On September 23–24, 2026, the W3+ Fair Jena will open its doors for the fourth time – with more than 250 exhibitors and partners from 15 countries, making it the largest edition to date of the high-tech trade fair for photonics, optics, electronics, and mechanics. Around 60 speakers will present at the accompanying conference “en-tech.talks”.
Jena, August 6, 2026. Whether aerospace, security & defense, medical technology, or artificial intelligence in industrial applications: the enabling technologies of photonics, optics, electronics, and mechanics form the basis for innovation in nearly all future-oriented industries. On September 23–24, 2026, the W3+ Fair (w3-fair.com/jena) will, for the fourth time, bring together the innovation potential of photonics, optics, electronics, and mechanics at the high-tech location of Jena/Thuringia. With over 250 exhibitors and partners from 15 countries, the upcoming edition is the largest since the 2023 premiere (which had 160 exhibitors at the time). From component manufacturers to system integrators to end users, the exhibitor landscape covers the entire value chain of the photonics and precision supply industry. Registered companies and research institutions from the region include Jenoptik, Carl Zeiss, Fraunhofer Institutes, Edmund Optics, Doctor Optics, Hellma Materials, Layertec, as well as the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences. In addition, companies from outside the region and abroad make up over 60 percent of exhibitors. The organizer expects around 3,000 visitors.
“The high-tech location of Jena/Thuringia is a beacon in Germany for the key industries of optics and photonics. This is also reflected in the steady growth of the event. With the W3+ Fair, we have established a business meeting point in the center of Germany that brings many new top contacts into the region,” says Nora Kirsten, Managing Director of gold partner OptoNet e.V.
Conference with around 60 speakers and guided tours
The trade fair and the “en-tech.talks” conference focus thematically on three key areas: DeepTech Excellence, future markets, and the innovation ecosystem. Around 60 speakers will present across nine thematic blocks on technologies and use cases, including Deep Tech – made in Europe, innovative medical technologies, Defence & Dual Use, precision optics manufacturing & coatings, digitalization, microtechnology, and (aero)space tech. The program is complemented by networking formats and guided fair tours, allowing acquired knowledge to be linked with practical examples.
International delegations, first-ever Chinese joint stand, and strong partners
Official delegations from the national industry associations of Poland (PPTF) and France (Photonics France) have been invited to Jena by the Thuringia State Development Corporation and OptoNet – in the spirit of the Weimar Triangle, the cooperation between Germany, France, and Poland. A matchmaking event with delegation participants on site will be offered exclusively for participants from Thuringia.
In addition to the large joint stand from Thuringia, this year will see a Chinese joint stand with six companies for the first time. It brings together Chinese photonics and precision companies and complements the fair’s overall spectrum.
The W3+ Fair Jena is supported by a broad partner network: alongside gold partners OptoNet e.V. and the photonics association EPIC, OptecNet Deutschland, Spectaris, and numerous regional supporters such as the LEG Thuringia State Development Corporation are also involved.
The W3+ Fair Jena took place for the first time in 2023. It is based on the W3+ Fair in Wetzlar, which has been bringing together the high-tech network in central Hesse since 2014.
W3+ Fair Jena 2026 at a glance
- Event: 4th W3+ Fair Jena, high-tech trade fair & conference for photonics, optics, electronics, and mechanics
- When: September 23–24, 2026
- Where: Sparkassen-Arena Jena, Keßlerstr. 28, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Opening hours: 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. + networking on the first fair day
- Tickets: Day ticket €25, two-day ticket €40 (via the online ticket shop)
We cordially invite all members of the media to attend the W3+ Fair Jena 2026. Please accredit yourself here.
Further information at w3-fair.com/en/jena/.
Free image material is available at w3-fair.com/en/press/.
About the W3+ Fair
The W3+ Fair is a high-tech trade show with conference, launched by the industry initiative Wetzlar Network. It connects the value chains of optics, photonics, electronics, and mechanics and creates interfaces for new technologies and collaborations. The W3+ Fair is organized by Hamburg-based trade fair organizer W3 Fair GmbH (w3-fair.com); since 2023, the W3+ Fair Jena has also been part of its portfolio. Internationally, the fair team is represented with joint stands at APE (Asian Photonics Expo) in Singapore (since 2024) and, in the future, at preXcon in St. Gallen (from November 2026).
Agency
ART-KON-TOR Media GmbH
Phone: +49 3641 2973514
Email: w3@jena.pro
Contact: Heiner Schaumann
Organizer
W3 Fair GmbH, Zirkusweg 1, 20359 Hamburg
Phone: +49 40 66 906 900
Email: tanja.knott@w3-fair.com
Contact: Tanja Knott