Piyush Goyal to Inaugurate 40th Edition of AAHAR 2026 at Bharat Mandapam on March 10
The exhibition will feature more than 1,800 exhibitors, including 155 international participants from 17 countries
Piyush Goyal will inaugurate the 40th edition of AAHAR 2026, one of the world’s premier B2B trade platforms for the food and hospitality industry, on March 10 at Bharat Mandapam.
Chirag Paswan will also grace the occasion.
The five-day international exhibition, scheduled from March 10 to 14, 2026, will bring together food producers, exporters, hospitality businesses, technology providers, industry associations, and global buyers on a single platform to explore new partnerships and business opportunities.
Organised by India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in association with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, AAHAR has evolved over four decades into one of Asia’s most influential trade exhibitions for the food processing and hospitality ecosystem.
Addressing the curtain raiser, Jawed Ashraf said the food and hospitality sector is among the fastest-growing sectors in India, driven by favourable demographics, rising incomes, urbanisation, changing lifestyles, and increasing leisure and business travel.
“At the centre of this growth is India’s food processing industry. India is already a major exporter of agricultural products, with value-added food products, equipment and accessories emerging as key growth areas. India’s new Free Trade Agreements are expected to further expand export opportunities, benefiting farmers and the MSME sector,” he said.
Large Global Participation
AAHAR 2026 is expected to set new benchmarks in terms of scale and industry engagement. The exhibition will feature more than 1,800 exhibitors, including 155 international participants from 17 countries, and is expected to attract over one lakh business visitors during the five-day event.
Spread across a gross exhibition area of over 1,15,000 square metres, the event will see participation from leading food, beverage and hospitality brands from India and abroad.
Italy will participate as the Partner Country for the first time. Several other countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile and Thailand will set up country pavilions, while countries such as Belgium, China, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, United Kingdom and Vietnam will also participate individually.
Focus on Innovation and Technology
The exhibition will showcase innovations across several key sectors, including:
- Food products and beverages
- Food processing and value addition
- Food processing and packaging technology
- Hospitality technology and infrastructure
- Food-grade packaging solutions
- Cold chain and refrigeration technologies
- Export promotion and global trade linkages
Italy’s participation as the Partner Country is expected to highlight growing India–EU collaboration in food processing, gourmet foods and hospitality technologies.
Industry Pavilions and Events
AAHAR 2026 will feature curated industry platforms such as the:
- Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Pavilion
- MoFPI Pavilion
- Foreign Participation Pavilion
- ICMA Pavilion
- Forum of Indian Food Importers (FIFI) Pavilion
Industry events including Hospitality Challenge and Culinary Art India 2026 will also be organised.
The exhibition has received support from several industry bodies including the All India Food Processors Association (AIFPA), Federation of All India Caterers (FAIC), Food and Hospitality Support Association of India (FHSAI), Food Industries Welfare Association (FIWA), and Hotel and Restaurant Equipment Manufacturers Association of India (HOTREMAI).
Launch of AAHAR 2026 Mobile App
ITPO also announced the launch of the AAHAR 2026 Official Mobile App to enhance exhibitor and visitor engagement. The application will enable participants to access a digital exhibitor directory, navigate interactive floor plans, schedule B2B meetings, use smart search filters, and receive real-time notifications during the event.
Entry to the exhibition will be facilitated through online registration for business visitors, with access through multiple gates at Bharat Mandapam. The exhibition will remain open from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM for business visitors and from 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM for exhibitors.
Over the past four decades, AAHAR has played a key role in promoting India’s food processing sector, strengthening the hospitality industry, supporting MSMEs and facilitating global trade partnerships, emerging as one of Asia’s most influential platforms for the food and hospitality ecosystem.
