Experience meets AI: Wildcard brings two tech partners to Frankfurter Buchmesse 2026
Frankfurt-based software studio Garage51 and Irish start-up Druid Learning win a free stand at FBM26.
The winners of the Frankfurter Buchmesse Wildcard for Publishing Partners have been announced: the award goes to the software company Garage51 from Frankfurt and the technology start-up Druid Learning from Dublin. They will each receive a free 8 m² exhibition stand at the upcoming Frankfurter Buchmesse (7–11 October 2026), giving them the opportunity to present their solutions to an international audience of experts.
The 2026 Wildcard for Publishing Partners was awarded in two categories: one for a company from the DACH region and one for an international company. A total of around 540 applications were received. Publishing partners are companies that provide services, technologies or infrastructure along the entire publishing value chain.
Wildcard winner DACH: Garage51 brings experience expertise
The Garage51 team brings a perspective that is currently underrepresented in publishing: the company enters the book world with proven digital and experience expertise from other industries, appealing in particular to players with limited digital resources. For touchpoints such as smartphones, social media, trade fairs, points of sale and cultural venues, Garage51 offers to convert publishing content into digital formats – as part of a larger digital ecosystem. A particular focus here is on immersive learning.
Sven Schondelmaier, Director Digital Experience at Garage51, says: "We are delighted to be participating in FBM26 as a Frankfurt-based software studio. Of course, local patriotism plays a role, but above all, we will be immersing ourselves in our ‘Digital Story Lab’ together with readers, bookshops, online retailers and publishers. Here, we will show how printed text can be turned into digital, interactive experiences. Our approach is to make knowledge transfer accessible, enable immersive learning and create sustainable brand experiences and vibrant communities."
International wildcard winner: Druid Learning makes content AI-ready
The Irish technology start-up transforms legacy content archives into AI-ready datasets for publishing workflows. Through automated processing, Druid Learning enriches metadata and structures content so publishers can use their own archives to power AI applications. Unlike many AI tools, Druid Learning doesn't alter the source content or require publishers to surrender data ownership. Instead, it prepares content so AI can work with it reliably and effectively, keeping full control with the publishers.
Niamh Faller, founder and CEO Druid Learning, says: “I am delighted to be selected as a 2026 wildcard. Innovation versus data sovereignty should never be a choice, AI applications powered by a company's own content archives is a realistic and achievable expectation. I believe the publishing sector can lead AI innovation while retaining full control over proprietary data. I look forward to exploring this topic further at Frankfurter Buchmesse.”
#fbm26: Publishing Partners in Hall 4.1
At Frankfurter Buchmesse 2026, the Publishing Partners will be presenting themselves in Hall 4.1, side by side with renowned international publishers and institutions from the fields of science, specialist information and education. This makes the hall a central meeting place for innovation, knowledge transfer and professional dialogue, offering space for cooperation and fresh impetus for the industry.