5.170 Visitors and 20% Growth Confirm Success of Expanded Show Concept
599 exhibitors, 5,170 trade visitors and an enthusiastic industry response: The Autumn 2026 edition of PERFORMANCE DAYS demonstrates the strength of a platform that successfully combines business, innovation, education and networking.
A record-breaking edition and a resounding success: PERFORMANCE DAYS concluded its Autumn 2026 event at Messe München with 5,170 trade visitors, representing an increase of approximately 20% compared to the previous autumn edition.
With 599 exhibitors and approximately 27,500 square meters of exhibition space, the October event marked the largest edition in the trade fair’s history.
The expansion across halls A4–A6 was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from exhibitors, visitors and industry partners alike. The additional space, expanded specialist forums and new interactive formats demonstrated that the PERFORMANCE DAYS concept continues to resonate strongly with the international functional textile industry.
Above all, the two-day event confirmed the strength of its unique combination: a highly focused business and sourcing platform complemented by forward-looking innovation, expert knowledge and valuable networking opportunities.
“The response to this edition has been outstanding. We took an important step by expanding the show, and the feedback from across the industry confirms that this was exactly the right direction. But growth alone is not our objective. What matters is creating an environment where the right people come together, where business happens and where ideas turn into real opportunities. This is what makes PERFORMANCE DAYS so valuable to our industry.”
Marco Weichert, CEO of PERFORMANCE DAYS
Expanded Show Concept Strikes a Chord with the Industry
The extended exhibition space created new opportunities for exhibitors while allowing PERFORMANCE DAYS to further develop its established forum concept.
New additions included the Cellulose Forum, Garment Tech Forum, Digital Design Journey and Sustainability Exchange, alongside established highlights such as the Trend Forum, Innovation Forum, Innovation Hub by Future Fabrics Expo, Bodywear Area, Wool Area and Creative Area.
Together, these specialist areas offered a comprehensive overview of the developments currently shaping the functional textile industry, from alternative fibers and innovative garment construction to digital design processes and circular business models.
Despite its continued growth, PERFORMANCE DAYS maintained the personal, welcoming and focused atmosphere that has become one of its defining characteristics.
Exhibitors particularly praised the quality of visitors, the efficiency of business meetings and the opportunity to connect with relevant decision-makers in a productive environment.
Sustainability Exchange: A New Hub for Industry Dialogue
One of the highlights of the expanded concept was the new Sustainability Exchange. Developed as an evolution of the established Sustainability Lounge, the dedicated area brought together solution providers, certification organizations and industry initiatives to address the growing complexity of sustainability requirements.
The integrated Sustainability Stage and accompanying workshops attracted strong interest, with discussions focusing on EU legislation, circularity, biodiversity, next-generation materials and the practical challenges of implementing more responsible business practices.
The new Repair Service, supported by YKK and Duraflex, provided a particularly tangible example of circularity in action, offering garment repairs directly at the fair and highlighting the growing importance of durability and repairability.
The positive response demonstrated that the industry is increasingly looking beyond theoretical discussions towards practical solutions, credible partnerships and actionable strategies.
Expert Talks: A Platform for the Issues Driving the Industry
The extensive education program once again proved to be a central element of PERFORMANCE DAYS.
Across the Expert Talks, Sustainability Stage and new Breakout Stage, industry specialists addressed the questions currently driving the textile sector.
Bio-based materials, fossil-free performance, circularity, regulatory developments and emerging technologies featured prominently in discussions that connected scientific progress with commercial realities.
A particular highlight was the Expert Talk “The Road to Fossil-Free Performance”, featuring Marco Weichert alongside Dominik Fuss of The Natural Laboratory and Satish Tailor of Vollebak.
The discussion explored the challenges and opportunities of reducing the industry’s dependence on fossil-based resources without compromising technical performance.
The strong interest in the conference and workshop program reinforced the role of PERFORMANCE DAYS as much more than a sourcing event: it is a platform where the industry comes together to exchange knowledge, challenge established approaches and explore solutions for the future.
Read More: PERFORMANCE DAYS Fabric Trends & Awards 2026 Innovation Takes Many Forms
Trend Forums and Innovation: From New Fibers to Market-Ready Solutions
Innovation remained at the heart of the event.
The Autumn 2026 Focus Topic, “Bio-Based Materials – From Fiber to Fabric / Part 1: Focus on Fibers”, provided a central theme for exploring renewable raw materials, alternative fiber technologies and their potential for functional textile applications.
The expanded Trend Forum landscape offered curated insights across apparel, accessories, footwear, bodywear and wool.
The new Cellulose Forum highlighted the growing relevance of cellulosic fibers, while the Garment Tech Forum placed greater emphasis on the technologies and processes transforming innovative materials into functional garments.
The Digital Design Journey demonstrated the creative and technological possibilities of digital product development, while the Innovation Forum and Innovation Hub by Future Fabrics Expo presented forward-looking solutions and emerging material concepts.
The PERFORMANCE DAYS Awards Ceremony was another highlight, recognizing outstanding developments in textile innovation.
FLYTEC received the Performance Award for FLYTEC DEFEND, a material featuring a microporous polypropylene membrane.
Together, the forums, awards and innovation areas reflected an industry undergoing transformation, driven by the need to combine high performance, responsible material choices and commercially viable solutions.
Industry Voices: The Right Audience, the Right Atmosphere
The positive feedback from exhibitors and media partners reflected the overall atmosphere of the event.
Duraflex, partner of the new Repair Service, particularly appreciated the fair’s clear target-group focus and welcoming environment:
“PERFORMANCE DAYS is currently the platform where suppliers in the textile industry simply need to be present. Why? Because despite its impressive growth, the show has remained a true business platform. This is not just a place for networking, this is where real business gets done, projects move forward, and new partnerships take shape.
At the same time, the various special areas, forums and expert talks provide valuable insights into the topics currently shaping our industry, from regulatory requirements and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to the Digital Product Passport (DPP). This combination of business opportunities, innovation and knowledge sharing is what makes PERFORMANCE DAYS so valuable. We are extremely satisfied with the outcome of the show.”
Jochen Schulz, Regional Senior Account Manager, Duraflex
Media partner EDM Publications also highlighted the potential of the platform:
“PERFORMANCE DAYS is a highly convincing platform with tremendous potential. The atmosphere is focused and pleasant, and the program covers all the topics currently moving the industry. It creates exactly the right environment for meaningful exchange.”
“The premiere of the Cellulose Forum was an overwhelming success for us. We had consistently excellent, in-depth conversations and experienced tremendous interest in cellulose-based materials. The new format truly captures the spirit of the times.
More and more brands are exploring natural and renewable fibers, looking for innovative, high-performance material alternatives. The Cellulose Forum provides the ideal platform to showcase these solutions and encourage direct exchange between suppliers and brands. With this concept, PERFORMANCE DAYS is definitely heading in the right direction.”
Niccy Kol, Raddis Cotton
These impressions underline the central strength of PERFORMANCE DAYS: bringing together the right people, relevant innovations and future-oriented discussions in an atmosphere that encourages both business and collaboration.
With record attendance, strong exhibitor participation and an overwhelmingly positive response to its expanded concept, PERFORMANCE DAYS has further strengthened its position as a leading international sourcing and innovation platform for the functional textile industry.
“The success of this edition shows that our approach works. The industry needs a place where business, innovation and knowledge come together, but where personal exchange remains at the center,” concludes Marco Weichert. “We will continue to develop PERFORMANCE DAYS together with our community, always with the ambition to create real value for everyone involved.”
The next PERFORMANCE DAYS Munich will take place on March 17–18, 2027, continuing the Focus Topic “Bio-Based Materials – From Fiber to Fabric” with Part 2.
The Spring edition will shift the perspective toward dyeing, finishing, additives and processing technologies.
