Key Takeaways

• INDEX 2026 is the world's largest nonwovens trade show, held every three years at Palexpo Geneva. The latest expo runs from 19–22 May 2026.
• Organised by EDANA, the INDEX event brings together over 600 exhibitors and 12,000 visitors from more than 100 countries across six core nonwoven sectors.
• The INDEX Innovation Awards 2026 recognise outstanding achievement across five categories, with nominees already announced.
• The Innovation Lab, seminars, and exhibitor product presentations make INDEX events a uniquely immersive experience beyond a standard trade floor.
• Elixrr Nonwovens will be exhibiting at Booth 1332. Register your visit now and book a meeting with our team before the show floor fills.

What Is INDEX 2026? An Overview of the Global Nonwovens Trade Show

Every three years, the global nonwovens industry converges on one city, one venue, and four days that set the agenda for everything that follows. INDEX 2026 is that moment. It is organised by EDANA, the international association representing the nonwovens and related industries. The INDEX trade show has been the defining platform for nonwoven innovation, partnership, and commercial opportunity since its first edition in Geneva in 1973.

What makes the INDEX event different from any other trade show in the materials sector is scale combined with specificity. This is not a broad manufacturing exhibition where nonwovens occupy one hall among dozens. INDEX 2026 is entirely nonwovens: every exhibitor, every seminar, every product presentation, every conversation on the show floor exists within this single industry. For professionals across hygiene, medical, filtration, automotive, geotextiles, and packaging, that focus is irreplaceable. 

The three-year cadence is intentional. It gives the industry time to develop and commercialise the innovations that will be showcased, rather than running an annual INDEX event on news that has yet to materialise. 

About EDANA: The Organisation Behind the INDEX Trade Show 

To understand why the INDEX trade show carries the weight it does, you need to understand its organiser: EDANA. Founded in 1971 and headquartered in Brussels, EDANA is the international association representing the global nonwovens and related industries. It is the industry's primary voice on regulation, standardisation, sustainability, and market intelligence. Murat Dogru, General Manager of EDANA, has described INDEX 26 as arriving “at a decisive moment for the nonwovens industry,” framing the event as a practical roadmap for converting market pressures relating to overcapacity, regulatory change, and sustainability mandates into growth opportunities. 

INDEX 2026 Geneva: Key Dates, Venue, and Getting There

INDEX 2026 Geneva runs from 19 to 22 May 2026 at Palexpo Geneva, Switzerland. For the nonwovens industry, index geneva 2026 is the most anticipated date on the professional calendar. Exhibition hours are 09:00–18:00 Tuesday through Thursday, closing at 16:00 on Friday 22 May.

Palexpo Geneva is one of Europe's most strategically located trade fair venues. Situated directly adjacent to Geneva International Airport, it offers what very few major exhibition centres can: you can land in Geneva and walk to the venue without a taxi or public transport. For an international event attracting visitors from over 100 countries, this proximity is a genuine operational advantage. The venue spans over 106,000 m² of total indoor space across multiple connected halls, with conference facilities, hospitality infrastructure, and direct access to the full range of Geneva's hotels and transport network.

Visitor registration is available through the official INDEX 2026 website. Early registration is strongly recommended as the INDEX trade show consistently attracts over 12,000 visitors and meeting schedules on the floor fill well in advance.

Who Should Attend INDEX 2026?

The visitor profile at an INDEX event reflects the full nonwovens value chain. Raw material and fibre suppliers, machinery and equipment manufacturers, web formation and bonding technology companies, converters, brand owners, and end-use sector buyers all attend. So do researchers, sustainability leads, procurement managers, product developers, and regulatory specialists, because the INDEX trade show is not only about buying and selling. It is about understanding where the industry is moving and who is leading it there.

Geographically, index geneva 2026 draws professionals from across Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, the Middle East, and India. For Indian exporters and manufacturers in particular, INDEX 2026 Geneva represents an unparalleled opportunity to engage directly with global buyers, assess competitive positioning and build professional relationships in person. 

If you work in hygiene, medical textiles, filtration, automotive, construction, agriculture, or packaging, and nonwoven materials are part of your supply chain or product specification process, then the INDEX trade show in Geneva belongs in your 2026 calendar. Visitor registration is available at the official INDEX 2026 website.

What to Expect at INDEX 2026 

The Six Core Exhibition Sectors

The INDEX event organises exhibitors and programming across six sectors: Filtration, Geotextiles and Civil Engineering, Medical and Infection Prevention, Transportation, Packaging, and Hygiene and Cleaning. Each sector attracts a distinct mix of exhibitors and buyers, but the show floor design allows cross-sector discovery.

The Innovation Lab

The Innovation Lab is one of the defining features of the INDEX event format. Rather than a supplementary exhibition area, it functions as a working demonstration space where attendees can explore the performance and sustainability properties of nonwovens through live testing, research poster presentations, and exhibitor product showcases. Everyday applications, from hygiene and medical to automotive and food packaging, are explored in a context that makes materials science tangible and relevant to industrial buyers.

Seminars and Tutorials

The seminar programme at INDEX 2026 covers the topics most actively shaping the industry: sustainability and biodegradable material development, smart nonwovens and functional textiles, filtration efficiency standards, infection prevention protocols, and circular economy approaches to nonwoven product design. Sessions are delivered by industry leaders, researchers, and regulatory bodies, and are accessible to all registered visitors.

INDEX Innovation Awards 2026: Recognising Excellence in Nonwovens

The INDEX Innovation Awards are one of the most anticipated features of every INDEX event. For INDEX™26, awards are presented across five categories: nonwoven roll goods, machinery innovation, sustainable products, sustainable processes, and raw materials or components innovation. Nominees across all five INDEX Innovation categories have already been announced ahead of May 2026.

Being named among the INDEX Innovation nominees is itself a significant industry signal. It places a company, product, or technology on the global stage at the moment the entire industry is watching. Winning an INDEX Innovation award carries a credibility that persists well beyond the INDEX event itself. For buyers evaluating suppliers and technologies, the awards shortlist is a practical tool: it tells you what the industry's own experts have identified as genuinely advancing the field.

The INDEX Innovation programme also directly benefits the Innovation Lab format: award nominees are showcased within that space, giving visitors direct access to the products and technologies the industry is recognising at index geneva 2026.

How INDEX Events Have Evolved — A Growing Global Platform

The INDEX trade show has grown consistently across every edition since 1973. INDEX 2023 featured 610 exhibiting firms from 43 countries across more than 50,000 m² of exhibition space, welcoming 12,017 visitors from over 100 countries — a significant step up from INDEX 2021, which hosted over 500 exhibitors and more than 9,300 on-site visitors alongside 1,000-plus on the virtual platform.

Looking at its history, the trajectory is consistent: every edition has expanded the footprint, the exhibitor count, and the geographic spread of visitors. The INDEX trade show is not simply repeating itself every three years; it is responding to where the industry has moved and what the global market now demands. 

For context on where the global nonwovens market stands heading into INDEX 2026, our global nonwoven market trends and growth outlook covers the key data points and demand signals shaping the industry.

Elixrr Nonwovens at INDEX 2026 — Visit Us at Booth 1332

Elixrr Nonwovens will exhibit at INDEX 2026, Booth 1332. We will be presenting our spunlace nonwoven range for personal care, medical, wipes, and hygiene applications, including our biodegradable and certified sustainable substrate options that meet FSC, PEFC, and ISO standards.

At Booth 1332, our team will be available to discuss product specifications, custom development requirements, and long-term supply partnerships across the sectors represented at this INDEX event. Whether you are sourcing a specific substrate for an existing product or exploring nonwoven options for a new development, bring your brief — that is exactly the kind of conversation we are there to have.

To understand what spunlace nonwoven delivers in your application, read our spunlace nonwoven fabric guide and explore the non woven fabric manufacturing process. You can also explore our full product range and application sectors ahead of the show.

Why INDEX 2026 Is the Nonwovens Event of the Year

The nonwovens industry does not stand still, and neither does INDEX. From its origins in 1973 to the projected scale of INDEX 2026 Geneva, this is an event that has grown precisely because it delivers something no other trade platform in the sector replicates: the entire nonwovens value chain, in one place, with the time and format to have the conversations that actually move business forward.

Whether you are visiting as a buyer, attending as a researcher, or exhibiting as a manufacturer, index geneva 2026 is where the industry's next chapter is written. We hope to be part of yours. Visit us at Booth 1332.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is INDEX 2026?

INDEX 2026, also known as INDEX™26, is the world's largest and most prestigious nonwovens trade show, organised by PALEXPO SA & EDANA. It brings together raw material suppliers, machinery manufacturers, converters, and brand owners from across the globe to showcase the latest innovations in nonwoven materials and technologies. The INDEX event takes place every three years in Geneva, Switzerland.

1. When and where is INDEX 2026?

INDEX 2026 takes place from 19 to 22 May 2026 at Palexpo Geneva, Switzerland. The venue is located directly adjacent to Geneva International Airport, making it highly accessible for international attendees.

3. Who organises the INDEX trade show?

The INDEX trade show is organised by PALEXPO SA & EDANA, the international association representing the global nonwovens and related industries. EDANA is headquartered in Brussels and has been organising INDEX events since 1973.

4. How often does the INDEX event take place?

The INDEX event is held every three years. Past editions include INDEX 2021 and INDEX 2023. The next edition, INDEX 2026, takes place in May at Palexpo Geneva.

5. What sectors does INDEX 2026 cover?

INDEX 2026 covers six core sectors: Filtration, Geotextiles and Civil Engineering, Medical and Infection Prevention, Transportation, Packaging, and Hygiene and Cleaning.

6. What are the INDEX Innovation Awards 2026?

The INDEX Innovation awards recognise outstanding innovation across five categories: nonwoven roll goods, machinery innovation, sustainable products, sustainable processes, and raw materials or components. Nominees for INDEX™26 have already been announced.

7. How do I register for INDEX 2026 Geneva?

Visitor registration is available at indexnonwovens.com. Early registration is recommended as the INDEX trade show attracts over 12,000 visitors from more than 100 countries.

8. What is the Innovation Lab at INDEX 2026?

The Innovation Lab is a dedicated space at the INDEX event featuring live testing, exhibitor product presentations, research poster displays, and everyday nonwoven application showcases across hygiene, medical, automotive, construction, and food and beverage sectors.

9. What is Palexpo Geneva?

Palexpo is Geneva's premier international exhibition and convention centre, located adjacent to Geneva Airport. It serves as the permanent home of the INDEX nonwovens trade show and is one of Europe's most accessible major trade fair venues.

10. How has the INDEX trade show grown over the years?

INDEX 2023 welcomed 12,017 visitors from over 100 countries and 610 exhibitors from 43 countries across 50,000-plus m² of exhibition space — up from over 500 exhibitors and 9,300 on-site visitors at INDEX 2021. INDEX 2026 is expected to maintain and build on this scale.

11. Will Elixrr Nonwovens be at INDEX 2026?

Yes. Elixrr Nonwovens will be exhibiting at Booth 1332, Palexpo Geneva, 19–22 May 2026. Visit us to discuss spunlace nonwoven specifications, sustainable substrate options, and custom development for personal care, medical, wipes, and hygiene applications. 

12. Is INDEX 2026 suitable for first-time visitors?

Yes. INDEX 2026 welcomes professionals at all levels, from global multinationals to start-ups and academic researchers. The Innovation Lab, seminars, and Innovation Awards provide a platform for new entrants to gain visibility and benchmark against the latest global standards.