Istanbul, Türkiye: The global textile industry converged in Istanbul as ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition officially opened its doors, bringing together more than 1,000 companies and company representatives from 59 countries alongside thousands of professional visitors from nearly 100 countries.
Held from June 9–13, 2026, at the Tüyap Fair and Congress Center, the exhibition has once again established itself as one of the world’s most influential platforms for textile technologies, innovation, and international business collaboration. Organized by Teknik Fuarcılık Inc. and Tüyap Tüm Fuarcılık Yapım A.Ş. in cooperation with TEMSAD, the event attracted significant interest from industry leaders, investors, trade associations, and manufacturers worldwide.
Global Textile Industry Gathers in Istanbul
The opening ceremony witnessed participation from prominent textile associations, industry unions, machinery manufacturers, and senior executives representing both local and international companies.
Speaking at the inauguration, Necip Güney, Chairman of Teknik Fuarcılık, highlighted the exhibition’s growing international significance and its role in shaping the future of textile manufacturing.
“Our ITM 2026 Exhibition, combined with our 30th anniversary celebrations, represents one of the most important gatherings for the textile technology industry. The strong international participation confirms Istanbul’s position as a strategic meeting point connecting Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Turkic Republics,” he said.
Global Launch Platform for Textile Technologies
Spanning 11 exhibition halls across an area of 110,000 square meters, ITM 2026 serves as a global launchpad for advanced textile machinery and production technologies.
The exhibition features innovations across the complete textile manufacturing value chain, including:
- Yarn production technologies
- Weaving and knitting machinery
- Dyeing and finishing systems
- Digital textile printing solutions
- Automation and smart factory technologies
- Sustainable manufacturing systems
- AI-powered production platforms
Exhibitors are showcasing high-efficiency machinery designed to reduce energy consumption, improve productivity, and support environmentally responsible manufacturing practices.
AI, Automation and Sustainability Drive Industry Transformation
One of the dominant themes at ITM 2026 is the growing integration of artificial intelligence, automation, and digitalization into textile manufacturing.
Visitors are exploring next-generation technologies including AI-enabled production systems, real-time monitoring solutions, data-driven factory management platforms, and intelligent automation designed to improve operational efficiency and product quality.
Sustainability also remains a key focus area as manufacturers increasingly seek solutions that reduce energy usage, water consumption, and carbon emissions while maintaining competitiveness in global markets.
Industry experts noted that the technologies showcased at ITM 2026 reflect the textile sector’s accelerating transition toward smarter, more sustainable production models.
Business Opportunities and Global Investments
Beyond technology demonstrations, ITM 2026 is serving as a major business networking and investment platform.
Thousands of B2B meetings are expected to take place throughout the five-day event, creating opportunities for machinery suppliers, textile producers, sourcing professionals, and investors to establish new partnerships and expand international market access.
The exhibition has attracted purchasing delegations and investors from major textile-producing countries including:
- India
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Uzbekistan
- Egypt
Organizers expect substantial business activity driven by large-scale machinery procurement and modernization projects across emerging textile markets.
Istanbul’s Strategic Advantage Boosts International Participation
Industry participants highlighted Istanbul’s strategic geographical location as a major factor behind the exhibition’s growing global appeal.
Easy access from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia, combined with simplified visa procedures for many countries, has significantly increased international participation.
Visitors from countries such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan are attending the event, reinforcing ITM’s role as a truly international textile business hub.
HIGHTEX 2026 Highlights Growth in Technical Textiles
Running alongside ITM 2026 is the HIGHTEX 2026 International Technical Textiles and Nonwoven Exhibition, Türkiye’s premier event dedicated to technical textiles and advanced nonwoven technologies.
The exhibition showcases innovations across sectors including:
- Medical textiles
- Hygiene products
- Protective clothing
- Filtration technologies
- Automotive textiles
- Geotextiles
- Composite materials
- Advanced nonwoven applications
HIGHTEX 2026 is providing manufacturers and investors with opportunities to explore emerging applications and growing demand across high-performance textile segments.
Outlook
With record participation, strong international representation, and a comprehensive showcase of advanced manufacturing technologies, ITM 2026 has reaffirmed its position as one of the world’s leading textile technology exhibitions.
As automation, digital transformation, sustainability, and smart manufacturing continue to reshape the industry, the event is expected to generate significant business opportunities while accelerating technological adoption across global textile markets.
The exhibition will continue through June 13, bringing together industry stakeholders focused on innovation, investment, and the future of textile production.