Alimentaria+Hostelco 2026 will be held from March 23 to 26 at Fira de Barcelona's Gran Via venue with the participation of 3,300 companies from 70 countries and more than 110,000 visitors expected, consolidating itself as one of the main international business platforms for the food industry, gastronomy, foodservice and hotel equipment. This year's edition, which commemorates Alimentaria's 50th anniversary, will bring together professionals from across the retail and foodservice value chain in an edition marked by international growth, innovation and a boost to the HORECA channel.
The event will occupy 100,000 square meters distributed in seven pavilions, where nearly 1,200 international companies will represent more than 30% of the total exhibitors. Europe, Asia and Latin America will concentrate a large part of the international business presence, with Poland as the Guest Country in this edition.
With the aim of promoting new business opportunities, the organization, together with ICEX, has invited 1,500 international buyers and importers from 100 countries, in addition to 1,200 national buyers, with the forecast of exceeding 14,000 business meetings during the event. Among the confirmed international companies are Walmart, Sonae, BigBasket and PriceSmart.
The event will also feature the participation of companies from all Spanish autonomous communities, led by Catalonia, Castilla y León, Andalusia, Madrid, the Valencian Community and Murcia. Large corporations and family businesses will share space with historical firms of the show such as Coca-Cola, Danone, Damm, Helios, Ybarra and bonÀrea.
The president of Alimentaria, Antoni Llorens, emphasizes the relevance of this edition due to the anniversary of the event: "We are facing a historic edition. Alimentaria, together with Hostelco, has consolidated itself as a unique platform to promote business, knowledge and global projection of the food industry."
The 2026 edition will be structured into different specialized areas. Intercarn, dedicated to the meat sector, will once again be the largest hall within the fair with 350 companies in 15,000 square meters. This space will be joined by other sectors such as Grocery Foods, Fine Foods, Organic Foods, Coffee, Bakery & Pastry and Snacks, Biscuits & Confectionery.
Innovation will play a leading role through The Alimentaria Hub, the space that will bring together more than 200 international experts to debate sustainability, digitalization, food safety, and new consumption habits. In addition, the Innoval area will present more than 300 innovations, and 60 startups will participate in the Food&Hospitality Startups program.
The HORECA channel will be another pillar of the event with more than 20,000 square meters of exhibition space, 600 companies, and nearly 200 professional activities aimed at the restaurant and hospitality sector. Spaces such as The Horeca Hub, The Bakery & Pastry Hub or The Coffee Stage will host culinary demonstrations and trend analysis.
Among the featured proposals is the program "The City of Wonders – Origin and Destination", a gastronomic journey through the history and culinary evolution of Barcelona through presentations and showcookings starring chefs from some of the city's most renowned restaurants, such as Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas (Disfrutar), Paolo Casagrande (Lasarte), Paco Pérez (Miramar), Hideki Matsuhisa (Koy Shunka) or the Torres Brothers.
In addition, the program will include competitions and professional meetings such as the First International Alimentaria Cooking Championship, sponsored by Alimentos de España and endorsed by WorldChefs, which will bring together six national teams from countries such as Spain, Poland, Portugal, Morocco, Romania, and Azerbaijan on March 25.
Participants will compete by preparing a starter with Aquanaria sea bass and a main course with Txogitxu Galician blonde beef sirloin, in a three-and-a-half-hour test evaluated by an international jury. Alongside this competition, the Horeca Awards, the Fórum Café Student Barista Championship, and the finals of Chef of the Year and Waiter of the Year will also be held.
Thus, with the support of institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, FIAB or AECOC, Alimentaria+Hostelco consolidates itself as one of the main meeting points of the European food industry and a strategic showcase for the international business of the sector.