Utrecht, 13 February 2026 - With 3,731 visitors, Royal Jaarbeurs looks back on a particularly successful edition of IPON 2026. For the first time, the trade fair was organised entirely by Jaarbeurs . And that was palpable on the floor. For two days, the focus was on educational innovation and the great need for connecting, innovating and learning together became visible.
A powerful opening full of symbolism
The official opening was provided by Claire Boonstra, founder of Operation Education, who immediately struck a chord with her call for collective change. Students of the Herman Brood Academy reinforced that message with a specially written song, described by visitors as 'a goose-bump start to two inspiring days'. Audrey Wilschut, cluster manager Care & Education at Jaarbeurs: "From the very first moment, we felt the energy and curiosity in the room. Teachers and school leaders not only want to know what is possible with technology, they especially want to learn how to use it responsibly and effectively."
Urgency, inspiration and real conversations
The dynamics on the floor were widely recognised by exhibitors, visitors and speakers.
Exhibitors: "The best thing is the connection. Here you meet your target group and know what is really going on in education." One visitor commented: "It is inspiring to be here. There is a lot of knowledge and many new ideas that you can immediately take back to your school team." Keynote, comedian and teacher Peter Heerschop noted how engaged the audience was, paying full attention to the moment and the new stories. "I experienced it as delightful!" Also chairman of the day Jochem van Gelder: "Every session was jam-packed. You sense that people are thinking: change is inevitable. Many people I know from education are getting stuck. We have to do something with that." The combination of curiosity, urgency and professional drive made IPON 2026 an edition in which everything and everyone got moving.
Innovation awards reward innovators from the field
During the fair, the top three of the IPON Innovation Awards were also announced, chosen by a professional jury. Mediajungle won the top prize, followed by Taalheld and Rekenmethode bijlex. Niels Bloembergen and Evelyn Verburgh of Mediajungle: "The crowning glory of all the hard work we have done, you are working on something you believe in. Then when it is finally seen by others that this can work, that's cool." The audience award went to Belvaardig. Denise Brilman and Marjolein ter Elst-van Huizum of Belvaardig: "That we won the audience award is a dream come true. How good it is that we are supported by the community we do it for." Visitors could view the 30 innovations submitted in the IPON Awards 2026 zone on the exhibition floor.
New impetus: podcast 'Between lessons' launched
Behind the scenes, the new education podcast 'Between lessons' was recorded during the fair. The first episode, an interview with the winner of the Innovation Award, is available from today. The podcast offers education professionals inspiration, practical insights and stories from the .
Next year, the National Education Exhibition (NOT) will take place from 19 to 23 January 2027 and IPON will return with a new edition in 2028.
