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From September 1 to 4, 2026, the Tüyap Fair and Congress Center in Istanbul will host Foodist Istanbul 2026, an international exhibition for the food and beverage industry. The event will bring together manufacturers, exporters, importers, distributors, retail chains, and professional buyers from different countries.
Foodist Istanbul is organized by Tüyap and ALZ Group with the support of the Türkiye Food Platform, which brings together leading industry organizations in Türkiye. One of the organizers’ stated goals is to establish Foodist Istanbul among the world’s three largest food industry exhibitions.
Professional Audience of Foodist Istanbul
According to the organizers’ forecasts, Foodist Istanbul 2026 is expected to welcome more than 70,000 industry professionals from over 150 countries. The international program will also bring VIP buyer delegations from 50 countries to Istanbul.
The exhibition’s professional audience will represent Europe, the Balkans, the Middle East, the Gulf countries, Africa, the CIS, Central Asia, the Far East, and the Americas. A significant part of the program will focus on direct business contacts between manufacturers and companies involved in food purchasing, importing, and distribution.
The exhibition will feature a wide range of food product categories, including chocolate and confectionery, nuts, meat and dairy products, eggs, fish and seafood, beverages, as well as related non-food products.
Why Foodist Istanbul Takes Place in September
The timing of the exhibition is also linked to the purchasing cycle of the food industry. At the beginning of autumn, companies start placing orders for the coming months, meaning that negotiations held during the exhibition can provide a starting point for new contracts and future deliveries.
According to the organizers’ estimates, products ordered under contracts signed in September can enter production in October and November and be prepared for shipment by December. This schedule allows exporters to plan deliveries for January and February, when new duty-free import quotas come into effect in certain markets.
Istanbul as a Hub for International Food Trade
One of Foodist Istanbul’s objectives is to support the development of international trade relations. The exhibition format gives manufacturers an opportunity to meet potential importers and distributors, while buyers can discover new suppliers and products across a broad range of food industry categories.
Hosting the exhibition in Istanbul also expands the geography of these business connections, as the city is strategically located at the crossroads of major trade routes linking Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Source of information and photos: Foodist Istanbul
