The field of flexible and printed electronics is such a fascinating one, loaded with opportunities and new ideas that stretch the imagination. LOPEC 2026, which will be held at Messe Munich from Feb. 24-26, is the leading showcase for these technnologies.  

Held in conjunction with the OE-A and Messe Munich, LOPEC 2026 will highlight the latest advances in flexible and printed electronics, from sensors and wearables to photovoltaics, displays, in-mold electronics and much more. Attendees will also hear presentations on new applications, commercialization gains, technologies and research. Meanwhile,  the exhibition, which features more than 160 companies, will show the newest materials and equipment that are helping to make these advances possible.

Klaus Hecker, the OE-A’s managing director, reports that LOPEC continues to expand along with the industry.

“We are looking forward to a great LOPEC 2026,” Dr. Hecker says. “More than 160 international exhibitors signed up, similar to last year’s level. Also pre-registration numbers are promising and underlying LOPEC’s role as the world’s leading tradeshow and conference for our industry.”

Dr. Hecker notes that LOPEC 2026 will be exploring a variety of new topics, in addition to delving more deeply into subjects from past events.

“For example, sustainability, defense and AI are current topics in printed electronics,” he points out. “Sustainability is high on the agenda of the LOPEC Conference, with short courses on “Bio-Based Materials” and “Sustainable Printed Electronics”, as well as sessions on “Circular Economy and Green Electronics” and “Sustainable Processes, Materials and Sensors.”

“The LOPEC Roundtable on February 25 at 15:00 is dedicated to current challenges in the defense, aerospace and aviation sectors,” Dr. Hecker says. “At the OE-A booth, we show the products and projects of the OE-A Competition 2026. The Innovation Showcase, LOPEC Roundtable, and the Design@LOPEC workshop will be major magnets. Exhibitors will show the latest products from material, equipment and application sides.”

In addition, the new OE-A Roadmap for Flexible and Printed Electronics will be launched at LOPEC. It will be presented in the LOPEC Forum in Open Plenary Session on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 8.30 am.

Flexible and printed electronics are found in numerous fields, and Dr. Hecker says that LOPEC 2026 will examine a wide range of topics again this year.

“We will talk about defense, AI and sustainability, but of course, we have the two big themes, the LOPEC Focus Topics: smart living and mobility,’ Dr. Hecker observes. “Attendees can expect very practical sessions showing how printed electronics moves into real industrial use, from energy harvesting to new sensor systems and sustainable materials.”

In terms of recent developments, Dr. Hecker notes some intriguing ideas in healthcare and smart mobility.

“In healthcare, we are seeing more products increasingly entering more heavily regulated medical areas, such as biosensors for monitoring vital functions,” he reports. “In consumer electronics, larger, foldable, and rollable OLED displays are driving technological development forward; at the same time, new applications are emerging, such as curved user interfaces, which are becoming particularly popular in vehicle interiors.

“In the mobility sector, we are seeing a clear trend toward integrated, lightweight, and flexible electronic solutions, from sensor technology and OLED lighting to printed antennas and seat heating,” adds Dr. Hecker. “These developments are also increasingly affecting safety-related sectors such as aerospace.”

LOPEC 2026 at a Glance

LOPEC 2026 begins on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 9 a.m., starting with its Plenary Session. Conference chair Wolfgang Mildner will welcome attendees, with Salil Musale of Naxnova Technologies Pvt. Ltd. following with a talk on “Future Landscape for Flexible Printed Electronics in India.” 

LOPEC 2026 then breaks into two concurrent sessions. The first session features short courses on eight topics, including Bio-Based Materials, Slot-Die Process, Process Control, Integration of Sensors in Composites, Fuel Cell Technology Potential Applications, Printed Battery Technologies, Advanced Sensors for Energy, and Sustainable Printed Electronics.

The second session includes segments on End-User Applications and Requirements, Markets and Business Environment, Business and Product Developments, Business Insights, and a Panel Discussion on Recent Progress in the Evaluation and Realization of Business Model Innovations.

Wednesday, Feb. 25 starts at 8 am with a Plenary Session, featuring these talks:

• Dr. Klaus Hecker, OE0-A and VDMA – “Flexible and Printed Electronics – The New Roadmap”
• Wolfgang Mildner, MSWtech – “Highlights of LOPEC 2026”
• Dr. Markus Weber, AUMOVIO Germany GmbH – “Advanced Display Concepts for Automotive Products”
• Pete Valianatos, E Ink Corporation, and Felix Hake, Marquardt GmbH – “Where Software-Defined Vehicles Meet Printed Electronics”
• Markus Huuhtanen, Canatu Finland Oy – “Driving the Carbon Age: Printed CNT Electrochemical Sensing as a Platform for Novel Applications”

From there, LOPEC 2026 heads into three concurrent sessions. The first session, the Technical Conference, includes segments on Smart Textiles, Wearables, Healthcare, and Biomedical Applications, Circular Economy and Green Electronics, and Smart, Hybrid and 3D Structural Systems.

The second segment, Application Segment Mobility, includes sessions on Applications in Automotive, Rail, and Public Transportation Industries, User Interfaces, Displays and Lighting, and Energy Generation and Storage. The third session, the Scientific Conference, includes portions on Processes for Robotics and HMI, Scalable Processes, and Carbon and Metal-Based Materials.

The second day closes with the Poster Session and the Awards Show, both highlights of the annual gathering..

Thursday, Feb. 26 is the closing session for LOPEC 2026, and begins with a Plenary Session featuring talks by the following leaders:  

• Prof. Luisa Petti, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano – “From Skin to Leaf: Printed Sensors at the Interface of Living Systems”
• Florian Mertel, Microsoft Deutschland GmbH – “Printed Electronics in Action: Unlocking Business Value Across Industries”
• Prof. Dr. Qun Yan, Fuzhou University – “High-Resolution AMQLED and IJP-OLED New Milestones in Performance and Manufacturing“
• Juhani Kemppainen, Polar Electro Oy – “Ultra Low Power Wearables on the Path to Energy Autonomy – Powered by European Research Collaboration”

As is the case on Wednesday, LOPEC 2026 then moves into three concurrent sessions: the first session, the Technical Conference, Application Segment, which will focus on Smart Living, and Scientific Conference.

The Technical Conference includes segments on Upscaling Production and Manufacturing Processes; Functional Materials, Substrates, and Encapsulation; and AI in Printed Electronics and Digital Transformation.

The Application Session Smart Living includes the topics of Wearable and Sensor Products for Healthcare, Food and Safety Industry Applications; Bioelectronics and Environmental Sensors; and Physical Sensor Arrays. The Scientific Conference will cover Printed Devices and Circuits; Medical Sensors; and Sustainable Processes, Materials, and Sensors.

For more information on LOPEC 2026, visit www.lopec.com.