HANNOVER MESSE 2026 digitalization, automation, artificial intelligence, hydrogen and sustainable m

HANNOVER MESSE 2026 will take place from 20 to 24 April 2026 in Hanover.

The trade fair introduces a new thematic and spatial structure divided into three main areas, designed to ensure better orientation and synergy between technologies. The program focuses on industrial transformation.

Industrial Cybersecurity:Artificial Intelligence Becomesthe Dominant Technology

Cybersecurity requirements are rapidly increasing in response to the changing geopolitical situation. Industrial enterprises in particular are facing growing pressure.

Cybersecurity expert Götz Schartner, founder and CEO of 8com GmbH & Co. KG, one of Germany’s leading providers of SOC-as-a-service and managed security services, will join colleagues from his company at the upcoming HANNOVER MESSE to once again recreate their Security Operations Center. Trade fair visitors will thus be able to experience cybersecurity live.

In his view, cybercrime has developed into a highly efficient industry. Cybercrime-as-a-service enables scalable, low-cost and accessible attacks for almost anyone. Fully prepared attack chains, extortion infrastructures and automated tools are freely available. The boundaries between criminal groups and state-controlled actors are increasingly blurring. Artificial intelligence (AI) is taking both attacks and defense to a new level: in 2026, AI will become the dominant technology in both attack and defense. Attackers will use AI to automate phishing, social engineering, vulnerability analysis and entire attack campaigns. AI will also play a central role in defense in the future—whether in detecting anomalies and attack patterns, performing alert triage or responding to incidents. Götz Schartner summarizes the situation as follows: Cybersecurity is no longer a one-time task—it is a fundamental requirement for stability and the future. Companies that understand risks, take control of processes and align their security strategy realistically will perform better in 2026 than those that continue to only react to incidents.

Secomea, a wholly owned subsidiary of McNaughton-McKay Electric USA, will present a zero-trust-based secure remote access solution for industrial environments at HANNOVER MESSE 2026. The solution, specifically designed for operational technology, enables engineering companies to securely manage remote access to machines and production equipment—with full transparency and monitoring. Secomea ensures secure collaboration with external service providers, protects critical industrial systems and networks, and helps organizations meet industrial cybersecurity and compliance requirements such as IEC 62443 and NIS2—all without disrupting operations or increasing complexity.

Another exhibitor will be the DSN Group. At HANNOVER MESSE 2026, it will focus on securing industrial companies from an organizational and process perspective. As a specialized information security consultancy, the group demonstrates how companies can sustainably anchor security through structured Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) in accordance with ISO/IEC 27001 and industry-specific standards—an aspect that is often more important today for cyber resilience than individual technical measures.

In view of NIS2, the growing number of attacks and increasingly complex operational structures, many industrial companies require expert support in setting up security processes, realistically assessing risks and effectively controlling measures. With the advent of generative AI, requirements for governance, risk management and clear responsibilities are also increasing. Experts from DSN GROUP combine legal, organizational and technical perspectives and will demonstrate at the trade fair how companies can sustainably strengthen their cybersecurity through external ISMS expertise and outsourcing information security functions—regardless of size, industry or existing system landscape.

The Industrial Security Circus in Hall 26 will be the central platform for cybersecurity at HANNOVER MESSE. It brings together leading experts, providers of innovative solutions and users to bring current threats, practical protection concepts and the future of industrial cybersecurity to life. The “5G and Industrial Wireless Arena” is located nearby. It is the largest European platform for wireless communication in this sector. The focus will be on key technologies such as 5G, 6G and NB-IoT.

HANNOVER MESSE

HANNOVER MESSE is the world’s leading industrial trade fair. Around 3,000 exhibiting companies from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and the digital industry, as well as the energy sector, come together to present solutions for a competitive and sustainable industry. The main exhibition areas are Automation and Digitalization, Energy and Industrial Infrastructure, and Research and Technology Transfer. Artificial intelligence is a cross-cutting theme across all exhibition areas. The exhibition is complemented by a high-level conference program. The next edition of HANNOVER MESSE will take place in Hanover from 20 to 24 April 2026, with Brazil as the partner country.