As the textile industry changes, Performance Days is evolving with it. The October edition expands both in scale and scope, creating new spaces for materials, technologies and ideas that reflect where performance apparel is heading next.

When Performance Days returns to Munich on October 13–14, 2026, the show will present its largest edition to date. But growth is not simply about size. The fair continues to evolve its concept, responding to an industry in which material choices, performance, sustainability, garment engineering and new technologies are becoming increasingly interconnected.

This development is particularly visible in the fair’s growing number of curated forums. Alongside established areas for apparel, bodywear and wool, two brand new formats – the Cellulose Forum and Garment Tech Forum – broaden the perspective from the fibers shaping tomorrow’s textiles to the technologies that transform them into finished products.

Natural performance moves forward

The new Cellulose Forum reflects a development that has become increasingly visible within the Performance Days material community: natural and cellulosic fibers are moving further into performance applications.

Cotton remains an important part of the picture, but the fiber landscape is becoming much broader. Hemp, linen and other natural fibers are gaining ground alongside man-made cellulosics such as lyocell and modal. The latest Performance Days jury meeting reinforced this direction: experts were surprised by the number of functional cellulosic shell constructions submitted, while discussions around wool, silk, hemp, cotton and new fiber blends showed just how much the definition of performance is expanding.

Regina Goller, Head of Material Strategy & Future Trends at Performance Days, says:

“Natural and cellulosic fibers are becoming increasingly interesting for performance applications. We are seeing new constructions, blends and technologies that bring functionality to materials that, only a few years ago, would not necessarily have been considered for this market. This is one development in particular that we want to give much greater visibility.”

Rather than replacing one fiber category with another, the result is a more diverse material toolbox. Renewable and natural fibers are being reconsidered for thermoregulation, moisture management, comfort and next-to-skin performance, while new constructions and blends continue to expand their potential applications.

From fiber to finished product

At the same time, Performance Days is extending its perspective further along the supply chain. The new Garment Tech Forum focuses on the technologies and construction methods that turn materials into functional products, from seams and bonding to adjustment systems, branding, wearables and other garment technologies.

For designers and developers, this creates a direct connection between material innovation and application. The question is no longer simply Which material should I choose? but also How can I turn it into a better product?

Together, the expanding forums reflect a broader development at Performance Days: sourcing is becoming more interconnected. Fiber, fabric, functionality, construction and manufacturing can no longer be considered in isolation.

Innovation takes center stage

Perhaps the most striking development, however, is the sheer amount of innovation currently entering the market. Sustainability remains fundamental, of course, but it is increasingly becoming an expected, even assumed, part of material and product development rather than a stand-alone innovation story.

What is now moving into focus are solutions that go a step further: new fibers and feedstocks, unexpected natural-fiber applications, bio-based polymers, advanced constructions, functional finishes and entirely new garment technologies.

Innovation is increasingly about bringing environmental responsibility together with performance, durability, functionality and a tangible benefit for the final product.

Goller continues:

“We are currently seeing an enormous amount of innovation. Sustainability hasn’t become less important. In fact, quite the opposite. But increasingly, it is the foundation on which innovation has to build. What’s exciting is how broad the innovation landscape has become again, from fibers and materials to construction, processing and technology.”

For Performance Days, this development defines the next chapter of the fair and its evolving place in the industry. The show is growing, but more importantly, its perspective is growing with it, from fiber to fabric, from material to garment, and increasingly across the entire product development journey.