Alimentaria FoodTech, a leading trade fair focused on innovation, technology, and ingredients for the food industry, will take place from October 6 to 8, 2026 at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue.
The event is expected to gather nearly 400 companies and brands, alongside about 30 startups specializing in disruptive solutions for the sector. Morocco, a key destination market for Spanish food exports, will serve as the guest country for this edition.
The fair aims to position itself at the center of the global foodtech ecosystem, offering a comprehensive view of the entire food production chain, from processing and preservation to distribution. Organizers say the event is designed to promote modernization across the food technology sector, facilitate knowledge exchange, and generate business opportunities amid rapid technological and market change.
Among the participating companies are industry players such as MIMASA, Dordal, Handtmann, Weber, Vaessen Schoemaker, Hiperbaric, ULMA, Frontmatec, Tetra Pak, Roser Group, Haratek, CSB System, Brenntag, Impag Iberia, and Bizerba, all of which will present their latest technologies and equipment for food production and processing.
Albert Puxan, president of Alimentaria FoodTech, said, “this new edition confirms the show as a strategic meeting point and reinforces its positioning as the business and innovation fair that covers the entire food industry chain”.
The 2026 edition will place strong emphasis on emerging trends shaping food production, particularly advances in machinery, automation, and digitalization, which are increasingly central to improving efficiency, sustainability, and food safety. Collaborative robotics will also be highlighted, with systems designed to work safely alongside humans in shared production environments, improving productivity and working conditions.
Startup participation will be expanded, with about 30 companies, mostly from Spain, presenting innovations in foodtech. These startups will be supported by organizations including ICEX Spain Export and Investment, the Government of Catalonia, KM ZERO, and winners of the FoodTech Emprende Award from the previous edition, with the aim of accelerating innovation and technology transfer.
An ingredients-focused area featuring around 40 companies will also play a prominent role. Exhibitors in this segment will showcase additives, ingredients, and intermediate solutions aligned with evolving market demands and stricter standards for quality, sustainability, and food safety.
International participation will be a key feature of the event. Approximately 20% of exhibitors are expected to come from around 15 countries, mainly in Europe, reflecting strong demand for food and beverage processing equipment. Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Turkey are among the most represented international markets, reinforcing the event’s global reach and its role as a platform for Spanish companies seeking international expansion.
Through its Hosted Buyers program, and in cooperation with partners such as ICEX, FIAB, and amec alimentec, the fair expects to bring together around 100 strategic buyers from more than 25 countries and facilitate approximately 900 business meetings between buyers and exhibitors.
Morocco will be the country of honor at Alimentaria FoodTech 2026, in collaboration with the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Casablanca. The initiative is intended to strengthen commercial and technological ties between the two markets. More than 20 Moroccan buyers are expected to attend. Morocco was the second-largest non-European source of visitors at the previous edition, reflecting its growing importance to the event. Spain is Morocco’s leading trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding EUR22.5bn annually, according to Spain’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise.
The event will also introduce a new FoodTech Award for Scientific Merit 2026, which will recognize initiatives and experts developing advanced technologies or ingredients for food production, transformation, and preservation.
Find out more at: https://www.alimentaria.com