AI and Robotics Take Center Stage at InnoTrans 2026: 180 World Premieres

Artificial intelligence is on board, robots are taking on inspection tasks, and digital systems are helping to save energy: At InnoTrans 2026 (September 22–25), more than 3,100 exhibitors will present 180 world premieres. The World Innovation Guide, which summarizes the innovations, reveals a clear trend: automation and robotics are no longer just a vision of the future in the rail industry. They are being used in trains and workshops as well as in the maintenance of rail infrastructure and in enhancing the travel experience.

At the same time, the importance of new propulsion technologies is becoming just as evident as the growing relevance of artificial intelligence. AI no longer merely analyzes data in the background but is becoming an integral part of concrete applications and automated processes within the rail system.

“The 180 world premieres impressively demonstrate the pace at which the rail industry is driving innovation. It is particularly exciting to see that artificial intelligence is increasingly being applied in very specific ways – from inspection and energy-efficient operation to the passenger experience,” says Kerstin Schulz, Director of InnoTrans. “At the same time, we see the important role that digitalization and automation play in the modernization of rail infrastructure.”

World Innovation Tours at InnoTrans

Most of the innovations at InnoTrans 2026 will be found in the Railway Technology segment, the largest segment of the world’s leading trade fair for transportation technology. All InnoTrans segments Interiors, Railway Infrastructure, Public Transport, and Tunnel Construction will be represented.

Trade visitors and media representatives will have the opportunity to discover these innovations during guided themed tours. A total of six different World Innovation Tours will be offered at InnoTrans.