FESPA in Germany: industry trends revealed at the Online Print Summit 2026

A look at key developments and clear orientation in a rapidly changing market at the Online Print Summit 2026 in Munich.

The Online Print Summit (OPS) 2026 took place in Munich on March 12 and 13, attracting around 350 participants and setting a new attendance record. The event brought together decision-makers, technology providers, start-ups and industry experts to discuss how artificial intelligence, agentic commerce, hyper-personalisation and new market logics are fundamentally reshaping the online print industry.

Over the course of two days, the OPS featured three keynote presentations, 20 speakers, four start-ups, as well as five C-level classrooms and executive briefings. Discussions made it clear that the industry was not only evolving incrementally but undergoing a fundamental repositioning. Business models, customer journeys, visibility and production logics are all changing simultaneously – driven by new technological and market dynamics.

The Online Print Summit is organised and hosted by the German Printing and Media Associations together with zipcon consulting. Promotion for the event was assisted by FESPA’s German organisation, Bundesverband Druck und Medien (BVDM – the German Printing and Media Industries Federation). BVDM head of communications Silke Leicht-Sobbe said the 2026 OPS was a success on every level.

“The Online Print Summit is where the key future topics of the printing industry are brought together in the context of e-commerce, platform economies and digital business models. At the same time, the unique network of participants creates significant value for exchange, interpretation of developments and shared learning,” says Kirsten Hommelhoff, CEO of the German Printing and Media Industries Federation (BVDM).

“In addition to the strategic discussions, the intensive exchange between participants was a key success factor of the OPS. The direct comparison of different markets and perspectives – both in Europe and internationally – enables a deeper understanding of developments and fosters mutual learning,” says Silke.

A central theme of the summit was the shift from preparing for AI to actively building AI-driven business models. Many contributions highlighted that it was no longer sufficient to optimise existing processes. Instead, companies must redefine their role within a changing e-commerce landscape.

Ruppert Bodmeier, CEO and co-founder of disrooptive.com, described this transition as the move from an “AI readiness phase” to an “AI build phase”. Companies that now develop new capabilities, workflows and solutions can secure clear competitive advantages.

Bernd Zipper, founder and CEO of zipcon consulting and co-organiser of the OPS, reinforced this…