Running from 26th to 30th January 2026, Gulfood will enter a bold new era shaping global food trade with unmatched scale. Moreover, with 8,500 exhibitors representing 195 countries across 12 sectors. The event will redefine where the global food industry advances.
Thee show introduces an all-new tech vertical and future-focused platforms designed to accelerate transformation across the international food ecosystem.
For the first time ever, Gulfood will span Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Exhibition Centre, creating a monumental industry expansion. Consequently, visitors will experience double the floor space and improved access hubs. There will be seamless connectivity between two of Dubai’s most iconic venues. Furthermore, the global food economy is undergoing major reconfiguration as businesses face tariffs, sourcing restrictions and tightening food security regulations worldwide. Therefore, companies must adopt adaptive models and resilient long-term strategies. This will ensure sustainable expansion despite volatile global economic and regulatory shifts. No event captures this global transformation more comprehensively than Gulfood 2026. It positions itself as the industry’s foremost annual innovation driver.
Aligned with its powerful growth trajectory, Gulfood 2026 will offer immense opportunities for disruptors and innovators seeking first-mover advantage next year. Established and emerging F&B brands will gain new creative presentation capabilities designed to highlight products for international buyer communities. Additionally, first-time exhibitors will benefit from a reimagined platform. This platform showcases breakthrough innovations to a highly diversified global food and beverage audience.
A future-ready event
Gulfood’s expansion allows deeper exploration of product categories, emerging trends and high-impact innovations shaping tomorrow’s global food ecosystem. The event offers a comprehensive showcase of pioneering F&B solutions, firmly setting the global agenda for the industry’s evolving future. Moreover, Gulfood 2026 has evolved into a systems-change platform offering vast opportunities for disruptive concepts and far-reaching product innovation initiatives. New sectors including fresh produce, startups, logistics and grocery trade will significantly enhance global food commerce. This will boost industry-wide innovation potential. Additionally, the Grocery Trade sector will connect visitors with essential staples, pantry goods and high-demand items driving global retail purchasing cycles. This sector will unite importers, exporters, wholesalers and distributors, providing a dynamic platform to source products, negotiate deals and strengthen networks.
More opportunities
With an expanded venue, Gulfood will deliver more conferences, expert panels and networking events featuring global industry leaders and pioneering decision-makers. Moreover, curated pitch sessions and C-suite networking opportunities will allow visitors to witness the industry’s transformation unfold in real time. Expo City Dubai will host the Gulfood World Economy Summit, bringing global CEOs, ministers and visionaries together for high-level strategic collaboration. Additionally, the summit will reshape global food business discussions through forward-looking perspectives, collaborative frameworks and influential industry policy dialogues. Meanwhile, the Al Multaqua ballroom at the Trade Centre will host Future Food 500 spotlighting startups and disruptors driving digital transformation. Furthermore, this immersive three-day program will explore groundbreaking technologies. These technologies redefine efficiency, sustainability and competitiveness across the global food sector. The Pavilion will introduce the Gulfood NXT Stage, a launchpad enabling top startups to pitch innovations to investors and strategic partners. Alongside it, the Startup Investor Lounge will facilitate high-value connections between investors, venture capitalists, corporate leaders and next-generation food pioneers.
gulfood.com
