BEYOND THE PRESS: THE HUMAN-CENTRIC REVOLUTION AWAITING AT PRINTING UNITED 2026

PROPAK WEST AFRICA RETURNS WITH GLOBAL INNOVATION, PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS AND INDUSTRY EXPERTISE

WHAT MAKES A PRINTING COMPANY IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE?

From September 23–25, 2026, the Las Vegas Convention Centre will host PRINTING United Expo 2026—a massive, one-million-square-foot showcase of cutting-edge technology, emerging trends, and live equipment demonstrations. Produced by the PRINTING United Alliance, this premier global convergence is set to break industry records with an unprecedented lineup of more than 800 exhibitors. This year’s event looks decisively beyond traditional ink on paper. Alongside breakthrough production technology and advanced digital finishing techniques, the Expo introduces an expanded, human-centric educational and experiential programme. Dedicated tracks will focus directly on the industry’s most critical assets: workforce development, inclusivity, and physical and mental well-being. Discover some of these landmark feature programmes shaping the future of the industry in this exclusive sneak preview of PRINTING United Expo 2026.

PRINTING United Expo 2026 returns to the Las Vegas Convention Centre on September 23–25, 2026, featuring an expanded, high-impact programme that goes far beyond traditional machinery to spotlight community building, workforce development, mental health, and high-margin finishing technologies.

(c) Educational sessions at PRINTING United Expo are designed to help professionals navigate the changing printing landscape.

Characteristically, PRINTING United Expo 2026 will feature an extensive educational lineup in dedicated areas and zones such as the PRINTING AI Pavilion and G7+ Exchange, offering more than 70 expert-led sessions covering industry data, colour management, sales strategies, wide-format print innovation, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Focusing on industry trends, automated workflows, market convergence, market trends, pricing/ sales strategies, process control, and high-accuracy colour management, these sessions are designed to help professionals navigate the changing printing landscape. The top recommended educational sessions include, among others:

Printing Industry Outlook 2027 – Explores data-driven forecasts for the commercial printing sector. Hosted by Onamica Dhar and Andy Paparozzi on Wednesday, September 23, from 10:00–10:50am.
Crossing Over: Convergence Reshaping Print Markets – Examines how different segments of the industry are intersecting. Led by Lisa Cross and Nathan Safran on Wednesday, September 23, from 3:00–3:50pm.
The Price Perception Problem: How to Sell Value, Not Discounts – Focuses on moving past race-to-the-bottom pricing. Taught by Colin Sinclair McDermott on Wednesday, September 23, from 3:00–3:50pm.
Stretching the Boundaries in Wide-Format Services – Offers real-world case studies for expanding broad-scale service offerings. Moderated by Dan Marx on Thursday, September 24, from 11:00–11:50am.
State of the Industry: Wide-Format Printing – Tracks financial and volume trends in wide-format production. Delivered by Onamica Dhar and Andy Paparozzi on Thursday, September 24, from 2:00–2:50pm.

And beyond the standard industry-specific training sessions, organizer PRINTING United Alliance recently announced major new features, anchored by a full-day Student Day and year-round integration for the Women in Print Alliance, among other initiatives that also focus heavily on the industry’s workforce, inclusivity, physical and mental well-being, and cutting-edge digital finishing techniques. Explore the top features putting global print & allied workers first, curated by WHERE To Print:

STUDENT DAY EXPERIENCE TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF PRINT PROFESSIONALS

PRINTING United Alliance, in partnership with The Foundation for Graphic Communication Education (The FGCE), continues to expand its popular Student Day experience at PRINTING United Expo 2026, taking place Thursday, September 24, at the Las Vegas Convention Centre. Designed to introduce students to the limitless career opportunities across the printing industry, this year’s programme will feature enhanced career development programming, expanded mentorship opportunities, and greater one-on-one engagement with industry professionals throughout the day’s activities.

PRINTING United Alliance curates this exciting event that exposes students to the biggest global players and opportunities in the industry in partnership with The FGCE, which has invested significant scholarship dollars to make the trip for some students and educators possible.

“Student Day has become one of the most meaningful experiences at PRINTING United Expo because it is where the next generation connects with the people, companies, and technologies shaping the future of print,” says Christine Cachuela, VP Membership Operations, PRINTING United Alliance. “Students gain firsthand exposure to career opportunities, build valuable industry connections, and often take their first steps toward internships and careers, while exhibitors have the opportunity to meet talented future employees.”

Charlotte Tueckmantel, Director of Operations, The FGCE, said, “We are excited by the opportunities this year’s Student Day agenda provides to engage directly with leaders, technology, and companies at the forefront of the printing industry. Students can expect to make valuable connections they can leverage during their educational and career journey.”

Cachuela further highlights that The FGCE’s scholarship program makes that impact even greater by helping more students and educators attend the Expo and experience our industry firsthand. “We’re incredibly grateful for this continued partnership and The FGCE’s investment in helping the future of our workforce attend our global event,” she said.

Student Day 2026 Highlights

The 2026 programme introduces new experiences designed to deepen student engagement, including:

Career development panel discussion and interactive roundtable conversations with industry professionals.
Expo All-Stars ambassador-led booth tours with participating exhibitors, giving students personalized guidance and the opportunity to connect directly with industry professionals using provided complimentary business cards.
Opportunities to learn about internships, career pathways, and emerging technologies transforming every segment of the printing industry.
Immersive visits to experience some of the Expo’s premier attractions, including the Apparel Zone, PRINTING AI Pavilion, and Women in Print Alliance Luncheon.
Student Day Lounge equipped with fun activities, networking opportunities, and a designated professional headshot area, for students and Expo attendees alike.

Special show merchandise activation, live demonstrations of the latest iLEARNING+ courses, available free for students and educators, and interview opportunities in the Alliance Booth.

Calling All Expo Exhibitors: Engage with Tomorrow’s Talent
Student Day offers exhibitors a unique opportunity to connect directly with the next generation of print professionals. By hosting booth tours, showcasing innovative technologies, and sharing insights into careers within their organizations, participating exhibitors can inspire students while building awareness of the exciting opportunities available across the industry. Reach out to Christine Cachuela for more details on how to get involved: ccachuela@printing.org

Special thanks to those exhibitors who have already committed to supporting Student Day by hosting booth tours, demonstrations, and career discussions: Canon USA, Cutworx USA, Fiery, Konica Minolta, Muller Martini, and Orbus.

Pre-Register for Student Day
Access is complimentary, and educators and student groups are encouraged to register early. Schools from across the country will be in attendance, and space is limited for guided tours and programming. Complimentary business cards are available only to those registered before September 1. Register and learn more by visiting: https://www.printingunited.com/experiences/
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EMPOWERING WOMEN, SHAPING THE FUTURE OF PRINT

Women in Print Alliance, a division of PRINTING United Alliance, is once again bringing a dynamic lineup of networking, professional development, and community-building experiences to PRINTING United Expo 2026. Designed to help women maximize their Expo experience, this year’s programming includes pre-show education, exclusive networking events, leadership development opportunities, and dedicated spaces to build meaningful industry connections. Visit https://womeninprintalliance.org/expo-events/ for a complete Women in Print Alliance guide to this year’s PRINTING United Expo.

“PRINTING United Expo is an incredible experience, especially when you have a community to experience it with,” says Lisbeth Lyons Black, Director, Women in Print Alliance. “From our Expo 101: Tips & Tricks webinar – designed to help first-time women attendees arrive empowered – to making meaningful connections at our booth on the show floor, and our annual networking luncheon with its inspiring keynote address, Women in Print Alliance creates opportunities for women to connect, learn, and build relationships that last well beyond Expo.”

Kick Off Your Expo Experience with Expo 101
The Women in Print Alliance experience begins before attendees arrive in Las Vegas. Join fellow women in print on September 10 for “Expo 101: Tips & Tricks for Women in Print,” a complimentary webinar designed to help women confidently prepare for PRINTING United Expo 2026. Attendees will hear practical advice from experienced Expo veterans covering everything from navigating the show floor and building an agenda to networking strategies and must-attend Women in Print Alliance events.

Connect at the Women in Print Alliance Member Reception
Women in Print Alliance members are invited to kick off their Expo experience at the Women in Print Alliance Member Welcome Reception, taking place on Wednesday, September 23, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. PT at the Wynn/Encore Resort. This exclusive gathering is designed to foster meaningful conversations and strengthen professional relationships in a relaxed setting. An RSVP is required, and invitations will be sent to members directly via email.

Gain Fresh Leadership Perspectives at the Annual Networking Luncheon
One of the signature Women in Print Alliance events at PRINTING United Expo – the Women in Print Alliance Annual Networking Luncheon – returns on Thursday, September 24, from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. PT, featuring keynote speaker Corrie Lo on “The Five Overwhelm Culprits.” During her presentation, Corrie will share actionable strategies for overcoming the hidden drivers of overwhelm and pragmatic tactics professionals can use to reclaim focus, energy, and effectiveness in both their careers and personal lives. Learn more about how to purchase your tickets here: https://womeninprintalliance.org/event/annual-networking-luncheon-2/

Visit the Women in Print Alliance Booth

Throughout PRINTING United Expo, attendees are encouraged to stop by the Women in Print Alliance Booth N6543 to learn more about the different membership types, discover upcoming events and initiatives, and connect with the growing community of women shaping the future of print. To learn more and register to attend, visit https://womeninprintalliance.org/expo-events/

THE EMBELLISHMENT TECHNOLOGY TOUR IS BACK FOR PRINTING UNITED EXPO 2026!

© Powered by Taktiful in strategic collaboration with PRINTING United Alliance, the guided walk-and-talk tour pairs engaged attendees with ten leading embellishment brands across two dedicated tracks at PRINTING United Expo 2026.

Embellishment Technology Tour, the guided show-floor experience produced by Taktiful in strategic collaboration with PRINTING United Alliance, has confirmed that its Digital Production Track has officially sold out. The tour, which returns to PRINTING United Expo 2026, gives pre-registered attendees a curated, expert-led path through the most compelling embellishment technology on the show floor.

New this year, the tour has expanded from a single ten-stop experience into two full ten-stop tours running side by side: Digital Production Tour (North Hall) and, for the first time, a standalone Wide Format Tour (Central Hall). Rather than folding wide-format sponsors into the original track, Taktiful built Wide Format out as its own dedicated ten-stop experience, complete with its own guides, its own pre-registered attendees, and its own sponsor lineup.

With more than 800 exhibitors expected on the floor this year, navigating PRINTING United Expo for embellishment-specific solutions can be overwhelming even for experienced buyers. The Embellishment Technology Tour was built to solve that problem: small, focused groups of pre-registered attendees are walked directly to a curated set of exhibitor booths by Taktiful’s print embellishment experts, who deliver a custom talk track built specifically for each stop. “The fact that our Digital Production track sold out well ahead of the show tells you everything you need to know about where this industry’s attention is right now,” said Kevin Abergel, Founder and CEO of Taktiful. “Attendees don’t want another lap around the show floor. They want a curated, expert-guided path to the technology that will actually move their business forward, and that’s exactly what this tour delivers.”

© printingunited.com – Growing relationships and connections that move printing forward at PRINTINGUnited Expo

“PRINTING United Expo is designed to bring the entire industry together under one roof, and programs like the Embellishment Technology Tour help attendees get more out of that experience,” said Joshua Carruth, EVP, Expositions, PRINTING United Alliance. “We’re glad to collaborate with Taktiful on a program that gives attendees a focused, high-value way to engage with embellishment technology at the Expo.”

Digital Production Track (North Hall): All ten sponsor stops on the Digital Production Track are now confirmed. Attendees on this track will be guided through:

Konica Minolta
Scodix
Duplo
Sharp
Fujifilm
Skandacor
Impress Systems
Xerox
Neenah Paper
Nobelus

Wide Format Track (Central Hall): Open for Sponsorship

New for 2026, Wide Format is now its own dedicated ten-stop tour rather than a secondary track, with up to ten Guided Tour Sponsor positions available. Sponsorship slots on the Wide Format track remain open, with a limited number of Guided Tour Sponsor positions available. Sponsors on this track receive a dedicated stop during all guided tours, a custom-branded tour jersey displayed in the Taktiful booth, inclusion in the official Tour Guide, logo placement on official attendee tour bags, pre-show social coverage, digital wall presence at the Taktiful booth, a complimentary pre-show Taktisphere Live! event, and inclusion in the post-show roundup article distributed across Taktiful’s channels.

Each track features five expert-guided tours — two per day, with a final tour on the last day of the show — with 20 to 40 pre-registered attendees per tour. Every stop includes a live demonstration and branded giveaway, and the full experience is professionally photographed and filmed for post-show marketing use by sponsors.

BREAKING THE SILENCE IN VEGAS!

She*t for Brains is partnering with PRINTING United Alliance to bring mental health conversations straight to the PRINTING United Expo 2026 floor. The industry-focused mental health initiative dedicated to reducing stigma and providing practical support to print professionals says this collaboration marks a major step forward for the print community’s commitment to mental health and wellbeing.

“PRINTING United Alliance’s inclusion of She*t for Brains at PRINTING United Expo is a monumental and necessary step for our industry,” said David Rosendahl, She*t for Brains Co-founder. “By opening space for honest conversation and concrete resources at the industry’s flagship event, the Alliance has shown leadership and compassion, and together we’ll work to reduce stigma and help those who need support.”

The Alliance’s decision to include She*t for Brains in its program demonstrates a clear understanding of the importance of addressing mental health issues and dismantling the stigma that too often keeps people from seeking help. By formally partnering with SFB, PRINTING United Alliance is helping to elevate conversations around mental wellness and ensuring these conversations are a visible, integral part of the industry’s largest trade event.

What to expect at the Expo:

Physical presence in the Spill the Ink District: SFB will host an onsite space in the Spill the Ink District where attendees can learn about resources, speak with team members, access event materials, and find a welcoming place to connect.
Podcast booth engagement: She*t for Brains will leverage podcast booths to record conversations with industry leaders, mental health experts, and attendees, creating usable content that will extend the reach of these important conversations beyond the show floor.
Breakout session: “Breaking the Silence: How She*t for Brains Tackles the Mental Health Crisis.” This dedicated, in-person session will explore the unique stressors facing print professionals, practical intervention strategies, and how employers and peers can create healthier, more supportive workplaces. Speakers will include SFB leaders and invited experts from across the printing community.

“One of our many goals at PRINTING United Expo is to create experiences that matter both on and beyond the show floor,” said Joshua Carruth, EVP, Expositions, PRINTING United Alliance. “Mental health impacts every company, every team, and every leader in our industry, yet it’s rarely discussed openly. We’re proud to partner with She*t for Brains to help bring this conversation into the spotlight and provide our community with meaningful resources and support.”

She*t for Brains is a not-for-profit mental health and wellbeing initiative primarily focused on the print and graphics industry. It was co-founded by Jessica DeCola, Dave Rosendahl, Chris Minn, and Jon Bailey to foster open conversations about workplace stress, resilience, and vulnerability.

Core Focus & Mission

Community Support: Provides a safe, judgment-free space for professionals to share personal and professional challenges.
Key Topics: Focuses on work-life balance, next-generation leadership, burnout, trauma, and managing anxiety.
Resources: Offers online sessions, webinars, and collaborative industry events.

Note: The organization is a peer-support and advocacy platform and does not provide formal medical or licensed psychological diagnoses.