11/03/2025

PERFORMANCE DAYS sets benchmarks with record attendance & strong industry presence (11/3/25)

With around 4,500 professional visitors and 515 exhibitors, PERFORMANCE DAYS closed its doors on October 30, 2025, after two highly successful days in Munich. Expanded show areas, an international audience, a top-class Expert Talks program, and an inspiring DAY 0 Conference with an innovative concept underlined one thing clearly: PERFORMANCE DAYS has become the leading business platform for the functional textile industry. This year’s Focus Topic “Textile to Textile – the role of recyclers” also left a strong mark on the fair – both visually and conceptually. The subject was impressively showcased in the Trend Forum and served as a recurring theme in discussions, exhibits, and presentations across the show floor – proof that recyclability and circularity are at the forefront of the industry’s transformation. A record-setting edition with value for the entire industry The organizers of PERFORMANCE DAYS were thrilled with two days full of energy, dialogue, and innovation. The positive atmosphere, high visitor quality, and consistently strong feedback confirmed once again that the fair meets the spirit of the times. Marco Weichert, CEO of PERFORMANCE DAYS: “We see ourselves as hosts – our goal is to offer exhibitors, sponsors, and visitors two days filled with inspiration, education, new ideas, fabric innovations, and a productive yet relaxed working atmosphere. I think we achieved that with flying colors. The feedback we’ve received shows we’re on the right track and motivates us to continue refining our concept and quality.” New concepts that inspire: three areas, one goal – innovation One of the fair’s biggest highlights was the expansion of new and curated special areas. In hall A1, visitors discovered the redesigned Innovation Area – one of the key meeting points of the fair. The Innovation Hub by FFE (Future Fabrics Expo), developed in close collaboration with the London-based Future Fabrics Expo, provided fresh perspectives and in-depth expertise in sustainable material development. In addition to deep dives into upcoming EU regulations, the area presented tangible approaches to how the textiles of tomorrow could be made. Amanda Johnston, Chief Design Officer Future Fabrics Expo: “Our goal is to encourage the industry to explore the diverse material possibilities in performance wear that can replace traditional fibers such as virgin polyester and conventional cotton – which still make up the majority of today’s global fiber portfolio. This collaboration demonstrates both organisations’ shared commitment to making sustainable material innovation accessible and tangible while actively shaping the future of the textile sector.” The newly introduced Creative Area, developed together with designer and color expert Nora Kühner, also proved a visitor magnet. Here, design and function merged in an inspiring way – from upcycling design pieces to color worlds and material combinations that perfectly embodied ‘Fashion meets Function’. Nora Kühner: “Still one of a kind: PERFORMANCE DAYS stays true to its message and delivers a clear vision of where the industry is heading – with a concept that truly works.” The Footwear Area also impressed with practical insights. Together with footwear experts and designers Defne Yalkut and Richard Kuchinsky, the area highlighted current developments in sole technology and offered interactive workshops – a clear crowd favorite. Positive spirit across the show: Wool Area & Sustainability Lounge The Wool Area with its integrated Wool Forum, developed in cooperation with the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO), Woolmark and the Campaign of Wool, drew great attention from visitors. Magdalena White, IWTO: “The collaboration works extremely well. Our members were highly interested in technical topics and keen to learn what’s happening across the industry. The fair is clearly focused – visitors don’t have to walk endless aisles but get all the key information in one compact place. It’s like a large, well-curated material library.” Conclusion: PERFORMANCE DAYS continues to set the standard Whether in terms of innovation, sustainability, or knowledge transfer, PERFORMANCE DAYS once again proved to be the leading platform for functional fabrics and textile innovation. With record-breaking figures, inspiring formats, and new partnerships, the team looks confidently to the future – the course for 2026 is already set.