Global aluminium industry gears up for ALUMINIUM 2026 in Düsseldorf with focus on recycling, innovation and demand

Four days to go, and the aluminium world is getting ready to move to Düsseldorf. From October 6-8, the city will host ALUMINIUM 2026, with more than 800 exhibitors and partners and over 21,000 trade visitors expected at Messe Düsseldorf. The event will bring together producers, recyclers, downstream manufacturers, technology providers, equipment suppliers, policymakers and end users from across the global aluminium value chain.

The 2026 edition comes at an important point for the aluminium industry. European producers are facing pressure from energy costs, international competition and tighter climate requirements, while concerns around raw material security and resilient supply chains continue to grow. At the same time, demand for aluminium is expanding across electric mobility, renewable energy, power infrastructure, aerospace, defence and digital infrastructure.

These shifts will shape many of the conversations taking place across the exhibition halls and conference stages.

ALUMINIUM 2026 brings the aluminium value chain together

ALUMINIUM Düsseldorf is one of the world's major trade fairs dedicated to the aluminium industry, covering the value chain from raw materials and primary aluminium to casting, rolling, extrusion, finishing, recycling, machinery and technology.

The official exhibitor directory lists 801 exhibitors, ranging from major aluminium producers and rolled-product companies to recyclers, equipment manufacturers, software providers and specialised SMEs and start-ups. Major companies participating include Alcoa, AMAG, Elval, Emirates Global Aluminium, Ma’aden, Norsk Hydro, Novelis, Rio Tinto, Speira and TRIMET.

The exhibition will also reflect aluminium's wide range of end-use markets, with companies serving automotive, aerospace, construction, defence, electronics and energy applications.

There will be dedicated Foundry, Primary, Surface, Magnesium and Sustainability Pavilions, while country and regional pavilions will provide representation from markets including Denmark and Norway, as well as the Aluminium Scandinavia Pavilion.

With such a broad mix of companies, the exhibition will offer a view of the industry at different stages - from primary production and processing equipment to recycling technologies and solutions designed for a more connected and lower-carbon aluminium value chain.

Europe’s aluminium competitiveness takes centre stage

Europe is expected to be one of the key themes at ALUMINIUM 2026. High energy costs, international competition, climate requirements and concerns over raw material access have put pressure on the region's producers and downstream manufacturers. At the same time, policymakers and industry are looking at ways to maintain manufacturing capacity and improve supply security.

The ALUMINIUM Conference, organised in cooperation with Aluminium Deutschland, will address markets, trade, industrial policy, raw material availability and resilient supply chains. Discussions will also examine aluminium demand from automotive, aerospace, defence, construction and packaging.

Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of North Rhine-Westphalia, is scheduled to open the conference on October 6 with a keynote on aluminium's role in European industrial and energy policy.

Another closely watched topic will be Arctial's proposed 600,000-tonne-per-year primary aluminium smelter in Finland. The project is planned to use fossil-free electricity and, if developed as proposed, would add new primary aluminium capacity to Europe after more than three decades without a new smelter.

The automotive supply chain will also come under the spotlight, with representatives from Novelis and Constellium discussing Europe's competitiveness as the sector deals with changing technologies, environmental requirements and international competition.

Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: "Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook"

Recycling will move further up the agenda

Recycling will have a stronger presence at the 2026 edition, with ALUMINIUM introducing a dedicated Sustainability & Recycling Conference in cooperation with CRU.

The programme will examine recycled aluminium, circularity, carbon reduction, resource efficiency and regulatory developments. A dedicated Sustainability & Recycling Area across Halls 5 and 6 will bring these subjects onto the exhibition floor.

Several exhibitors will present solutions addressing these challenges. Speira, for example, will showcase its speira.ID digital product passport for coils, designed to improve traceability and information sharing along the aluminium value chain.

From energy transition to AI: Where will demand come from?

Supply will not be the only focus at ALUMINIUM 2026. The event will also examine where the next wave of aluminium demand could emerge.

A session titled “Aluminium Demand – From Energy Transition to AI” will look at the potential impact of renewable energy investment and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure on aluminium demand and supply chains.

Aluminium already plays an important role in transport, electricity transmission and renewable energy infrastructure. Growing investment in power networks, data centres and other digital infrastructure could create additional demand.

At the same time, established markets such as automotive, aerospace, construction and packaging will continue to underpin consumption. Defence is also gaining greater attention as governments and manufacturers focus more closely on strategic supply chains and industrial security.

Read our latest magazine “ALuminium’s Frontline: OEM Edition 2026” and learn how OEMs are transforming critical aluminum applications across end-use sectors.

Innovation gets a new platform

Another addition to ALUMINIUM 2026 is the ALUMINIUM Innovation Awards, launched in partnership with the International Aluminium Journal.

The awards will recognise developments in sustainable and low-carbon manufacturing, technology and product innovation, and smart manufacturing, automation and connectivity.

The Women With Metal Awards will also take place during the event, recognising contributions from women and their supporters across the metals industry.

Key speakers to watch

The 2026 programme brings together speakers from aluminium producers, downstream companies, technology providers, research organisations, market intelligence firms, government and major end-user industries. The official speaker programme lists 54 speakers.

• Alison Lee, Senior Director Global Sustainability, Corporate Strategy, Novelis
• Bard Fiskum Lillestoel, VP Innovation & Technology Precision Tubing, Hydro
• Boris Kurth, Head of BU Can & Recycling, Speira
• Claudia Oeking, Head of Public Affairs Germany, Airbus Defence and Space
• Alex Christopher, Lead, Aluminium Long Term Service Analysis & Forecasts, CRU
• Alexey Pavlov, Senior Analyst, Aluminium Raw Materials, Analysis & Forecasts, CRU
• Alexis Skubich, Innovation Director – Rail & Automotive, Hydro Extrusions Europe.

Also, meet our team at Hall 6 | Booth 6M77 and join us for conversations around the technologies, people and ideas shaping the next chapter of the global aluminium value chain.