Welcome to a new special series here on The Active Amputee. A two-week run-up to OTWorld 2026 in Leipzig, a front-row account from the fair itself sharing what I see, hear, test, question, and learn along the way, followed by some refeltions once I am back home and find some time to sort through countless impressions and sort out my take-aways. 

OTWorld has always been one of the key meeting points for the prosthetic industry and users alike: Where ideas become prototypes, prototypes become products, and conversations turn into collaborations. But 2026 raises the stakes even higher. This year marks the 50th anniversary of OTWorld, and that kind of milestone tends to bring ambition with it. What will be this year's big announcements, bold claims, or the “next big thing”? And more importantly: What will the OTWorld 2026 bring in terms of practical, real-world progress that actually reaches people who use prosthetics and orthotics every day?

Throughout May, I’ll be reporting regularly across the full arc of the event:

• Before the fair: What I’m watching, what topics seem to be gaining momentum, and what I’m hoping to see addressed - especially where innovation meets real-life usability.
• From Leipzig: On-the-ground updates from the OTWorld itself: impressions, observations, interviews, highlights, and the things that don’t fit neatly into marketing brochures.
• After the doors close: Reflections, take-aways, and what this year’s OTWorld might mean for the months and years ahead - both for the industry and for our community.

This will be a series in multiple formats, because different conversations need different ways of being told. Expect written posts, audio, and video. Some quick check-ins, some deeper dives. My goal is to make this coverage useful for two audiences at once: Businesses and professionals in the O&P space - clinicians, manufacturers, researchers, service providers - anyone who wants a grounded perspective on what’s emerging and why it matters. And the wider limb loss and limb difference community. People who wear prosthetic and orthotic devices, families, peers, advocates, and anyone curious about what progress looks like when you measure it in daily life, not press releases.

Because that’s the lens I bring as The Active Amputee: Practical, curious, and user-centered. I’m interested in innovation, yes. But also in the small details that decide whether something becomes a trusted tool or ends up unused. Comfort. Adjustability. Repairability. Training. Realistic expectations. Honest conversations about limitations. And the lived experience behind the technology.

If you’re planning to visit OTWorld in Leipzig, I hope this series adds to your excitement and helps you navigate what to look for. If you’re not going, I hope you’ll still check in regularly: I’ll do my best to bring the fair to you, translate the trends into plain language, and share insights you can actually use.

So consider this my invitation to you: Follow along through May as the countdown unfolds. OTWorld 2026 is approaching fast. And with the 50th anniversary, the bar is high. Let’s see if the event rises to meet our expectations.

• Next-gen prosthetics you can actually try: From smarter components to more intuitive control, the show floor is where the newest solutions move from 'announced' to 'hands-on'.
• Lifestyle is having a moment: Products like the Anatomic Studios covers (in the photo above) show how aesthetics, identity, and everyday wearability are evolving fast.
• Community that changes your perspective:  Come say hi and meet me in person at the ClickMedical booth, swap real-world experience, and connect with people who live and breathe O&P.

Save the date: OTWorld 2026: 19-22- May 2026 in Leipzig • Plan your trip + tickets: https://www.ot-world.com/en/visit/visitor-information/