From 21 to 23 April 2026, ALTENPFLEGE in Essen will once again become the central meeting point for the care sector. In addition to the trade fair congress, the leading industry event presents a strong and forward‑looking supporting programme featuring the large ALTENPFLEGE Arena, three clearly focused specialist forums, and the AVENEO special show including the Newcomer Challenge. Together, they showcase how care, support and innovation will evolve in the coming years. Visitors will again have the chance to collect valuable training credits recognised by RbP – the exact number will be announced shortly.
The ALTENPFLEGE Arena (Hall 7, Stand 422) offers a varied stage programme across all three days of the fair, combining care‑related topics with culture, emotion and future‑oriented content. The Arena opens on 21 April with the official opening of the fair, followed by musical contributions, artistic impulses and thought‑provoking sessions such as “Tattoo on Stage – Identity in Old Age”, “When the Body Speaks”, and a documentary discussion on farewell culture. Improvisational theatre, reflections on end‑of‑life culture, robotics in care and music therapy further enrich the programme. A major highlight of day one: The Korian Foundation for Care and Dignified Ageing presents the Korian Foundation Award “Diversity and Respect in Care”. Established in 2021 and endowed with €2,000, the award recognises facilities, teams or organisations that demonstrate a diversity‑sensitive approach or have taken concrete steps towards greater diversity and respect.
On 22 April, the Arena addresses topics ranging from sexuality in old age and art against forgetting to social‑media formats, new perspectives on dementia and social responsibility in care. On this day, the top‑ranked submissions of the Newcomer Challenge are presented and the winners of the Kummerfeldt Foundation Award are honoured. On 23 April, the spotlight shifts to violence prevention, professional guidance in intimacy, legal issues, international perspectives on care, and the role of digitalisation. The Arena programme blends professional depth with cultural impulses, impressively demonstrating the diversity of modern care.
The new Forum Nursing Perspectives (Hall 8, Stand 407) offers a dense three‑day programme for nursing professionals focusing on mental health, resilience and professional attitude. On 21 April, topics range from psychological stability and hearing‑friendly working environments to effective instruction methods, stress management, the professional code of conduct and ethical orientation. On 22 April, the forum explores successful onboarding, self‑care, practical resilience strategies, modern working‑time models and healthy communication. On 23 April, further contributions highlight how digitalisation, burnout prevention and contemporary leadership can provide tangible relief in everyday nursing practice. The forum thus becomes a central venue for those committed to strengthening working conditions and health resources in the long term.
The Forum Digital & Innovative (Hall 6, Stand 911) showcases how digital technologies can significantly improve care processes. On 21 April, the forum addresses the economic foundations of high‑quality care and hidden process costs before Markus Wilhelm and Tobias Gross offer an outlook on the future of the care sector.
On 22 April, everything revolves around artificial intelligence: Benno Rus and Julia Hartung explain how AI and modern management systems set new standards in documentation and safety, while Sven Schöner demonstrates how intuitive software supports ambulatory teams.
On 23 April, Thorsten Blocher and Dr Nadine Treff emphasise the role of the electronic patient record for transparent care processes before Tobias Gross and Dustin Struwe discuss what defines a successful team culture in care.
In Hall 5, Stand 524, the Forum Catering, Housekeeping & Living highlights the importance of essential service processes for quality of life in care facilities. On 21 April, the programme ranges from impulses for optimal meal design and AI‑supported catering systems to hygiene and housekeeping concepts and a live demonstration on chewing and swallowing disorders. Laundry logistics, sustainable full‑day catering and dementia‑sensitive accessibility complete the day.
On 22 April, cleaning robots, qualification in housekeeping, a live demo on key snacks and a panel on malnutrition and modern care kitchens take centre stage. On 23 April, the programme returns to AI‑based kitchen processes, efficient commissioning of cleaning services and professional laundry care, before a final live demonstration shows how sustainable catering can be implemented in an appealing everyday format.
The AVENEO special show once again presents itself in 2026 as the innovation hotspot of ALTENPFLEGE, bringing together around 50 start‑ups and young companies showcasing pioneering solutions for everyday care – from smart technologies to digital tools and innovative care concepts that simplify workflows, relieve staff and enhance quality of life.
A special highlight is the Newcomer Challenge 2026, whose jury meets on 20 April 2026 to select the most innovative submissions from the care sector. The award ceremony takes place the same day as part of the AVENEO Pre‑Opening. The public presentation of the top‑ranked innovations follows on 22 April at 2:00 p.m. in the ALTENPFLEGE Arena (Hall 7), before the Audience Award is presented on 23 April at 2:00 p.m. at the Forum Digital & Innovative (Hall 6).
The ALTENPFLEGE 2026 guided tours offer visitors the opportunity to experience innovations and best‑practice solutions directly in use. In the AVENEO special show, two themed tours take place daily: The tour “Prevention – It’s Never Too Late” at 11:00 a.m. demonstrates how innovative concepts help maintain independence and delay the need for care. At 1:00 p.m., the tour “AI in Elderly Care – Potentials and Limitations” highlights how artificial intelligence already supports processes, documentation and relief – and where technical or ethical challenges remain. Meeting point for both tours is the AVENEO espresso bar in Hall 6.
Additionally, the Forum Catering, Housekeeping & Living offers three guided tours focusing on Cleaning, The Laundry Cycle – Textiles and Laundry, and Food Services. Under expert guidance, these tours present practical solutions for sustainable procurement, modern cleaning processes, efficient laundry logistics and high‑quality catering management. The tours take place on selected days at fixed times and start at the DGH stand in Hall 5.
