Bending-active gridshells are a distinct category of grid structures achieved through elastic bending of initially straight profiles arranged in perpendicular layers and interconnected by hinge joints. These joints permit free in-plane rotation, thereby enabling the progressive transformation from the initial planar configuration to the desired curved shape. Rigorous modelling of hinge joint behavior is crucial for an accurate simulation of bending-active gridshells. Nevertheless, prior numerical studies have relied on oversimplified approximations in this regard. To overcome these limitations, this study developed an explicit dynamic numerical procedure, where the hinge joints are modelled as rigid links characterized by paired nodes that represent the actual hinge length. The proposed procedure incorporates all six nodal degrees of freedom (DoFs). This not only facilitates modelling the spatial behavior of the constituent profiles but, more importantly, allows for independent treatment of the in-plane rotational DoFs of a hinge joint’s paired nodes. Simultaneously, it addresses the joint’s coupling behavior in relation to the translational and out-of-plane rotational DoFs. The proposed procedure was verified through benchmark numerical tests. Furthermore, validation was conducted through forming and loading tests on a 4.60-m-span bending-active gridshell model constructed from carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips.