WorldFood Moscow 2026 marks 35 years with India as partner country

WorldFood Moscow will return to Crocus Expo in Moscow from Sept. 15-18, 2026, with 873 exhibitors from 30 countries, 14 national pavilions and India as partner country. The anniversary edition is aimed at connecting food makers, buyers and retailers across Eurasia through trade talks, competitions and an expanded business program.

Why it matters: - WorldFood Moscow remains one of Eurasia’s main food-industry meeting points, linking manufacturers, importers, retailers, distributors and HoReCa operators. - The 35th edition is expected to draw more than 22,000 industry professionals, giving exhibitors direct access to buyers and potential partners. - India’s role as partner country and the scale of international participation underscore the show’s continued reach across Eurasia and beyond.

What happened: - WorldFood Moscow 2026 will run Sept. 15-18, 2026, at Crocus Expo International Exhibition Centre in Moscow. - The event marks the exhibition’s 35th anniversary and is organised by ITE Group. - WorldFood Moscow 2026 will feature 873 manufacturers and suppliers from 30 countries. - India will be the partner country for the anniversary edition. - APEDA, India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority, will take part in a collective exhibition. - The exhibition will also include 14 national pavilions.

The details: - The 30 participating countries include Armenia, Belarus, Brazil, Vietnam, Georgia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Spain, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Ecuador and Ethiopia. - Products from the Middle East will also be represented. - The 14 national pavilions will come from Brazil, Vietnam, Egypt, India, Indonesia, China, Kyrgyzstan, the UAE, Oman, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uzbekistan and South Korea. - Nineteen Brazilian companies will participate for the first time, with support from ApexBrasil. - More than 50 regions of Russia will be represented, including collective pavilions from Chelyabinsk, Altai Krai and Voronezh. - Kyrgyzstan will be represented by 14 companies and Uzbekistan by 8. - More than 400 new participants are expected, including 105 from Russia and more than 300 from abroad. - New participants include X5 Logistics, Grolenstar, Secrets of Nature, Tomer, H2O, Natural Drinks, Altai Seligor, Pchelnik Company and Global Functional Drinks Rus. - The show will cover 16 themed sections spanning groceries, confectionery and bakery products, organic and healthy foods, fruit and vegetables, soft drinks, tea and coffee, ingredients, frozen foods, preserves, oils and sauces, halal products, dairy, fish and seafood, meat, alcoholic drinks, and non-food items and business services. - The Fruit and Vegetables section remains one of the event’s signature categories because of its seasonal scale. - The WorldFood Connect platform will include lead scanning, matchmaking and, for the first time in 2026, an online product showcase with searchable listings. - Exhibitors can use the app to flag interest and receive notifications, and the platform also hosts themed weeks and webinars through the year. - The annual New Product of the Year competition is open to food and drink products launched no earlier than 2025. - The Product of the Year tasting competition will accept applications on the first day of the exhibition. - The judging panel for New Product of the Year includes representatives from Perekrestok, Pyaterochka, METRO, SPAR, Auchan, Verny, Pobeda Chestnykh Cen, Dixy, Linia Hypermarket, Gradusy, Globus, Dobrotsen, Rahat Supermarket, PORT BAKU BAZAR, Magnum, Products at Home, Baraka Market and Asia Retail. - The business programme will include more than 80 events and more than 170 speakers across four venues: the Forum, the Retail Academy, WorldFood HoReCa and the Culinary Marathon. - The Retail Chain Procurement Centre will again bring suppliers into direct negotiations with buyers from major retail chains. - More than 200 category buyers are expected, including representatives from Auchan, X5 Group, Magnit, Azbuka Vkusa, Lenta, Ozon, Globus, METRO, Verny, Yandex Lavka, Svetofor, Magnolia, Lukoil, Samokat, Gazprom and Dixy. - The main negotiation formats are the Retail Chain Procurement Centre on Sept. 15-16, a foreign economic activity session on Sept. 17 and Contract Expo on Sept. 15-17. - Last year’s procurement centre hosted more than 3,500 negotiations that produced 2,834 contracts worth 91.5 billion roubles. - The show will be held in Pavilion 3, Halls 14 and 15, near the Myakinino metro station. - Official support comes from Russian ministries, government bodies and industry associations, including the Agriculture Ministry, the Industry and Trade Ministry, Rosselkhoznadzor, Moscow city and regional authorities, and sector groups such as FRIO, SOYUZMOLOKO and the Fish Union.

Between the lines: - The exhibition is increasingly functioning as a year-round commercial platform, not just a four-day trade fair. - The combination of buyer negotiations, digital matchmaking, product competitions and education sessions is designed to turn exhibitor traffic into contracts and shelf placement. - The strong presence of international pavilions and first-time participants suggests the event is trying to deepen its role as a Eurasian gateway for food trade.

What's next: - Exhibitors and visitors are encouraged to register in advance and use the WorldFood Connect app before the exhibition opens. - Buyers and suppliers will continue to use the online platform to schedule meetings ahead of Sept. 15. - Visitors will also be able to vote in the New Product of the Year competition during the show. - The full list of exhibitors is available on the WorldFood Moscow website.

The bottom line: - WorldFood Moscow 2026 is positioning its 35th anniversary as a bigger, more international and more transaction-focused edition, with India as partner country and a heavy emphasis on dealmaking across Eurasia.