OTWorld 2026: Leipzig becomes the global meeting place for orthopaedic treatment and care
World congress and leading International Trade Show highlights innovations, knowledge transfer and the future of treatment and care
From 19 to 22 May 2026, OTWorld will bring together the international orthopaedic treatment and care sector in Leipzig under the motto ‘You make the difference’. This year’s event is particularly special as OTWorld celebrates its 50th anniversary. Across three exhibition halls, more than 570 exhibitors from over 40 countries will showcase world premieres and innovations in prosthetics and orthotics, orthopaedic footwear technology, rehabilitation technology, compression therapy and digital manufacturing. At the same time, the World Congress will feature more than 300 speakers from over 30 countries, offering around 100 hours of concentrated expertise and setting new standards for international knowledge exchange – including AI-based live translation for the first time. More than 130 workshops and dedicated sessions on topics such as robotics and the treatment of neurological diseases will highlight how orthopaedic treatment and care are evolving worldwide.
World Congress: Networking knowledge, strengthening care
The OTWorld World Congress is aimed at all professional groups involved in the orthopaedic treatment and care – from prosthetics and orthotics and orthopaedic footwear technology to rehabilitation, physiotherapy, medicine and research. It is headed by Congress Presidents Dr Doris Maier, Medical Director at the BG Unfallklinik Murnau, and master orthopaedic technician Thomas Münch from Duisburg. Together with a 23-member interdisciplinary programme and workshop committee, they have developed a diverse and practical programme.
The focus is on three main topics: rehabilitation, integrative care and training. The congress thus takes a look at the entire care chain – from the acute phase to long-term support and securing the next generation of skilled workers.
Around 30 international symposia form the core of the congress. In addition, there will be more than 35 congress workshops and around 180 lectures and poster presentations from free papers. The spectrum of more than 300 speakers from over 30 countries ranges from prosthetics and orthotics and orthopaedic footwear technology to paediatric and neuro-orthopaedics, digitalisation, materials research and global care strategies. The scientific programme of OTWorld comprises a total of 100 hours.
New in 2026 is AI-based live translation in German and English. Participants can follow presentations in real time via their own smartphones and headphones – an important step towards further internationalisation of the congress. For the first time, people with hearing impairments will be able to read the presentations in full in text form. The World Congress is also recognised with continuing education credits for several professional groups.
The complete congress programme and all workshops are available online.
World's leading Trade Show: innovations, world premieres and new impulses for the sector
Parallel to the World Congress, the International Trade Show presents the latest developments in orthopaedic treatment and care. Over 570 exhibitors from more than 40 countries will showcase innovations in prosthetics and orthotics, orthopaedic footwear technology, rehabilitation technology, compression therapy and digital manufacture – many of them as first-time exhibitors.
The rehabilitation technology sector is growing particularly strongly in 2026, with more than 120 exhibitors, making it larger than ever before. This is accompanied by a wide variety of mobility solutions and products for everyday care – from walking and mobility aids to wheelchairs and electric mobility scooters to paediatric care.
Digitalisation and AI shape the exhibition
One focus in 2026 will be on digitalisation and artificial intelligence. The OTWorld.3D and OTWorld.education + research exhibition areas will showcase the latest solutions in 3D scanning, additive manufacturing and AI-supported processes. The spotlight ‘Robotics + AI’ will demonstrate how assistance systems and intelligent technologies support work processes and open up new care opportunities.
Special shows, physiotherapists' day and international start-ups
The special show ‘Living with neurological conditions’ is practical and socially relevant. It brings care pathways to life, from early support to working life, and provides concrete insights into the holistic care of neurological diseases – from diagnosis and assistive device adaptation to social participation.
For the first time, there will be a ‘Physiotherapists' Day’ on 22 May in cooperation with therapie Leipzig. In addition to tours on the topic of stroke care, workshops specifically aimed at physiotherapists will also be offered. In the special show ‘Enabling movement – para-sports in care’, clubs, coaches and para-athletes will demonstrate how sports like sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball promote quality of life and social participation.
Orthopaedic footwear technology will also be represented with its own focus. In the OTWorld.shoe-technology exhibition area and at the ‘Foot + Shoe’ hub, trade visitors will find a wealth of knowledge about orthopaedic shoes, insoles and care strategies – including care for the diabetic foot.
Young companies present innovative approaches for the entire sector in the OTWorld.start-ups area. As an innovation hub, OTWorld also offers the sector's entrepreneurial spirit an international stage.
The exhibitors' new products can be found in the digital product and exhibition world on the OTWorld website. Extensive filter functions facilitate targeted searches for product groups, treatment areas and innovations.
Youth.Academy TO: Independent programme for young talent
Around 500 young professionals from the fields of prosthetics and orthotics, orthopaedic footwear technology, physiotherapy and medicine are expected to attend the Youth.Academy TO as part of OTWorld. This independent programme for trainees and students offers access to the International Trade Show and World Congress on 21 and 22 May. Specialist presentations, practical insights and exchange formats promote orientation, networking and motivation.
50 years of OTWorld – the sector looks ahead
For half a century, OTWorld has been the leading platform for everyone working at the interface between people and technology: manufacturers, distributors, service providers, researchers and clinicians. The event began in 1976 as ‘Orthopädie Technik International’. It grew out of the annual general meeting of the German Association of Orthopaedic Technology and has developed into the world's largest event for modern orthopaedic treatment and care. The last edition in 2024 attracted over 20,000 visitors from 94 countries to Leipzig. Today, more than 2.5 billion people worldwide depend on medical aids – a need that makes innovation, international cooperation and quality-assured care more important than ever.
Access to OTWorld 2026
The ticket shop for OTWorld 2026 is now open. OTWorld full tickets (OTWorld COMPLETE) are available, which include access to the World Congress and the International Trade Show. An early bird rate is available until 31 March, offering savings of up to 80.00 EUR. Discounted day tickets are further available for pupils, students and trainees – with a reduced OTWorld COMPLETE ticket at 89.00 EUR and a reduced OTWorld TRADE SHOW ticket at 21.00 EUR (valid proof of eligibility must be presented).
A special Trade Show Group ticket at a reduced ticket price of 29.00 EUR per person can be recommended for visitor groups with a minimum of four attendees who would like to attend the International Trade Show, including all workshops (exhibitor and congress workshops). Separate two-day tickets are also available for participants of the Youth Academy for Technical Orthopaedics (JA.TO). An early bird rate with a saving of 10.00 EUR is available until 31 March.
The ticket shop can be accessed here.
Image for download (JPG, 5 MB)
Image caption: Visitors at the OTWorld 2024 at Leipziger Messe. More than 20,000 trade visitors from 94 countries attended the last edition. OTWorld will celebrate its 50th anniversary from 19 to 22 May 2026. Photo: Tom Schulze / Leipziger Messe
Note for editorial offices
Media representatives can register in advance online for OTWorld 2026.
Further information
About OTWorld
About Leipziger Messe
OTWorld on the Internet:
#OTWorld2026
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