ANKIROS 2026 Sets a New Record with 22,438 Visitors

Bringing together a total of 1,137 exhibitors from 39 foreign countries and Türkiye, along with 22,438 industry professionals from 81 countries in İstanbul, ANKIROS 2026 became the international meeting point of the metallurgy industry.

ANKIROS 2026 – the 17th International Iron-Steel, Foundry, Non-Ferrous Metallurgy Technologies, Machinery and Products Trade Fair, one of the most important international gatherings in Eurasia for the iron-steel, foundry and non-ferrous metallurgy sectors, was successfully held at the İstanbul Expo Center on 22–24 October 2026.

Organized by Hannover Messe Ankiros Fuarcılık A.Ş., the fair hosted industry professionals across 80,000 m² of exhibition space in Halls 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the İstanbul Expo Center.

The event featured a total of 1,137 exhibiting companies, including 709 from 39 foreign countries and 428 from Türkiye, with 29,393 m² of net stand area and 1,626 m² of event space.

Visited over three days by a total of 22,438 industry professionals from 81 countries, 4,009 of them international and 18,429 domestic, ANKIROS 2026 reached a new record by increasing visitor numbers by 6.5% compared to the previous edition.

International Participation Once Again Demonstrated ANKIROS's Global Strength

With its international exhibitor structure, ANKIROS 2026 once again showed that it is one of the significant global-scale trade platforms of the metallurgy industry.

At the fair, where foreign companies accounted for 62.4% of total exhibitors, China with 296 companies, Germany with 127 companies and Italy with 67 companies were the countries with the highest foreign participation.

A wide range of products and technologies were exhibited, from iron-steel production technologies to foundry machinery, from industrial furnaces to heat treatment systems, and from refractories to automation and process control technologies.

The TURKCAST Foundry Products Special Section held within the fair brought together the foundry industry's production strength and technological competencies with international visitors, while the Steel Special Section hosted the sector's leading manufacturers and technology providers.

In addition to introducing new technologies, ANKIROS 2026 contributed to the development of international trade relations, access to new markets, and the strengthening of cross-sector collaborations.

Steel Special Section Brought Together Leading Representatives of the Industry

The Steel Special Section held within ANKIROS 2026 brought together leading manufacturers, technology providers and industry professionals of the iron-steel sector. The section contributed to the introduction of new technologies, the sharing of sectoral developments and the formation of new collaborations.

International Buying Delegations Opened the Door to New Collaborations

Through the International Buying Delegation Program carried out as part of the fair, over 100 companies from more than 12 countries were hosted in İstanbul.

The program, which brought together international procurement professionals with exhibiting companies, provided an important ground for establishing new business connections and evaluating export opportunities.

Sectoral visitor programs organized from different industrial regions of Türkiye also supported the access of manufacturers, engineers and procurement professionals to the fair.

ANKIROS 2026 Opened with the Participation of Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır

The opening ceremony of ANKIROS 2026, held on 22 October, was attended by the Republic of Türkiye Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, along with senior representatives of national and international sectoral organizations.

Drawing attention to Türkiye's production strength in the iron-steel and foundry industry in his opening speech, Minister Kacır emphasized the opportunities offered by ANKIROS in terms of new trade connections and investments.

Touching on the importance of green and digital transformation investments in the metal industry, Kacır stated that efforts to develop Türkiye's production capacity and technological competencies continue.

Industry representatives who spoke at the opening ceremony drew attention to the importance of global competitive conditions, sustainable production, energy efficiency, technological transformation and international collaborations.

Ozan Hünler: “The Value of ANKIROS Lies in the Commercial and Technological Interaction It Creates”

Ozan Hünler, General Manager of Hannover Messe Ankiros Fuarcılık A.Ş., emphasized in his assessment of the results of ANKIROS 2026 the importance the organization holds for Türkiye and the regional metallurgy industry.

Stating that ANKIROS is not merely a fair where products and technologies are exhibited, Hünler noted that the organization is a powerful platform that brings together manufacturers, technology providers, investors and industry professionals on an international scale.

Hünler stated that the value of the fair goes beyond the number of exhibitors and visitors; noting that establishing new business connections, sharing knowledge and experience, and transferring technological innovations to the industry constitute the organization's main contributions.

Emphasizing that they aim to further strengthen ANKIROS's international structure, Hünler stated that the fair will continue to be an important meeting point that carries Türkiye's production strength to global markets.

High Satisfaction from Exhibitors and Visitors

The success of ANKIROS 2026 was also reflected in the exhibitor and visitor surveys conducted after the fair.

In the evaluation survey conducted with exhibitors, overall exhibitor satisfaction was above 90%, while more than 90% of exhibitors stated that they were considering participating again in ANKIROS 2028.

Among exhibitors' purposes for participating in the fair, establishing new business connections ranked first with 73%, while developing existing trade relations ranked second with 65.4%.

Overall satisfaction was also measured above 90% in visitor surveys. While 89.3% of visitors stated that the fair met or exceeded their expectations, more than 80% stated that they plan to visit the next ANKIROS again.

Science and Industry Met on the Same Platform

The 23rd International Metallurgy and Materials Congress – IMMC 2026, held concurrently with ANKIROS 2026 at the İstanbul Expo Center on 22–24 October, brought together the academic and industrial worlds.

With the vision of “Strategic Resources, Critical Steps for Tomorrow,” the congress focused on topics shaping the future of the sector, such as sustainable metallurgy, critical raw materials, advanced materials technologies and the circular economy.

A total of 200 scientific papers were presented across 30 sessions held over three days, with the congress making an important contribution to bringing academic knowledge together with industrial applications.

International Interaction Strengthened with the 76th World Foundry Congress

During the ANKIROS 2026 period, İstanbul also hosted the 76th World Foundry Congress (WFC 2026), one of the most important organizations of the global foundry industry.

Held on 19–24 October 2026, the congress held particular significance as it was organized during the period marking the 100th anniversary of the World Foundry Organization (WFO) and the 50th anniversary of the Turkish Foundry Association (TÜDÖKSAD).

International delegates who came to İstanbul for the congress, which ANKIROS supported as Diamond Sponsor, visited ANKIROS 2026 on 22 October and had the opportunity to closely examine the new technologies and production solutions in the sector.

The simultaneous holding of both organizations strengthened İstanbul's position as one of the important meeting centers of the international metallurgy and foundry industry.

Industrial Waste Came Back to Life Through Art

In addition to technology and trade, ANKIROS 2026 also hosted a special event where sustainability and art came together.

The “Second Life” exhibition, featuring metal works produced from industrial waste by artist Rüçhan Keçeci, attracted the interest of fair visitors.

The artistic re-evaluation of disused materials brought a different perspective to the topics of circular economy and resource efficiency.

ANKIROS Continues to Contribute to the Future of the Metallurgy Industry

With its international exhibitor structure, increasing number of visitors, strong sectoral representation and concurrent scientific events, ANKIROS 2026 once again demonstrated that it is one of the important meeting platforms of the metallurgy industry.

The commercial meetings, technology exchanges and international contacts held over three days contributed to the development of the sector and the formation of new collaborations.

Organized biennially by Hannover Messe Ankiros Fuarcılık A.Ş., ANKIROS will continue to support Türkiye's strong position in the metallurgy industry on the international stage and to bring together technologies that shape the future of the sector.