65th Dornbirn GFC Returns with New Leadership and Format

The 65th Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress (GFC) will take place from September 16–18, 2026, in Dornbirn, Austria, drawing around 600 experts from more than 30 countries. The three-day event features roughly 100 presentations across parallel tracks, covering innovation, sustainability, circular economy and fiber technologies.

This year's edition marks a transition in leadership. Matthias W. Gluth has stepped down, and the board has appointed Béatrice Moureaux as managing director with immediate effect. Moureaux brings over 25 years of international experience in technical textiles and nonwovens from senior roles at DuPont Protective Technologies and Glatfelter/Magnera, along with advisory work at ReHubs.

The congress has also revamped its innovation showcase. The Dornbirn GFC Innovation Days have been condensed into a one-day format — the Innovation Day & Forum — on Thursday, September 17. Participants can exhibit at dedicated touchpoints and deliver innovation pitches on stage, with an award presented by a jury and the audience. Additionally, the Paul Schlack Prize 2026 (submission deadline June 23) and the Lenzing Young Scientist Award continue to foster research in man-made fibers.

Dornbirn GFC's international push is evident: the Dornbirn GFC Korea event in Seoul in May 2026 attracted over 250 participants, and key Korean experts will attend the main congress in Dornbirn this September.

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What the Congress Signals About the Fiber Industry's Priorities

Béatrice Moureaux Takes the Helm

The appointment of a managing director with deep technical and sustainability credentials signals an intent to tighten the congress's focus on practical, industry-wide transformation. Moureaux's roles at DuPont and Glatfelter/Magnera, plus her engagement with the textile recycling alliance ReHubs, align directly with the congress's core themes of circularity and high-performance fibers. Her fluency in English, French and German, and experience in Asia-facing roles, will be instrumental in the stated goal of deepening ties with Asian markets.

Sustainability and Circular Economy Dominate the Agenda

The session topics reveal where the fiber industry sees its biggest challenges and opportunities. Opening talks include a frank discussion on “Reinventing the Man-Made Cellulosic Fiber Industry” and a critical look at the EU Green Deal's Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology, with the Make the Label Count coalition pushing for science-based fiber assessment. ReHubs's dedicated session on textile-to-textile recycling and workwear underscores the shift from recycling pledges to concrete supply-chain collaboration. This concentration of sustainability content suggests that the congress is becoming a key venue where regulatory, technical and commercial positions are forged.

Asia Expansion Bears Fruit

The Seoul congress in May 2026, attended by over 250 Korean industry experts, indicates that Dornbirn GFC's Asia platform is gaining traction. The decision by Korean leaders to travel to the main event in Dornbirn is more than symbolic — it points to a two-way knowledge exchange where European standards in sustainability and advanced fiber technology meet Asia's manufacturing scale and digital transformation initiatives. For European fiber companies, this brings access to Asian supply chains; for Asian firms, it offers insights into regulatory frameworks that increasingly shape global market access.

Innovation Awards as Industry Bellwethers

The Paul Schlack Prize and the Lenzing Young Scientist Award are not just academic honors. Their themes — visionary man-made fiber research and high-performance cellulosics for next-generation applications — mirror the industry's R&D priorities: bio-based feedstocks, chemical recycling, and fibers that combine performance with circular design. The condensed Innovation Day & Forum pitch format, where companies must explain what is new, why it matters, and how it reaches commercialisation, will serve as a real-time gauge of where the industry's near-term innovation bets are placed.

What Industry Professionals Should Do Next

  • Mark your calendar for September 16–18, 2026, in Dornbirn, Austria. Registration for the congress is open; secure a place to join 600 peers from 30+ countries.
  • Research and prize submissions: The Paul Schlack Prize 2026 accepts applications until June 23, 2026 (apply at the CIRFS website). The Lenzing Young Scientist Award is also open, focusing on high-performance cellulosics.
  • If you have an innovation to pitch: The Innovation Day & Forum on September 17 condenses exhibition and pitching into one day. Prepare a clear answer to the “What? Why? How?” framework — novelty, industry value, and commercialisation stage — to compete for the Dornbirn GFC Innovation Day & Forum Award.
  • For Asian industry players: Following the Seoul event, Dornbirn GFC Asia is expanding. Leverage the network to build ties between Asian manufacturing and European sustainability expertise. Attend the main congress if you want to influence the global fiber agenda; Korean experts will be present in force.
  • Monitor the session themes: The focus on PEF methodology, nonwovens, workwear recycling and man-made cellulosics signals where EU regulation and brand expectations will bite soon. Companies with exposure to the European market should study the Make the Label Count arguments and prepare for more stringent fiber footprint assessments.