The tetrennial celebration of print, due to return on 28 May 2024 for 11 days at Messe Düsseldorf, has so far had space booked by exhibitors from 45 countries.

In a statement, Drupa said the milestone of 100,000sqm booked underlined Drupa’s continuing relevance to the industry, and backed up its claim of being the premier trade fair for print.

At 18 months before the show opens – past the official bookings deadline of October – around two thirds (63%) of indoor space has been booked. At the same time before the 2016 event, 80% of floor space had been booked.

Drupa said it continued to see strong, continued demand for space, despite the deadline having elapsed.

Sabine Geldermann, the Drupa and print portfolio director at Messe Düsseldorf, said the team was “very confident and optimistic” about the number of bookings that had come in despite current geopolitical and economic challenges.

She said: “Drupa 2024 will again be the world’s most important industry meeting place.

“With around 75% international attendance on the exhibitor side, Drupa occupies an outstanding position by global standards. The range, variety and staging of innovations are unique and will once again provide a glimpse into the future of this industry.”

Exhibitors for 2024 include industry heavyweights like Heidelberg, Fujifilm, Konica Minolta and Müller Martini, among others.

The exhibition will focus on future and cross-industry technologies. The circular economy, automation, print/finishing 4.0 and artificial intelligence are expected to feature heavily in brands’ offerings.