April 20-24, 2026 - HANNOVER MESSE - AI as an Industrial Advantage
HANNOVER MESSE 2026 - The world's leading trade fair for the manufacturing industry welcomes 3,000 exhibitors and Brazil as guest of honor - Industrial AI and Robotics in Focus
HANNOVER MESSE - April 20-23, 2026, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. April 24, 2026, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (ENGLISH, PORTUGUÊS, FRANÇAIS, DEUTSCH)
Hanover. Today, Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., the opening ceremony of HANNOVER MESSE will take place in the city hall in Hanover's zoo district, more precisely in the Hanover Congress Center (HCC). This year's guest of honor at the major Hanover trade fair is Brazil. The trade fair will be officially opened this evening by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – a clear signal of the growing strategic importance of German-Brazilian relations. The opening ceremony program includes Belit Onay, Mayor of Hanover, and Dr. Gunther Kegel, President of the German Electrical and Digital Industries Association (ZVEI). During the ceremony, Dorothee Bär, Federal Minister for Research, Technology and Space, will present the HERMES AWARD 2026. This prestigious prize is awarded for outstanding industrial innovations; the three nominated companies for 2026 are Festo, Schaeffler, and Ziehl-Abegg. Further information: www.hannovermesse.de
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| HCC – Hannover Congress Center and Eilenriedehalle – venue for the
opening ceremony of Hannover Messe 2026, Photo: Helga Waess (press
photo) |
Automation and digitalization will be the focus of the world's leading trade fair in Hannover in 2026
Over 3,000 exhibitors will highlight the concrete benefits of artificial intelligence for manufacturing companies and present the latest components from the following areas:
- Automation systems & components
- IIoT, wireless & cloud
- Industrial software
- Industrial supply & design solutions
- IT/OT security
- AI in industry
- Production logistics
- Production technology for defense
- Robotics & assembly automation
Jochen Köckler, CEO of Deutsche Messe AG, emphasized to the press:
"Competitiveness arises where innovations are quickly put into practice... At HANNOVER MESSE, visitors will experience how to use AI productively and thus create added value." And in light of global challenges, Köckler sees industrial AI as a key driver for greater competitiveness. "It enables efficiency gains, higher productivity, targeted resource allocation and opens up new data-based business models."
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| Opening at the HCC: here the central building, the domed hall of the Hanover City Hall – left (opened in 1914) – and the Eilenriede Hall (right – opened in 1975). In the background (center) is the Congress Hotel am Stadtpark in Hanover – in the Zoo district, directly adjacent to the Eilenriede city forest. Photo: Helga Waess (Press photo April 2026) |
Industrial AI and Robotics in Focus
Global technology corporations, medium-sized industrial companies, research institutes, and startups are presenting concrete applications that are increasingly bringing AI and robotics into industrial practice.
For example, the company Agile Robots is demonstrating the potential of AI-driven robotics. The focus is on Agile ONE, a humanoid robot that understands its environment, makes independent decisions, and operates in real time in complex industrial scenarios.
SEW-EURODRIVE is presenting an AI-based chat function for automation: With the “Startup Agent,” machines and robots can be configured via dialogue and put into operation significantly faster. The AI used operates without traditional LLM approaches and is intended to offer European industry in particular an independent, practical solution.
Siemens demonstrates, using a flexible shoe production process as an example, how AI systems not only make recommendations but also take action. An autonomous packing robot and a humanoid robot independently perform tasks.
These examples illustrate that AI will play a role at almost every booth at the trade fair.
In the field of humanoid robotics alone, around 15 companies are presenting corresponding systems and demonstrating how quickly this technology is evolving from research into concrete industrial applications.
Center Stage with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Roland Busch, and Barack Obama
The new Center Stage will be the central hub of HANNOVER MESSE. Representatives from business, politics, and science will discuss the future of industry there.
- On Monday of the trade fair, leading industry representatives will join Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss how AI can be scaled for widespread industrial application. Among those participating are DAX board members Roland Busch (Siemens), Christian Klein (SAP), and Tim Höttges (Deutsche Telekom).
- Also on Monday, astronaut Alexander Gerst, Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer Society, and Research Minister Dorothee Bär will speak about Germany's high-tech agenda.
High-profile guests will also appear on the Center Stage on the other days of the trade fair:
- On Tuesday, Toto Wolff, Team Principal of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, will discuss innovations in Formula 1 and what industry can learn from them with Oliver Steil, CEO of TeamViewer.
- In the afternoon, CEOs such as Armin Papperger (Rheinmetall) and Michael Schöllhorn (Airbus Defence and Space), as well as representatives of the security architecture such as General Markus Laubenthal (NATO Military Strategic Headquarters), will speak about the consequences of the changing security policy situation for industry and defense.
- On Wednesday morning, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Chairman of Spitzberg Partners, and Gregor Gysi will record a live podcast entitled "The Energy Hunger of the Future – Industry, AI, and the Battle for Electricity."
- On Wednesday afternoon, the future of humanoid robotics will be discussed on the Center Stage with companies such as Microsoft, NVIDIA, Hexagon, Agile Robots, BMW, and Schaeffler.
- On Thursday, production managers from companies like Claas, Merck, and the sporting goods manufacturer ON will offer insights into their strategies for implementing automation and AI.
- Later in the day, Verena Pausder and Carsten Maschmeyer, among others, will discuss the success factors of innovation ecosystems with startups, and Barack Obama will appeal to young entrepreneurs in a video message to boldly shape the future.
- On Friday, leading futurologists, scientists, and business representatives will discuss how new technologies will change work, culture, and skills in the future.
- The event will conclude with a presentation by Philipp Lahm, former captain of the German national football team, on leadership, resilience, and goal orientation.
New Theme Area: Defense Production Park
In the new Defense Production Park, around 40 companies will demonstrate how modern production technology meets the requirements of safety-critical manufacturing while remaining highly scalable. Companies in the defense industry face similar challenges to other sectors – but due to the changing times, they must significantly expand their capacities in a very short period. This new exhibition theme focuses on how this can be achieved without compromising safety and quality.
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| Hanover City Hall – the dome is accessible by elevator, Photo: H. Waess (Archive) |
With top-level politics and partner country Brazil: Meeting point for European industrial policy and global partnerships
High-ranking political delegations from Europe and around the world are expected at HANNOVER MESSE in 2026. The focus will be on this year's partner country, Brazil. The trade fair will be officially opened by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – a clear signal of the growing strategic importance of German-Brazilian relations.
Particularly against the backdrop of the current geopolitical situation, Brazil – and with it, all of South America – is gaining further importance as a reliable trading and industrial partner for Germany and Europe. Diversified supply chains, access to raw materials, and joint industrial and climate projects are increasingly coming into focus.
In addition to international delegations, leading representatives from German politics and the EU Commission will also be present at the trade fair, including Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche, Federal Minister for Digital Affairs Karsten Wildberger, and Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius. Further high-ranking delegations from Europe, America, Asia, and Africa are expected, underscoring the global importance of HANNOVER MESSE for industry, technology, and geopolitical exchange.
“Cooperation with Brazil is more than trade – it is a strategic alliance,” emphasizes Köckler. “Especially in times of global tension, we must rely on dependable partners. HANNOVER MESSE offers the ideal platform for this.”
About HANNOVER MESSE
HANNOVER MESSE is the world's leading trade fair for the manufacturing industry. Around 3,000 exhibiting companies from the mechanical engineering, electrical and digital industries, and energy sectors gather there to present solutions for a competitive and sustainable industry. The main exhibition areas are Automation & Digitalization, Energy & Industrial Infrastructure, and Research & Technology Transfer. Artificial intelligence is a recurring theme throughout all exhibition areas.
A diverse conference program complements the exhibition. The next HANNOVER MESSE will be held in Hanover from April 20 to 24, 2026. Brazil is the partner country.
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| From Hanover Central Station, you can take the train directly to the Hanover Fairgrounds. Photo: H. Waess (Archive) |
HANNOVER MESSE - The World's Leading Trade Fair for the Manufacturing Industry
- April 20-23, 2026, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- April 24, 2026, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Hanover Fairgrounds - 30521 Hanover
Further information: www.hannovermesse.de
Information: Press release from the organizer
HANNOVER MESSE - Weltleitmesse für die produzierende Industrie
- 20.04.- 23.04.2026, 09:00 Uhr - 18:00 Uhr
- 24.04.2026, 09:00 Uhr - 15:00 Uhr
Ort Messegelände - 30521 Hannover
Weitere Informationen: www.hannovermesse.de
Informationen: Pressemeldung des Veranstalters
