Hosted this year by FEICA – the Association of the European Adhesive & Sealant Industry, the event takes place every four years, providing a unique opportunity for industry professionals from across the globe to gather. The three-day event will include plenary sessions, breakout tracks, an EXPO, and a number of social and networking events, giving delegates opportunities to connect through both formal programming and informal networking events.

Speakers and Keynotes

The speaker lineup for WAC will include a mix of industry-specific technical presentations with broader outside perspectives. Matthew Griffin, futurist and founder of the 311 Institute, and Dr Norman Goldberg, former CEO of tesa SE, will kick off WAC 2026 with two keynote addresses. In his presentation, “Leadership in a VUCA-MAX World,” Griffin will discuss emerging sources of disruption and the leadership strategies, organizational approaches, and cultural shifts that can help companies adapt, innovate, and remain competitive. Goldberg’s presentation, “From Disruption to Readiness: Leading Organizations Through Real Trade-offs,” will examine how leaders navigate complexity, make difficult strategic decisions, and build organizations that balance near-term execution with long-term resilience.

After the keynote addresses, attendees will be able to choose from breakout sessions that cover topics from smart additives for advanced adhesive formulations to precision application and process control.

The program on Thursday will include an executive address from Laurent Peyronneau, executive vice president, Bostik, and member of Arkema’s executive committee, who will speak about geoeconomic resilience and its importance in today’s business climate. He will explore how advances in batteries, bio-based materials, circularity, and adhesive technologies are helping drive industrial resilience through materials innovation and sustainable development. Following Peyronneau, Dr. Keyu Jin, global economist and the author of The New China Playbook: Beyond Capitalism and Socialism, will give her presentation, “The Frontier of the New Geoeconomy: Supply Chains and Technology.” Jin will examine how shifting trade patterns, regionalization, and geopolitical uncertainty are reshaping global supply chains, and will share strategies for building resilience while maintaining competitiveness.

The Thursday afternoon plenary session will feature an executive address by Mark Dorn, executive vice president, Henkel Adhesive Technologies, and member of the Henkel Management Board, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, and a keynote presentation by Terence Mauri, founder of the future trends think tank Hack Future Lab Inc. and an entrepreneur mentor-in-residence at MIT. Dorn will outline how Henkel is preparing for the shifting regulatory and sustainability landscape along with the emerging industrial data ecosystems in his address, “Shaping in a World of Constant Change.” In his presentation, “Future IQ: Why Playing it Safe is the Biggest Risk,” Mauri will outline strategies for strengthening organizational agility, resilience, and decision-making, with practical approaches for turning long-term goals into measurable short-term actions.

Delegates will have opportunities on Thursday morning and afternoon to attend breakout sessions with topics including market dynamics and collaboration, reversible and on-demand debonding, advanced hot-melt technologies for assembly, SMP formulation, performance and compliance in packaging systems, sustainable PU systems, research advances, and de-fossilization and circularity in adhesives.

Friday will begin with the final plenary session. Celeste Mastin, president and chief executive officer of H.B. Fuller, will give the executive address, titled “The Power of People in an Unpredictable World.” Following Mastin, Peter Hinssen, author and entrepreneur, will give the last keynote of the event, “The Never Normal: How to Leverage the Uncertainty Principle.” Hinssen’s presentation will reframe volatility as a strategic advantage and share practical strategies for building organizations that move faster, think bigger, and adapt with confidence. Listeners will learn how to transform disruptions, whether technological, geopolitical, or ecological, into momentum so that companies can become centers of progress.

One round of breakout sessions will be offered on Friday morning. Topics include data-driven innovation, SMP chemistry, next-generation adhesive and sealant chemistry, and sustainable and high-performance hot-melt solutions. A closing networking lunch will follow the breakout sessions and will include an announcement about WAC 2030.

The EXPO

Running in tandem with the conference sessions, the WAC 2026 EXPO centers around a tabletop exhibition providing producers, distributors, suppliers, and service providers with a platform to showcase products and innovations. The EXPO will highlight the latest sustainable solutions and technical advances in the sector, reinforcing the conference themes of circularity and sustainability.

Networking Opportunities

WAC 2026 is offering an extensive social program to balance the formal sessions and promote relationship building. The event opens with a welcome cocktail reception the evening of September 16 for all delegates and partners. A conference dinner, with the theme, “A Night in London,” will take place Thursday evening, September 17, providing additional opportunities for networking. Additional opportunities include emerging leaders workshops aimed at the next generation of industry professionals, along with the EXPO itself.

For more information, visit www.wac2026.org.