Additive manufacturing 2026: key technologies, materials and industry trends

Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, has shifted in recent years from mostly prototype applications to real production manufacturing across a wide range of industries. It's no longer just about speed of development or design freedom, but the systematic incorporation of additive technologies as a full-fledged manufacturing process in aerospace, defense, automotive, healthcare and energy.

Market growth and forecasts for 2026

According to global analyst studies (Wohlers Report 2025, Fortune Business Insights, 2025), the additive manufacturing market will reach a value of approximately USD 30.22 billion in 2025 and is expected to surpass USD 37 billion in 2026, with a long-term growth rate (CAGR) estimated to be as high as 23-24% during the period 2026-2035 in optimistic scenarios.

This growth is being driven by a shift from prototyping to the production of end-functional parts, deeper integration of 3D printing into digital supply chains, and the rapid development of material portfolios. Companies such as Airbus, Boeing, BMW, Lockheed Martin and GE Aerospace are now openly reporting the use of additive manufacturing for mass production of certified components, not just for development purposes.

Key technologies that will set the trend in 2026

1. Industrial polymer 3D printing: MJF and advanced FDM systems

Powdered polymer 3D printing technologies, such as HP Multi Jet Fusion, continue to reduce part costs (by up to tens of percent in some applications) and increase productivity through optimized process parameters and a wider range of materials with higher recyclability rates. At the same time, HP is systematically developing the entire industrial ecosystem - from materials to software to digitizing manufacturing workflows - which is boosting the use of 3D printing in healthcare, engineering, automotive and defense.

Alongside this, Stratasys is also playing an important role, having significantly expanded its industrial portfolio in recent years, not only in FDM technology, but also in the field of high-precision photopolymer-based 3D printing (DLP). While FDM is moving towards the mass production of functional and structural parts thanks to new filaments with higher temperature resistance, better isotropy of mechanical properties and available certifications for aerospace and defence, DLP technology is opening up new opportunities, particularly in the field of specialty materials. These include silicone materials for flexible and functional parts, which are expected to see the introduction of medical-certified white silicone in 2026, as well as ceramic-filled resins, which are an effective alternative to prototype aluminium moulds for injection moulding. These materials further expand the use of polymer 3D printing from prototyping towards tooling and production applications.

2. 3D printing from metals and new process approaches

Technologies for 3D printing from metals, including SLM (Selective Laser Melting) or, EBM (Electron Beam Melting) methods from Wayland Additive with NeuBeam® technology, are gaining additional material qualifications and significantly increasing process stability. Better microstructure control, lower internal stresses and higher repeatability open the way to industrial deployment in demanding applications - from heat exchangers and motor components to structural parts for UAVs and defense systems.

The year 2026 brings a further shift towards mass production of metal parts, even from materials that were previously difficult to process or economically inefficient from an additive manufacturing perspective.

This development is closely linked to the gradual democratisation of 3D printing from metals. Manufacturers such as Xact Metal are reporting year-on-year order growth in excess of 30%, driven by demand for affordable PBF-L systems for industrial applications. Growing interest in fine-grain metal printing (µHD) and multi-laser systems confirms the trend of metal additive manufacturing shifting from prototyping to mass and decentralized production, particularly in the defense, medical and moldmaking sectors (Xact Metal press release "Xact Metal Achieves Over 30% Growth in 2025", 2025).

3. Next generation composite additive manufacturing: Impossible Objects (CBAM)

In addition to polymer and metal technologies, composite additive manufacturing, specifically Composite-Based Additive Manufacturing ( CBAM) technology from Impossible Objects, is also beginning to make significant inroads in 2026. This technology combines continuous fibre reinforcement (carbon or glass fibre) with a thermoplastic matrix to produce parts with exceptional strength-to-weight ratios.

CBAM is distinguished from conventional composite and additive processes by its ability to locally control the orientation of the reinforcement and produce structures with mechanical properties comparable to conventional laminated composites, but with significantly higher geometric flexibility. In 2026, this technology is expected to become widespread, particularly in aerospace, UAV systems and industrial applications where a combination of low weight, stiffness and thermal stability is key.

Predictions for 2026: where additive manufacturing will really go

The year 2026 will not be marked by a mere increase in the number of applications, but above all by the consolidation and industrialization of additive manufacturing. The fastest growth will be in technologies and processes that meet three key criteria: repeatable quality, industrial certifiability and economic scalability.

Significant development is expected especially in the area of metal 3D printing for functional and structural parts and in the area of industrial polymer 3D printing for medium and larger series. Parallel to this, composite additive manufacturing will grow in importance, naturally filling the gap between metal and polymer parts and offering new design possibilities, especially in the aerospace and defense industry.

"In 2026, the main question will no longer be whether to use additive manufacturing, but which technology to choose for a specific part function. We see a clear shift from experimental applications to processes that are stable, qualifiable and capable of long-term production. Technologies that can combine material performance, geometric freedom and industrial repeatability will play a key role."

Ondřej Štefek, co-owner of 3Dees Industries

The direction of additive manufacturing in 2026 and beyond

Additive manufacturing is entering a phase of technological maturity in 2026. One-size-fits-all solutions are giving way to specialized technologies optimized for specific materials, applications and industry segments. The combination of metal 3D printing, advanced polymer processes and composite additive manufacturing enables manufacturers to design and produce parts that were technologically or economically unattainable just a few years ago.

It is the ability to purposefully choose the right technology and material for a specific job that will become a critical factor for competitiveness in industrial manufacturing in 2026.