From March 24 to 27, 2026, analytica will once again bring the international testing industry together in Munich. Susanne Grödl, exhibition director at Analytica, reveals what visitors to the world’s leading trade fair for laboratory technology, analysis and biotechnology and the Analytica conference can expect this year, and which topics are particularly in demand.
Gredle, what can visitors expect at analytica 2026?
The global laboratory industry will once again showcase its concentrated and innovative strengths across five exhibition halls, providing a complete market overview of laboratories in industry and research. We look forward to welcoming over 1,100 international exhibitors, including all market leaders, nine world premieres and many other innovations announced in advance. Additionally, our extensive support program covers key industry topics. It is very important for us to provide our visitors with inspiration and fresh ideas for their daily laboratory work, as well as contacts and know-how that have an impact beyond the trade show. And last but not least, we look forward to reuniting with our visitors as well as colleagues from the international laboratory community.
What’s new at this year’s trade show and what tried-and-true elements will remain?
One of the new features is an initiative aimed at empowering women at all job levels in the laboratory and analytical industry. The first day of the trade fair will include a panel discussion on the current state of equal opportunity in the industry (March 24th from 10am). We want to bring women in leadership positions together to exchange ideas and network at a CEO-only breakfast.
An established highlight is definitely the Live Lab. In this scope, it only exists in analytica. Each day, experts will provide a one-hour live demonstration of a typical workflow in a fully equipped laboratory line and answer your questions. Lab Safety Forum’s experimental presentations impressively illustrate the risks associated with handling hazardous materials, including flashes and bangs. In addition, there are three forums: the special program Digital Transformation, career events such as Jobday, and last but not least, the Analytica Conference. Admission to this famous scientific conference is included in your trade fair ticket and is also exclusive to analytica.
Are there any topics or trends currently impacting the industry that are particularly relevant to analytica?
Artificial intelligence is a highly relevant and much debated issue. We are pleased to have secured a distinguished keynote speaker, Marcelina Dutkiewicz, for this purpose. She will be speaking about how to make your AI efforts successful at the Digital Transformation Forum on March 24th at 11:30am. This will be followed by a panel discussion entitled “Trial and Error, Hello AI” in the LSR Spotlight Forum from 14:00. The scientific conference will also focus on the topic of AI, for example a session by Professor Michael Rychlik on 24 March (09:30), which will address the question of how AI and digital innovation can support food analysis and research.
Equally important topics include automation and digital transformation in the laboratory. This becomes especially clear in the special program Digital Transformation. The conference session “Green Analytical Labs of the Future” (March 25, 15:00) will focus on laboratory sustainability. All these key trends will be covered in analytica’s exhibition areas, conferences and support programs in practice-oriented formats. Last but not least, we would like to invite you to take a detour to Parallel Ceramitech, the leading international trade fair for the ceramics industry. For example, you can discover exciting innovations in technical ceramics there.
