The Russian packaging industry is in the midst of a significant transformation. Driven by a booming e-commerce sector, a national push for import substitution, and stringent new regulations on waste management, the demand for innovative packaging machinery, sustainable materials, and efficient recycling technologies has never been higher.
For manufacturers and distributors of packaging equipment, materials, and labeling technologies, Moscow is the undisputed gateway to the Russian and CIS markets. The city hosts a major annual event week that serves as the epicenter of the industry, combining packaging, plastics, and recycling into a single powerhouse exhibition.
Here is your essential guide to Moscow’s premier packaging industry events for 2026 and beyond.
The Flagship Event Week: UPAKEXPO, RUPLASTICA & RECYCLING SOLUTIONS (January)
If your business involves anything from flexible packaging films and corrugated boxes to industrial blow molding machines or plastic shredders, the last week of January is your most important date of the year.
This “Alliance of Projects” brings together three complementary exhibitions under one roof, creating the largest gathering of the packaging, plastics, and recycling industries in Russia and Eastern Europe.
Key Details at a Glance
| Event | Focus Area | Dates (2026) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPAKEXPO | Packaging equipment, finished packaging, labels, materials | Jan 27 – 30, 2026 | Annual |
| RUPLASTICA | Plastics & rubber machinery, raw materials, polymers | Jan 27 – 30, 2026 | Annual |
| RECYCLING SOLUTIONS | Waste recycling & utilization technologies | Jan 27 – 30, 2026 | Annual |
| ADDITIVE MINDED | 3D printing & additive manufacturing technologies | Jan 27 – 30, 2026 | Annual |
| MOULDS & DIES | Injection molds & dies for production | Jan 27 – 30, 2026 | Annual |
Location: Crocus Expo International Exhibition Center, Moscow
2026 Edition Schedule: January 27 – 30, 2026
Understanding the Brand Evolution
It is important to note a recent branding change. The packaging exhibition was historically known as Upakovka (the Russian word for “packaging”). As of 2026, it has been rebranded to UPAKEXPO. Similarly, the plastics exhibition, formerly called interplastica, has been rebranded as RUPLASTICA.
This rebranding reflects a strategic shift to better position these events within the current market realities and to emphasize a distinctly international and modern identity.
Why This Event Week Matters
1. Massive Scale and Professional Attendance
The co-location of these events creates an unparalleled concentration of industry professionals. The combined 2026 edition is projected to feature:
- Over 1,100 exhibitor companies
- Approximately 30,000 industry specialists across all allied projects
- Exhibition space exceeding 25,000 square meters for the plastics sector alone, with the packaging sector adding significant additional square footage
2. True International Participation
While Russian domestic manufacturers play a significant role, the international presence is substantial and growing. The combined events draw exhibitors from over 20 countries, including Russia, Turkey, Iran, China, the UAE, Brazil, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, India, Egypt, Italy, Germany, and Belarus.
Foreign participation from China, Turkey, India, and Iran has been particularly strong, as international suppliers step in to fill market gaps and establish new distribution channels.
3. The “Big Three” Under One Roof
The simultaneous scheduling of UPAKEXPO, RUPLASTICA, and RECYCLING SOLUTIONS is strategically brilliant for attendees. It allows a visitor to trace the entire lifecycle of a package in a single trip:
- RUPLASTICA showcases the raw polymers and processing machinery that create the base materials.
- UPAKEXPO displays the equipment that turns those materials into finished packaging, as well as the ready-made packaging solutions themselves.
- RECYCLING SOLUTIONS closes the loop by presenting the technologies that process post-consumer packaging waste back into usable raw materials.
Detailed Exhibition Breakdowns
UPAKEXPO (Packaging)
The Focus: UPAKEXPO serves as the meeting place for manufacturers and suppliers of packaging equipment, finished packaging, packaging materials, labeling technologies, and ancillary services.
Key Product Categories:
- Packaging Machinery & Equipment: Filling, capping, sealing, wrapping, cartoning, and labeling machines.
- Finished Packaging: Ready-made packaging for food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and industrial goods, including boxes, bottles, containers, and bags.
- Packaging Materials: Films (stretch, shrink, barrier, biodegradable), foils, paper, adhesives, tapes, and cushioning materials.
- Printing & Labeling: Printing technologies for flexible packaging, label application systems, and decorative solutions.
RUPLASTICA (Plastics & Rubber)
The Focus: RUPLASTICA covers the entire polymer industry value chain, from raw materials and compounds to processing machinery and finished products.
Key Product Categories:
- Machinery: Extrusion lines, injection molding machines, blow molding equipment, thermoforming machines, and auxiliary equipment.
- Raw Materials & Additives: Thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, masterbatches, fillers, and reinforcements.
- Films & Sheeting: A remarkably comprehensive range of films, including PE and PET films, barrier films, biodegradable films, shrink films, stretch films, vacuum films, and agricultural films.
- Semi-Finished Products & Molds: Technical parts, molds, dies, and components.
RECYCLING SOLUTIONS (Waste Management)
The Focus: This exhibition is dedicated to waste recycling and utilization technologies, with a strong emphasis on plastic processing and recovery.
Why It’s Unique: RECYCLING SOLUTIONS is described as a “unique platform” where exhibitors demonstrate real-world applications of recycling technology. Visitors can see machinery actively running and discuss tailored solutions directly with manufacturers. The exhibition also serves as a hub for strategic partnerships, bringing together producers, recycling associations, environmental funds, and government regulators.
Key Product Categories:
- Recycling Machinery: Shredders, granulators, pulverizers, extruders, washing lines, and sorting systems.
- Recovery Technologies: Cold and compression pressing, injection, extrusion, calendaring, orientation drawing, and deep recovery processes.
- Advanced Materials: Biodegradable polymers and chemical recycling innovations.
Beyond the Exhibition Floor: The Business Forum
A significant value-add of the event week is the comprehensive business forum. The 2026 edition will feature five dedicated tracks:
- POLYMER PLAZA: A forum for the polymer industry, covering market trends, raw material pricing, and processing innovations.
- INNOVATION PACK: A packaging and printing industry forum focusing on design trends, sustainable materials, and digital printing technologies.
- RECYCLING SOLUTIONS: An economics-focused conference on waste management, government support measures, and market opportunities in recycling.
- ADDITIVE MINDED: An expert meeting on 3D printing technologies for industrial applications.
- International Polymer Hackathon: A student competition aimed at fostering the next generation of industry talent.
Looking Ahead: UPAKEXPO 2027
If you cannot make the 2026 edition, planning for 2027 is already underway. The dates for the next edition have been confirmed.
- Event: UPAKEXPO 2027
- Dates: January 26 – 29, 2027
- Venue: Crocus Expo, Moscow
Based on projections, visitors can expect:
- 40000 sqm of exhibition space
- 1000+ exhibitors
- 33000+ professional visitors
Why Moscow Matters for the Global Packaging Industry
1. The Import Substitution Imperative
The departure or scaling back of certain Western packaging machinery and material suppliers has created a significant market vacuum. Russian packaging converters and end-users are actively seeking reliable, high-quality alternatives from Asia, the Middle East, and domestic producers. This “blue ocean” dynamic presents a substantial opportunity for non-European suppliers.
2. E-Commerce as a Growth Driver
Russia’s e-commerce market continues to expand rapidly, driving unprecedented demand for corrugated boxes, protective packaging (bubble wrap, air pillows), shipping labels, and tamper-evident seals. This retail-driven demand is transforming the packaging landscape.
3. Sustainability as a Regulatory Mandate
Russia is implementing stricter regulations on packaging waste, with extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes gaining traction. This has created urgent demand for recyclable materials, lightweighting technologies, and post-consumer recycling infrastructure.
4. The B2B Efficiency of Russian Trade Shows
Russian exhibitions are renowned for their transactional focus. Attendees come prepared with specific purchasing objectives, technical requirements, and decision-making authority. This makes the Moscow event week an exceptionally efficient sales environment for serious suppliers.
5. Gateway to the EAEU
Moscow serves as the distribution and logistics hub for the entire Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), including Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan. Establishing a presence at a Moscow trade fair provides access to a unified market of nearly 200 million consumers without additional customs barriers.
Final Thoughts
Whether you manufacture high-speed filling lines, supply biodegradable stretch film, or operate industrial plastic shredders, the combined UPAKEXPO, RUPLASTICA, and RECYCLING SOLUTIONS event week offers unparalleled access to the Russian and CIS markets.
UPAKEXPO 2027 is already confirmed for January 26–29, 2027.
In a global packaging industry increasingly defined by regional dynamics, Moscow has solidified its position as the essential capital for the Eurasian packaging, plastics, and recycling sectors. For any serious supplier looking to expand into this market, January in Moscow is where the deals are sealed.