Filter element with optimized fold assembly

Filter element for an air filter of an internal combustion engine with a first filter bellows (10) having a plurality of filter pleats (15), each with a first pleat leg (15a) and a second pleat leg (15b) that converge at a pleat edge (15c), wherein the first filter bellows (10) in a radial expansion direction has a first section (16) with a greater curvature and an adjacent second section (18) with a smaller curvature, wherein in the second section (18) the inclination of the filter pleats (15) at least partially increases in the direction of an adjacent first section (16).