The SIGEP World network, organized by Italian Exhibition Group, will bring its SIGEP Asia event back to Marina Bay Sands Expo here from July 15 to 17, 2026, as Italian Foodservice exports to East Asia continue to climb.
The event is organized by IEG Asia, the Singapore branch of Italian Exhibition Group, in partnership with Restaurant Asia and the Restaurant Association of Singapore. It brings together the gelato, pastry, bakery, pizza, coffee, technology and nightlife sectors on a single platform, drawing hundreds of international brands spanning ingredients, machinery and hospitality solutions.
The show arrives amid a broader expansion of Italian Foodservice in the region. According to data processed by the Italian Trade Agency based on Eurostat surveys, Foodservice exports to East Asia exceeded 4.1 billion euros in 2025, up 6% from 2023, with China and South Korea posting gains of 7.1% and 8.3%, respectively, compared with 2024.
Gelato, the product most closely associated with the SIGEP network, is outpacing the broader category. Exports of Italian gelato to East Asia reached 12.9 million euros in 2025, a 28.7% increase from 2024, and climbed a further 12.8% in the first quarter of 2026. Singapore, the host market, has been a particular bright spot, with Italian gelato exports to the city-state rising nearly 50% in 2025 compared with the prior year.
The centerpiece of this year’s edition is the Gelato World Cup — Asia Selection, the regional qualifying round of the world gelato championship. Eight teams — from Australia, China, South Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka — will compete for a spot in the world final, set for January 2028 at SIGEP World in Rimini, Italy. The host nation’s team, the reigning world champion, will also compete. The judging panel includes Sergio Colalucci, president of the Gelato World Cup; Sergio Dondoli, vice president; and honorary president Giancarlo Timballo.
Running alongside the gelato competition is the debut of the Asia Selection of Bread in the City, the world breadmaking championship, whose jury includes Matteo Cunsolo, president of Richemont Italy. The same week, Singapore will host the UIBC Congress, the gathering of the International Union of Bakers and Confectioners, from July 13 to 15.
The event’s programming, known as SIGEP Sessions, will feature masterclasses and talks led by industry figures. Vincenzo Capuano will present the techniques and philosophy behind authentic Neapolitan pizza, while Antonio Brancato, owner of Anto — ranked the top pizzeria in Singapore by 50 Top Pizza — will also take part. On the pastry side, following the success of the World Panettone Cup — Asian Selection, Giuseppe Piffaretti, the competition’s creator, will lead a masterclass on the traditional Italian Christmas pastry. The show will also include a Technology Innovation Pavilion focused on robotics, artificial intelligence and digital solutions for catering, alongside the RAS Leadership Symposium, which will address the use of AI in Foodservice.
“With the return of the Gelato World Cup Asia Selection to the SIGEP brand, the Asia Selection of the world breadmaking championship and the UIBC Congress, SIGEP Asia 2026 marks a significant moment for artisanal food culture and professional Foodservice in the region,” said Ilaria Cicero, chief executive of IEG Asia and global exhibition director of the Food & Beverage Division at Italian Exhibition Group. “These international platforms not only celebrate talent and artisanal mastery, but create opportunities for training, collaboration and growth for the industry across Asia.”
Find out more at: https://www.sigep.it