Spain’s leading hospitality, foodservice and catering organizations have thrown their support behind Alimentaria+Hostelco 2026, joining forces with the trade fair platform that aims to bring the entire Horeca ecosystem under one roof.
Through new collaboration agreements, major industry associations intend to expand commercial opportunities, spur innovation and strengthen professional knowledge across a sector undergoing rapid change.
The event will run from March 23 to 26 at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue and is preparing expanded exhibit areas, new programming and an international conference lineup designed to confront the industry’s most pressing challenges.
Partnerships include Hostelería de España, FACYRE, Marcas de Restauración, FEDIS Horeca, AECOC, CEHAT–ITH and FSI, among others, ensuring comprehensive representation from producers and distributors to restaurateurs, hoteliers and major brands.
Hostelería de España, which represents more than 300,000 hospitality businesses, and FACYRE, representing 8,000 chefs and pastry chefs, will play a particularly influential role in shaping program content and reflecting the sector’s operational needs.
FEDIS Horeca, whose membership includes more than 920 distribution companies, will stage its National Convention for the first time within the fair, further establishing Alimentaria+Hostelco as a central gathering place for the channel.
These organizations also sit on the Hostelco & Restaurama Organizing Committee, contributing to strategic planning, content development and the orientation of work areas to ensure alignment with real market conditions.
“Alimentaria+Hostelco not only gives visibility to the sector, but is born from the sector itself. Our mission is to accompany companies in their growth, to be their platform for international projection and their meeting point for innovation and business,” said J. Antonio Valls, managing director of Alimentaria Exhibitions.
The 2026 edition will introduce several new spaces dedicated to innovation and hospitality trends. Chief among them is The Horeca Hub, positioned as the largest innovation and business platform for Horeca professionals. It will explore future operating models, sustainability, digital transformation, food safety, product innovation and evolving consumer expectations.
The space will host debates tailored to different segments of the channel, along with show cooking demonstrations, international meetings and additional activities aimed at fostering cross-sector insight. Within this hub, a new initiative known as The Shift will convene industry leaders to analyze transformative forces shaping global hospitality.
A heightened international focus will be a hallmark of the upcoming edition, notably through the Imagine Foodservice Europe conference developed with Marcas de Restauración, the organization representing more than 170 restaurant brands in Spain. Speakers will address emerging trends and brand strategies across the Horeca sector.
Alexandre Simon, CEO of Burger King France, and João Almeida, Market Leader Iberia & Head of M&A Pan Europe at Yum Brands, will examine developments in quick-service dining. David Portalain, Vice President Food Industry Advisor at Circana USA, will highlight the trends reshaping the global restaurant industry, while Henry McGovern, co-founder of McWin, will discuss what it takes to scale a brand internationally. Luis Comas, CEO of Amrest, will outline the trajectory of the full-service restaurant market.
Sessions will also explore the future of delivery and the role of artificial intelligence in organized catering, featuring contributions from Zhong Xu, Global CEO of Deliverect, and technology expert Silvia Leal.
Another new highlight will be the First International Food Cooking Championship, sponsored by Alimentos de España and conducted under the global standards of the World Association of Chefs Societies. The event will bring professional culinary teams from multiple countries to compete in Spain for the first time under these rules.
Also on the program are the Horeca Awards 2026, now in their eighth edition and widely regarded as the premier recognition for innovation across the hospitality, foodservice and retail landscape.
Alimentaria+Hostelco, organized by Alimentaria Exhibitions of Fira de Barcelona, expects to host roughly 3,300 exhibitors occupying 100,000 square meters across seven pavilions—nearly the entire Gran Via venue.
More than 110,000 professional visitors are anticipated, with international attendees projected to make up about 25 percent of the total. The event, celebrating its 50th year, aims to reinforce its role as a leading platform for business development, global expansion and sector-wide networking.
Find out more at: https://www.alimentaria.com