From November 24 to 26, SPS Smart Production Solutions 2026 will provide an overview of the latest developments in industrial automation. Spread across 15 halls will be solutions in sensor technology, drive technology, industrial communication, and software, as well as systems for the digital factory. As in the previous year, the organizers expect around 1,175 exhibitors from 40 countries. SPS 2026 is celebrating an anniversary, as it marks the 35th edition of the event. “Thirty-five years - it’s remarkable that a trade show has achieved such a success story,” says Sylke Schulz-Metzner, Vice President of SPS at Mesago Messe Frankfurt.
Last year, around 56,000 visitors came to Nuremberg, nearly 30 percent of whom were from abroad. Compared to the previous event, this represented an eight percent increase in attendance. The organizers also drew a positive conclusion regarding visitor satisfaction: 98 percent of the visitors surveyed were satisfied with their visit to the trade show. In addition to the event’s size, Schulz-Metzner particularly highlights its role in transferring new technologies into industrial practice: “For many years, SPS has been the place where technological developments become visible before they become widely established in industry. The trade show not only highlights trends but also allows visitors to experience them firsthand and facilitates exchange between suppliers, users, and innovation partners.”
SPS 2026 once again highlights industrial AI
One focus is on the increasing use of artificial intelligence in industrial processes. Applications will be showcased not only as development topics but also through concrete use cases in production. For example, industrial AI can support engineering, analyze production data, assist with quality assurance processes, or be used to optimize machines and systems. At the trade show, exhibitors will demonstrate how such applications are already being integrated into industrial automation solutions. Steffen Winkler, CSO of the Automation Business Unit at Bosch Rexroth and Chair of the SPS Exhibitor Advisory Board, sees AI, software-based solutions, and open systems in particular as drivers of current developments. For the first time, visitors will be able to experience real-world applications of Industrial AI in practice. For companies, this increasingly raises the question of which technologies are already suitable for industrial use and what measurable benefits they generate.
Software-Defined Industry bridges IT and OT
Alongside Industrial AI, Software-Defined Industry is another key focus area. In this context, functions are increasingly shifting from rigidly defined, hardware-centric structures to software-based architectures. This is intended to make production systems more flexible in terms of adaptation, connectivity, and scalability. “The future of productivity will be data- and software-driven,” says Gunther Koschnick, ZVEI Head of the Industry Division. “In the future, industrial AI will be able to analyze and help control entire value chains. The long-term vision: machines will independently find the most efficient path to a specific production goal.”
Smartfactory-KL demonstrates how such concepts can be implemented in the Software-Defined Industry Area in Hall 6. The focus is on a model factory where solutions tested in collaboration with industry partners are demonstrated using a production process. Daily guided tours round out the offerings. Marco Wanner, Head of IT/OT Solutions at Xitaso and a member of the Smartfactory-KL board, emphasizes the connection between these two worlds: “For us at Smartfactory, Software Defined Industry doesn’t mean simply equipping existing machines with more software, but rather connecting IT and OT into a seamless system. This creates production systems that can be adapted more flexibly and quickly to new requirements.”
SPS 2026 showcases industrial 5G applications
Industrial communication will also be explored through concrete applications. The 5G Alliance for Connected Industries and Automation (5G-ACIA) organizes daily guided tours to member companies such as Siemens, Phoenix Contact, Fraunhofer, and Ericsson. The focus is on use cases and communication solutions for industry. In addition, the 5G-ACIA DemoWall showcases technical approaches and application scenarios for the industrial use of 5G.
Four stages address current automation topics
The lecture program is spread across four stages in exhibition halls 1, 3C, and 6. This includes the Technology Stage organized by VDMA and ZVEI in Hall 3. Industry experts will discuss technological developments and real-world industrial applications there. Presentation topics at SPS 2026 include: The program thus complements the applications and products on display at the booths with technical discussions and background information.
- Industrial AI
- Industrial Communication
- Cybersecurity
- Safety
- Digital Transformation
- Intelligent Controls and Visualization
- Sensors, Drives
- Robots in Automation
- Sustainable Production Concepts.
SPS 2026 combines automation and IT
In Hall 6, the “Automation meets IT” area combines classic automation technology with information technology solutions. The offering is complemented by an international startup area and the “young INNOVATORS” joint booth, sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The next generation of technical talent is also part of the trade show program. At the SPS Makeathon, participants can gain hands-on experience with automation technologies. The event is supported by ITQ, New Automation, NürnbergMesse, and participating exhibitors. Additional offerings are aimed at high school students, college students, apprentices, and young professionals.
In this way, SPS is marking its 35th anniversary by highlighting several technologies that are currently shaping the transformation of industrial automation. Particular emphasis is placed on the transition from AI pilot projects to industrial applications, software-based production concepts, and the increased integration of IT and OT.
Positive developments for the automation industry
SPS 2026 is taking place against the backdrop of recent positive revenue growth in the automation industry in Germany. According to data from the German Federal Statistical Office and the ZVEI, revenue in the German automation industry rose by 1.7 percent to 60 billion euros in 2025. In the first half of 2026, revenue was 6.4 percent higher than in the same period the previous year. As of the end of June, approximately 250,000 people were employed in the industry. The European Union remains the most important sales market, accounting for 45 percent of total exports. In the mechanical engineering sector, however, employment trends were more subdued: In May 2026, approximately 979,000 people were employed in companies with more than 50 employees, 2.8 percent fewer than in the previous year. At the same time, the Ifo Business Climate Index for mechanical engineering improved in July and was only slightly in negative territory. Expectations for the coming six months turned positive again. Digitalization, electrification, and automation continue to be seen as key growth drivers for industrial development.
During the press conference, Steffen Winkler noted that, in his view, the German machinery and plant engineering sector is unlikely to rebound with the same strength due to the global competitive landscape. Flexibility is therefore essential. Current growth markets can be found in the semiconductor industry, the defense sector, and the fields of infrastructure and energy technology. Automation specialists see light at the end of the tunnel, even as markets shift. He emphasizes that companies should pursue new markets for future growth, whether in terms of other industries, technologies, or regions.
