Innovation and international exchange to feature SMM 2026

The maritime industry is undergoing a profound transformation. At SMM 2026 in Hamburg next week (1 – 4 September), companies from around the world will showcase technologies that are already changing shipbuilding and ship operations today. These include numerous world and European premieres.

One thing is clear, say the SMM organisers: no single technology will define the future of shipping. What matters is how different approaches work together. Many are no longer visions of the future but are already moving towards practical application.

“At SMM, we can see just how many different solutions the industry is currently developing,” says Claus Ulrich Selbach, Vice President Exhibitions Maritime & Energy at Hamburg Messe und Congress. “Many of these technologies are no longer visions of the future but are already finding their way into real-world applications. We are proud to showcase this diversity here in Hamburg.”

The international presence at SMM 2026 continues to grow. With 26 national pavilions – two more than in 2024 – 11 new exhibiting countries and growing participation from Asia’s leading shipbuilding nations, the world’s leading maritime trade fair confirms its role as a global meeting place for the maritime industry. New official national pavilions from Cyprus and Brazil will be joined by first-time official representations from India and Vietnam. More and more countries are using SMM to showcase their maritime industries and access new markets.

“SMM is more than ever the central meeting place for the maritime industry,” adds Claus Ulrich Selbach. “Companies, associations and governments use the world’s leading maritime trade fair to jointly develop responses to the challenges facing the industry. The growing international participation shows that face-to-face exchange across national borders is more important than ever,”