In order to improve a bending machine for flat material, comprising a machine frame, a lower beam with lower beam tool arranged on the machine frame and an upper beam with upper beam tool arranged on the machine frame, these beams being movable relative to one another for fixing the flat material in position, as well as a bending beam which has a bending beam tool receiving means adapted to be equipped with a bending beam tool and is held on the machine frame so as to be pivotable about an axis of rotation in order to bend the flat material fixed in position by the upper beam and the lower beam, such that a bowing of the bending beam tool is possible in as simple a manner as possible it is suggested that the bending beam tool receiving means be provided with an adjustable bowing device which supports a foot of the bending beam tool only in one section when seen in bending direction so that the foot abuts, in addition, essentially on a rear contact surface of the bending beam tool receiving means in a supported manner when the bending forces occur.