SIGEP World, the global trade fair for foodservice excellence organized by Italian Exhibition Group, is set to return to the Rimini Expo Centre from Friday, January 16, through Tuesday, January 20, bringing together manufacturers, innovators and international buyers across the gelato, pastry, chocolate, bakery, pizza and coffee sectors.
The event has positioned itself not merely as a showcase for products and technologies, but as a convergence point for industrial expertise and global market strategy.
The 2026 edition will be the largest to date, with an expanded exhibition footprint and 1,300 exhibiting brands representing the breadth of Italy’s foodservice supply chains, from traditional craftsmanship to advanced industrial technologies.
While Italian companies will continue to anchor the show, international participation is expected to rise sharply, with foreign exhibitors increasing by 28% and 45 countries represented as demand grows in the global dolce foodservice and out-of-home markets.
Several countries are emerging as central drivers of innovation and industrial capacity alongside Italy. Germany, Spain, France, China, Turkey, Belgium, Poland, the United States, Greece and Denmark are expected to present technologies, ingredients and expertise capable of shaping global foodservice trends.
New participating countries for 2026 include Canada, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Ecuador, Estonia, Serbia, Singapore, Nepal and the Czech Republic. The event will also host official national collectives, known as the National Hall, with Saudi Arabia, China, Ukraine and Brazil using SIGEP World as a platform to promote their flagship products.
India has been named Guest Country for 2026 and is expected to play a prominent role, sending a delegation of approximately 50 leading buyers and institutional representatives, along with exhibitors specializing in gelato technologies.
The expansion on the exhibition floor will be matched by increased international demand. Through its Top Buyer Programme, SIGEP World will welcome 500 buyers from 75 countries, with the United States, India, Canada and Brazil accounting for the largest delegations. Participants will include executives from major foodservice chains, large importers and distributors seeking technologies and products tailored to evolving global consumption patterns.
SIGEP World continues to emphasize the interconnected nature of the foodservice industry, where supply chains increasingly overlap and adapt. Gelato remains at the core of the event, supported by initiatives such as “What is Gelato?” and “Gelato Meets Chains,” which aim to demonstrate how Italian gelato has evolved into a scalable global business model for chains, hotels and international operators.
Other sectors are also expanding. Pastry will gain prominence through frozen products and enabling technologies, while chocolate producers will highlight large-scale operations with a growing focus on sustainability. Bakery exhibitors are expected to showcase a more mature industrial approach, and the pizza segment will push further into global markets through “Pizza (R)evolution,” featuring advanced dough techniques and adaptable formats.
Coffee will round out the offering with a thematic journey from origin to cup, incorporating the Sustainability District, which brings together producing countries and projects supporting responsible supply chains, from African cooperation initiatives to Latin American cocoa programs. The Innovation Bar will explore how artificial intelligence and robotics are reshaping the modern coffee shop.
New elements are being introduced as well. The Luxury Hotel Food Experience will link premium hotel brands with top-tier foodservice suppliers, creating curated experiences and discussion forums for food and beverage managers and executive chefs.
Supporting infrastructure will also be expanded, including the Kitchen Equipment Hub, which will spotlight technologies transforming food production and service, the Frozen Product Hub, reflecting the growing strategic role of high-quality frozen foods for chains and formats, and the new Digital District, where software platforms, smart payment systems and robotics will be presented as tools for redefining both front-of-house and kitchen operations.
Find out more at: https://www.sigep.it/en