The world’s largest annual food and beverage sourcing event returns with two sold-out venues and a record-setting 2,80,000 sq m of event space
Dubai makes global exhibition history as Gulfood, the world’s largest annual food and beverage event, running from 26-30 January 2026, becomes the first show ever to operate simultaneously across two mega venues: the iconic Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and the all-new Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City.
In a single record-breaking year, Gulfood delivers an unprecedented 100% expansion, completely selling out over 2,80,000 sq m of event space at both venues, becoming the inaugural global event to unveil the $2.7 billion upgraded DEC. This landmark milestone cements Dubai’s position as the world’s leading hub for mega-scale business events and redefines the future of global food and beverage trade at phenomenal scale.
This dual-venue expansion creates a seamlessly connected universe that enables buyers to source finished goods, fresh categories, commodities, national pavilions, innovations, and next-generation technologies in a single, streamlined journey. It serves as a strategic anchor to extract greater value from adjacent, high-growth domains across the food ecosystem, unlocking powerful new opportunities for buyers, suppliers, and investors.
Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President, DWTC, and CEO of Gulfood organiser KAOUN International, says, “This is a world-record moment for Gulfood, Dubai, and the global food and beverage industry. In a single year, we have achieved 100% growth, delivering the world’s largest annual F&B event across two mega venues simultaneously, a first in global exhibition history. This milestone goes beyond scale to impact, redefining how giga-scale events are designed, delivered, and experienced, and proving such ambition is fully achievable and transformative. By doubling business volumes and opportunity overnight, Gulfood and Dubai now stand as the indisputable nexus of the new global food trade.”
Expansion Unlocks Greater Sourcing Power
As the global food and beverage market accelerates to $11.37 trillion by 2030, with the Middle East emerging as the world’s fastest-growing consumption and redistribution hub, Gulfood concentrates global supply and demand into a five-day trading window, uniting over 8,500 exhibitors showcasing an impressive 1.5 million products from 195 countries.
The 2026 edition records 40% first-time exhibitors, alongside the largest national participation to date from major producing markets including India, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the USA. New exhibiting nations include Luxembourg, Maldives, Rwanda, Slovakia, Sweden, and Uganda, further expanding Gulfood’s global trade footprint and unlocking new growth gateways.
Two Mega Venues, One Integrated Trade Ecosystem
For the first time, Gulfood extends into DEC, anchoring World Food and expanded Rice, Pulses & Grains sectors within Dubai’s future growth corridor and reinforcing the city’s role as a global hub for trade, logistics, and food redistribution.
Within this core commodities landscape, India has been confirmed as the Official Country Partner for Gulfood 2026, represented by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), delivering its largest-ever presence at Gulfood, with over 600 exhibitors, including leading brands such as Amul and Rasna.
APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev comments, “We are excited to be part of Gulfood 2026 as the Partner Country, particularly as the show enters a new chapter with the expansion to Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City. As Partner Country, we are committed to strengthening India’s presence in global markets, and Gulfood continues to play a vital role in accelerating our agri-export growth story.”
The amplification of Gulfood’s reach extends to the launch of three major new sectors at DEC. Gulfood Fresh, Gulfood Logistics, and Gulfood Grocery Trade reflect the growing importance of perishables, cold-chain efficiency, and resilient global supply chains, with confirmed participation from companies such as DP World, Maersk, MSC, Fresh Del Monte, NRTC, and Unifrutti.
At DWTC, Gulfood will host Beverages, Dairy, Fats & Oils, Meat & Poultry, Power Brands, and Seafood. The venue will also anchor Gulfood Startups, featuring over 250 visionaries, investors, and unicorns from over 30 countries, reflecting accelerating investment and deal activity across food-tech, agri-tech and next-generation food systems.
C-Suite Buyers from Across the Globe
Gulfood 2026 will activate The Big Deal Hub, its flagship business-first buyer–seller business-first connections programme, connecting buyers and exhibitors across the full food value chain.
The networking platform has attracted an exceptional caliber of participants, with over 90% of registered users holding C-suite or senior decision-making roles, spanning six continents and every major segment of the food value chain.
Unlike traditional networking tools, The Big Deal Hub is purpose-built for commercial readiness. Active on the platform are importers, distributors, wholesalers, manufacturers, retailers, and food-tech companies. Confirmed participants including Cybera Capital, Panamex Groupe, and Presidente Supermarket will engage through targeted procurement mandates and structured matchmaking to drive high-value deals.
Timings: (26-29 January 2026) 10 am – 6 pm, (30 January 2026) 10 am – 5 pm.
For further information, visit www.gulfood.com
