EDANA, the international association for the nonwovens and related industries, announced its comprehensive 2026 calendar of events. This year, headlined by the return of the nonwovens exhibition INDEX26, will have a robust schedule of professional development courses designed to equip the workforce for a sustainable and innovative future.  

2026 EDANA Events:

INDEX26 (May 19-22 | Geneva, Switzerland): The flagship triennial gathering of the entire value chain. Taking place at Palexpo, INDEX26 will showcase the latest technological breakthroughs and facilitate unparalleled networking for over 12,000 professionals. In addition, the INDEX26 awards, one of the highest accolades that can be given to a company for achievement in the nonwovens and related industries, are open for application until January 30, 2026. 

IMPERVIUS (June 10–11 | Italy): IMPERVIUS is a two-day conference by the industry for the industry, specially aimed at professionals in the waterproofing bituminous membranes sectors. It is designed to offer great insights, best practices and information on market trends, regulatory and technical topics, environmental aspects as circular economy, as well as potential issues that could affect the whole supply chain.  

OUTLOOK 2026 (September 22–24 | Cascais, Portugal): Discover the latest market growth trends, opportunities, sustainability initiatives, innovations, technological advancements and regulatory updates across the diaper, wet wipe, femcare and incontinence product sectors. Inspirational speakers will be on stage to expand the audience’s perspectives by delivering thought-provoking speeches on the major global trends shaping the future.  

FILTREX India (October 7–8 | New Delhi, India): From challenges of mobility and air pollution control, to the opportunities and impact of new standards and regulations, FILTREX India offers in two days a unique series of presentations that reflect the dynamism of the whole filtration supply chain from media to finished products, testing and manufacturing equipment. 

Sustainability & Policy Forum (December 8-9 | Brussels, Belgium): EDANA’s year-end summit integrates the policy dimension as a key factor in developing effective sustainable solutions for the future of the nonwovens industry. It addresses key topics such as stakeholder expectations, circular economy, green claims, sustainability reporting and corporate due diligence, and provides an opportunity to learn, share knowledge and network on sustainability and policy issues.  

E-learning Opportunities

For several years, EDANA has heard a clear message from its members: e-learning is needed. The association is responding by evolving its course catalogue and becoming part of how professionals live and work today. E-learning means learning whenever and wherever people want, and at their own pace — a format that respects busy schedules and the value of time. It allows EDANA to reach those who cannot attend live courses and to engage newer generations through interactive, mobile-friendly content.  

This approach also makes training more practical: it works for lower budgets, scales easily for corporate training and onboarding and offers clearer, trackable ROI for B2B purchasers through team-level progress and performance data. All courses are accessible (WCAG-compliant) and written in clear English for a global audience.  

Developed in partnership with INDA as a joint initiative under the Global Nonwovens Alliance (GNA), the program brings together global expertise and sector relevance to support learning across the nonwovens community.

2026 Professional Development Courses: 

Nonwovens Introduction (Online): January 27 | May 28 | September 15. For newcomers to the industry or those who want to refresh their basics on nonwovens.

Nonwovens Essentials: March 3-5 (Brussels) | October 13–16 (Online). Designed for technical and commercial professionals who already have a robust foundation, this course delves into a comprehensive survey of the entire nonwovens value chain, covering raw materials, manufacturing processes and diverse market applications.  

Sustainability Introduction (Online): April 28. This briefing is specifically designed for professionals across the nonwovens value chain who are not sustainability specialists but whose roles are increasingly impacted by environmental mandates and market expectations.  

Nonwovens Advanced – Carding: March 18–19 | November 18–19 (CETI, France). This two-day advanced course focuses on understanding the various production parameters in nonwoven manufacturing and how these can be used to modify product properties in the area of carding. 

Nonwovens Advanced – Spunbond & Meltblown: March 25–26 | November 25–26 (CETI, France). This two-day advanced course focuses on understanding various production parameters in nonwoven manufacturing, and how these can be used to modify and tailor product properties in the areas of meltblown and spunbond technologies and applications.  

Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHPs): March 25–26 (Brussels) | November 3–6 (Online). This Absorbent Hygiene Products course will give attendees a unique overview of all aspects of hygiene products, processes and markets, with a focus on baby diapers, menstrual products and adult incontinence.