Techtextil North America Now Accepting Submissions for the 2026 Innovation Awards

Messe Frankfurt has opened submissions for the Techtextil North America 2026 Innovation Awards, the programme that recognises advances in materials, technologies, products and applications across the technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Entries are open to exhibitors at the 2026 edition, which takes place from 4 to 6 August at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Seven categories are open this year: New Concept, New Material, New Application, New Product, New Chemicals and Dyes, New Recycled Materials and Recycling Technologies, and New Production Technology, Digitalization and AI Solutions. The inclusion of dedicated categories for recycling technologies and for digitalisation and artificial intelligence reflects where the organiser sees the sector's development concentrating. Submissions will be reviewed by a jury of industry experts, and winners will be announced onsite during the event rather than in advance, keeping the award announcement as a show-floor moment. The awards form part of the show's programme of content features designed to surface new work from exhibiting companies and to give visitors a curated route through the innovations on display. Enquiries are handled by Kim Porter at Messe Frankfurt Inc.