In recycling and machinery, major trade fairs are often where investment decisions take shape. For a processor planning to upgrade a line or add capacity, seeing machines running, comparing several suppliers on the same day and talking directly to engineering teams can achieve more than months of email. Many of these shows run only every two, three or four years, so the calendar needs planning well in advance.
The table below lists only events whose dates and venues we verified against the organisers' own sources. Dates can change, so always re-check the official website before booking travel.
Verified fair calendar (November 2026 – October 2028)
| Event | Dates | Venue | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecomondo 2026 | 3–6 November 2026 | Rimini Expo Centre, Italy | Circular economy, waste and recycling |
| ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026 | 20–24 November 2026 | National Exhibition and Convention Centre, Shanghai | Textile machinery |
| Plast Eurasia Istanbul 2026 | 2–5 December 2026 | TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center, Istanbul | Plastics industry |
| CHINAPLAS 2027 | 13–16 April 2027 | Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center (Bao'an), China | Plastics and rubber |
| Plastics Recycling Show Europe 2027 | 29–30 June 2027 | RAI, Amsterdam | Plastics recycling |
| ITMA 2027 | 16–22 September 2027 | Messegelände Hannover, Germany | Textile and garment technology, recycling |
| Techtextil and Texprocess | 4–7 April 2028 | Frankfurt, Germany | Technical textiles, nonwovens, textile processing |
| IFAT Munich 2028 | 29 May – 1 June 2028 | Munich, Germany | Water, waste and raw materials management |
| K 2028 | 18–25 October 2028 | Düsseldorf, Germany | Plastics and rubber |
Highlights
Coming up: Ecomondo, ITMA ASIA + CITME and Plast Eurasia
Ecomondo, organised by Italian Exhibition Group, focuses on the green and circular economy, with waste management and recycling technology at the core of its programme. ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026 in Shanghai in the second half of November will be, according to CEMATEX, the tenth combined edition of the two shows. The year's last big plastics event is Plast Eurasia Istanbul, organised by Tüyap and now in its 35th edition.
The main stop in 2027: ITMA
Held every four years in Europe, ITMA moves to Hannover in 2027. Under the sector plan the organiser published in August 2026, the show will fill 12 halls and more than 180,000 square metres, with recycling as a sector in its own right. Visitor registration is expected to open in March 2027. On the plastics side, CHINAPLAS 2027 takes place in Shenzhen in April, and the Plastics Recycling Show Europe in Amsterdam at the end of June.
Looking ahead to 2028: Techtextil, IFAT and K
Techtextil, the fair for technical textiles and nonwovens, returns to Frankfurt alongside Texprocess in April 2028. The biennial IFAT Munich holds its next edition in late May and early June 2028. K, held every three years in Düsseldorf, follows on 18–25 October 2028. According to Messe Düsseldorf's K 2028 announcement, the 2025 edition drew 3,246 exhibitors from 65 countries and around 169,000 trade visitors, and exhibitor registration for K 2028 opens in January 2027.
Which fair matters most for whom?
Textile waste processors: for companies handling fibre, yarn and fabric waste, ITMA 2027 is the key event. With recycling listed as a sector in its own right, it offers a chance to compare cutting, opening and sorting equipment under one roof. Those focused on Asian markets may also want to add ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026.
Plastics recyclers: the Plastics Recycling Show Europe and K 2028 are the natural choices for following developments in Europe, while Plast Eurasia Istanbul is the place to meet buyers and suppliers from Türkiye and neighbouring markets.
Waste management and municipal operators: Ecomondo and IFAT Munich offer a broader view across collection, sorting and plant investment.
Getting the most out of a fair visit
- Define the goal: are you building a new line or removing a bottleneck in an existing one? Your visit list should follow from that answer.
- Bring samples and data: material type, moisture and contamination levels, target particle or cut size and hourly throughput allow suppliers to give concrete answers.
- Don't overlook regional shows: regional events such as ITM in Istanbul are also valuable for meeting manufacturers in one place. Exhibitors at ITM, held at TÜYAP in June 2026, included Gaziantep-based recycling machinery maker Mıhçıoğlu; see the company's ITM 2026 Istanbul milestone.
- Book accommodation early: hotel prices and occupancy in host cities climb quickly during major fair weeks.
Conclusion
The next two years are busy for anyone investing in recycling and processing machinery. In the short term, Ecomondo, ITMA ASIA + CITME and Plast Eurasia stand out in November and December 2026; in the medium term, ITMA 2027 is the key date. With Techtextil, IFAT and K all falling in 2028, it makes sense to plan budgets and team schedules now. Add the table to your calendar, and keep checking each event's official website for updates.
