Press release | Pentawards Festival returns to Paris Packaging Week 2026 to shape design’s next decade
Paris, 06 November 2025 – Following a highly successful debut in 2025, The Pentawards Festival is returning to Paris Packaging Week in 2026, on 5 & 6 February at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, with renewed ambition to make Paris the global capital of packaging design.
Under the banner “Fuelled by Ideas”, the Festival will deliver two days of cutting-edge design content, global speakers and over 100 award-winning innovations, bringing together the brand, design, sustainability and technology communities shaping the future of packaging.
Free and open to all, the festival celebrates creativity by bringing together designers, agencies and brands through inspiring talks, artistic performances, exclusive content, immersive spaces and unique networking opportunities — all designed to foster collaboration and shape the next wave of packaging innovation.
What’s new for 2026
For 2026, the Festival expands with a more deeply integrated, design-led programme across Paris Packaging Week, including a design hub showcasing standout work from leading agencies including:
- ARD Design – Independent agency based in Vevey, London and Zurich, experts in branding and packaging since 1987
- K Lazer Design Lab – Founded in 2018, exploring the infinite possibilities of holography
- Aktivia Creative Design Agency – Independent Barcelona-based agency specialising in beauty, with over 20 years of experience
- Gentlebrand – Italian agency combining creativity and pragmatism in strategy, identity and packaging design
- Servaire & Co – French agency working with luxury houses such as DIPTYQUE, PRADA and VEUVE CLICQUOT
Attendees can expect live creative performances and real-time idea generation on stage, alongside a sharper focus on the technologies and topics driving change in packaging — from AI and accessibility to the growing commercial impact of design.
Speakers confirmed to date include*:
- Jo Smith, Design & Visual Identity Leader, Innovation and Captain Morgan at Diageo
- Tina Touli, Designer & artist – with a live creative performance on stage
Sam O’Donahue, Co-Founder, Established – 2025 Pentawards Diamond Winner - Jennifer Clements, Senior Project Manager, and Chloe Scanlan, Marketing Manager — Pentawards
Thought leaders from the design industry, among other brands, will also join the speaker lineup (further announcements to be made in due course).
A gallery of world-class, future-defining packaging
A global landmark for packaging design, the Pentawards Festival returns to Paris Packaging Week on 5 and 6 February 2026 for its second edition. This international celebration of creativity will feature two days of talks, debates and immersive experiences, offering a deep dive into the design trends and innovations shaping the future of packaging.
For the second consecutive year, Paris Packaging Week will also present its Perspectives 2026 Trend Report, themed “Cool & Conscious”. Designed as a key reference for the industry, the report explores one of the most powerful movements in packaging today: designs that balance desirability, aesthetics and sustainability. “Cool & Conscious” reflects a new generation of packaging — beautiful, thoughtful, and responsible — where creativity and ethics go hand in hand.
The report brings together insights from designers, brands, agencies and researchers, all sharing their vision of a future where style and sustainability create lasting value. Among this year’s contributors are Louis Marty, CEO of Merci Handy, and Frédéric Dreux, Global R&D Packaging Director at Unilever, who discuss how brands are redefining their identities to unite creativity, environmental responsibility and user experience.
“This project perfectly reflects our vision: showing that it’s possible to create colourful, vibrant packaging that’s both eye-catching and environmentally conscious. At Merci Handy, we love demonstrating that sustainable beauty can be fun and full of magic,” says Louis Marty, CEO of Merci Handy.
A new chapter of innovation begins at Place Vendôme
Over 100 of the world’s most innovative and influential packaging designs will be showcased in Paris, spanning AI-enhanced experiences, radically inclusive beauty, and breakthrough sustainability. The Pentawards exhibition features the standout winners of the 2025 competition, selected by a jury of 50+ experts from brands including Microsoft, Nestlé, Coca-Cola and Unilever.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Pentawards competition in 2026, a special archive selection will also exhibit iconic designs from the past two decades, highlighting the evolution and enduring impact of packaging creativity.
Founded in 2007, the Pentawards is the world’s leading community dedicated to packaging design. Its mission is to recognise excellence, provide ongoing inspiration, and connect people to drive innovation and spark creativity across the global design community.
“Fuelled By Ideas shines a spotlight on the ideas behind the packaging design industry. Ideas that spark creativity, innovation and solutions are as important today as they were 20 years ago when Pentawards launched, and they will continue to be as important to the success of our industry for the next 20 years.” said Adam Ryan, Head of Pentawards. “Last year saw us host our Festival at Paris Packaging Week for the first time to create a global epicentre of packaging design. We can’t wait to do it again for 2026 and bring together design leaders from all over the world who are set to define the next 20 years of packaging design.”
Josh Brooks, Co-Director of Paris Packaging Week, comments: “The return of the Pentawards Festival during Paris Packaging Week perfectly reflects our ambition: to establish Paris as the global capital of packaging design. This second edition will bring fresh creative energy and a unique forward-looking vision to our community, offering a rare opportunity to meet international thought leaders and discover the latest innovations and trends in packaging.”
Paris Packaging Week 2026
Paris Packaging Week offers a tailored experience through its four market-specific exhibitions, each dedicated to a key sector of the packaging industry:
- ADF – the leading event for the aerosol and dispensing systems market
- PCD – the global meeting place for beauty packaging, spanning skincare, makeup, haircare and fragrance
- PLD – the essential event for premium and luxury drinks packaging
- Packaging Première – dedicated to luxury packaging for fashion, watches, jewellery and fine food
- Pentawards Festival – the global celebration of design and creativity in packaging.
Visitor registration is now open – free of charge – at parispackagingweek.com.
Practical Information
- Dates: 5–6 February 2026 (Innovation Awards Gala Party: 4 February)
- Venue: Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Hall 1
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