The thirtieth edition of FMX 2026 is moving forward strongly in Stuttgart. The second day maintained a dynamic atmosphere with full rooms and high-level workshops. SideFX has become the center of attention, dedicating two days to Houdini. Studios like RISE, Guerrilla VFX, and Union VFX share their workflows, while Adobe, Foundry, and Chaos reinforce their presence. Autodesk, Unreal, and Blender appear more discreet.
Houdini and procedural efficiency in VFX workflows 🔥
SideFX's presentations have centered the debate on pipeline optimization. RISE demonstrated how to handle large-scale fluid simulations with custom nodes, reducing render times. Guerrilla VFX presented its procedural environment generation system, integrating Houdini with game engines. Union VFX, for its part, highlighted the use of VEX to automate repetitive tasks. The practical approach of these talks offered applicable solutions for real projects, without major technical fanfare.
Autodesk and Blender: bit players at the FMX party 😅
While Houdini takes the applause and fills the rooms, Autodesk and Blender seem to have come to Stuttgart as tourists. Their booths are so quiet that even attendees asked if they were on break. Blender, with its noisy online community, here just hands out stickers. Autodesk, for its part, must be saving its strength for when Maya stops being the elephant in the room.