Tradeshow Insight: Gulfood 2026

Held from 26th to 30th January, Gulfood 2026 marked a significant structural change for the annual event by operating simultaneously across two venues for the first time: the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City Dubai. This expansion brought the total event space to over 280,000 sq m, accommodating more than 8,500 exhibitors from 195 countries. The 31st edition of the trade fair recorded a notable increase in participation, with 40% of exhibitors appearing at the show for the first time.

The utilisation of two distinct venues allowed for a strategic segmentation of sectors. The Dubai Exhibition Centre focused on high-volume trade and commodities, anchoring the World Food sector alongside expanded areas for Rice, Pulses & Grains. Three new sectors were introduced at the DEC this year to reflect evolving supply chain priorities: Gulfood Fresh, which focused on perishable goods and produce, Gulfood Logistics, highlighting cold-chain efficiency and supply chain solutions, and Gulfood Grocery Trade, a dedicated platform for fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), private label and grocery segments aimed at manufacturers and distributors catering to the Middle East’s growing retail market.

Meanwhile, the Dubai World Trade Centre continued to host established categories including Beverages, Dairy, Fats & Oils, Meat & Poultry, Power Brands,and Seafood. Notably, the seafood sector had its own dedicated sector for the first time in the show’s history. Innovation remained a central theme at DWTC with the introduction of the Gulfood Startups sector: this new area featured over 250 startups and ‘unicorns’ from more than 30 countries, highlighting developments in food-tech, agri-tech, and next-generation food systems, with exhibitors presenting various technologies addressing food security, sustainability, and urban farming solutions.

International representation saw significant growth, with India named as the Official Country Partner for 2026. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) led India’s participation, which was the largest to date, featuring over 600 exhibitors. The show also welcomed increased participation from major producing nations such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and the USA, alongside the debut of several new national participants, including Luxembourg, Maldives, Rwanda, Slovakia, Sweden and Uganda.

Beyond the exhibition floor, the event hosted the Gulfood World Economy Summit, a series of closed-door sessions and high-level discussions addressing capital, infrastructure, and technology within the food sector. To facilitate commerce, the Big Deal Hub was activated to organise structured buyer-seller meetings and procurement mandates across the supply chain.

Looking ahead, the organisers also announced a geographical expansion of the brand with the launch of Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya. Scheduled to take place in Nairobi from 4th to 6th May 2027, this new event aims to serve as a gateway to the African food economy, connecting international markets with African agricultural value chains.

For 2027, Gulfood will retain its two-venue format while moving to a later slot in Q1, with doors due to open between 15th and 19th March.

*Gama was proud to be a media partner of Gulfood 2026 and we look forward to our ongoing collaboration.*

Image source: Gama