Food trade shows 2027: a calendar for Indian exporters

Key takeaways

• Dates come from each organiser's own site, checked on 5 November 2026. Confirm them again before you book.
• Choose the market first. Each show reaches a different set of buyers.
• Visit before you exhibit. CBI suggests attending as a visitor first [9].
• Look for a national pavilion. It is a simpler way to take part for the first time [9].
• Buyers check you after the show. Fix your online presence before you travel.

The 2027 calendar

How do you choose a show?

Start with the market, then the product.

1. Name your target market. If you sell mainly to the Gulf, Dubai makes sense. If you want European importers, look at Cologne or Nuremberg.
2. Match the product. BIOFACH focuses on certified organic products, so it only suits you if you hold that certification [9]. Fi India suits ingredient suppliers more than retail brands.
3. Check who exhibits. CBI says FOODEX Japan attracts fewer spice and herb companies than Gulfood, because it is dedicated to the Japanese market [9]. That can mean less competition or a poorer fit, depending on your product.
4. Decide between a stand and a visit. CBI's advice is to attend as a visitor first, to judge the benefits and where your stand should be [9].
5. Ask about pavilions. CBI suggests checking whether your country has a pavilion, especially for a first show [9]. For India, watch APEDA and Spices Board announcements.

Set a goal before you spend. "Meet 15 named importers of cumin in Germany" gives you something to prepare for and to measure afterwards.

What are the alternatives to Gulfood 2027?

They are alternatives only if they reach the buyers you want. Gulfood runs from 15 to 19 March at Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Exhibition Centre [4]. Our Gulfood 2027 guide covers the plan in detail. If it doesn't fit your budget or timing, consider these:

Which shows are not on this list?

SIAL Paris. CBI describes SIAL as an even-year show in Paris [9], so the next edition after 2026 falls in 2028.

Spices and Herbs Global Expo and Fi Europe. CBI lists both as relevant to spice companies [9]. We did not confirm their 2027 dates, so check with the organisers.

World Spice Congress. We found no published 2027 dates. Watch the Spices Board's website.

What should you fix before any show?

Buyers shortlist suppliers after the show, from what they can check. Four things should be ready before you travel:

• a verified Google listing;
• a product page with real specs;
• a spec sheet for each product you will show;
• a named person who will follow up.

Two tips from CBI for the show itself. Visit potential buyers' booths on the first day, because some don't stay for the whole event. And bring samples, because a tasting can catch a buyer's interest [9].

Then follow up. CBI says to send a follow-up email within a week [9]. Our 14-day follow-up plan gives the steps, and our guide to what foreign buyers check explains what they look at next.

Next step. See what a buyer you meet at a show will find. Our free Buyer Check is a 1-page report on your Google listing, website and spec gaps, with the 3 fixes that matter most, within 24 hours.