transport & parking

Public Transport: Düsseldorf public transport Rheinbahn fully integrated. Messe Ost station directly at fairgrounds served by U78, U79 every 10 minutes during fair hours. For information on parking vouchers and local public transport tickets consult ticket shop www.drupa.de/1130.

U-Bahn: Lines U78, U79 to Messe Ost.

Bus and Tram: Integrated VRR and VRS networks.

Parking: Multi-storey car parks and open areas with capacity for thousands, fee approximately USD 24 per day. Parking vouchers available via ticket shop.

Shuttle: Free internal shuttle buses connect parking areas, entrances, and halls.

Taxi: Taxi ranks at all main entrances.

Accommodation areas

Düsseldorf fills during Drupa with 170,000 to 260,000 trade visitors from up to 183 countries and 1,643 to 1,828 exhibitors.

Messe Vicinity – Stockum and Lohausen: Hotels within walking distance to Messe Düsseldorf, ideal for exhibitors with machinery.

City Center – Altstadt and Stadtmitte: Business hotels with direct U-Bahn connection to Messe in 15 minutes, close to evening networking.

MedienHafen: Upscale hotels, 20 minutes by public transport, popular with international delegations.

Oberkassel: Trendy area with boutique hotels.

Airport Area: Hotels near Düsseldorf Airport.

Booking tip: Use official Messe Düsseldorf hotel booking service, choose refundable rates, and book at least 12 months in advance as booking status remains at high level.

Accessibility

Messe Düsseldorf is fully barrier-free.

Mobility: All halls on ground level with wide aisles, ramps, elevators, and accessible entrances. Wheelchairs available for free rental.

Assistance: Accessible toilets in all halls, guide system for visually impaired visitors.

Service: Disabled parking spaces close to entrances, accessible shuttle buses.

App Support: Official app helps find accessible routes and elevators.

Previous year’s highlights

Most recent edition in 2024 demonstrated importance and relevance as leading global trade fair and provided pioneering inspiration. It ran at Messe Düsseldorf from Tuesday 28 May to Friday 7 June 2024 across 18 halls covering around 140,000 sqm with 1,427 exhibitors from 50 countries.

Drupa Cube covered issues including why printing more important than ever in digital age, why customers not always perceive printed products as sustainable, and how you calculate carbon footprint across more than 50 sessions. Print Digital Convention 2026 set new attendance record with over 1,700 trade visitors as key meeting place for printing, brand and packaging community between Drupa cycles.

In 2016, peak attendance reached 260,165 from 183 countries with 1,828 participants from 54 countries, 158,200 sqm exhibition space and 19 halls. First in-person Drupa in eight years after pandemic gap.

Official tickets & registration

Only buy tickets via official shop at https://www.drupa.com/ to avoid counterfeit. Official tickets are digital with QR codes.

Ticket Shop: www.drupa.de/1130 and www.drupa.de/2130, tickets for guided tours available from Drupa ticket shop. For information on parking vouchers and local public transport tickets consult ticket shop.

Pricing in USD for orientation based on previous editions: 1-day regular USD 65.00, 1-day discounted USD 50.00, 3-day regular USD 178.00, 3-day discounted USD 146.00, 5-day regular USD 275.00, 5-day discounted USD 243.00. Ticket shop online at www.drupa.com.

Exhibitor Registration: Go-ahead for Drupa 2028, exhibitor registration now open, registration deadline 31 October 2026, companies can register at www.drupa.com.

Contact: +49 211 / 4560-01, www.drupa.com

Press: Press department for Drupa, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, Stockumer Kirchstraße 61