The 2026 edition of the international food technology exhibition at Fiere di Parma concluded after welcoming more than 40,000 trade visitors from 120 countries. The turnout represented a 10% increase compared with the 2023 edition. Held from 27 to 30 October, Cibus Tec 2026 brought together companies, buyers and industry professionals to examine technologies serving the food and beverage industry.
International participation was a major feature of the event, with foreign companies making up 30% of the 1,300 exhibitors. National pavilions from 19 countries were represented across all exhibition halls, while the range of exhibits covered technologies for the full supply chain, including production, processing and packaging. More than 3,000 international top buyers also attended in Parma through the Top Buyer Program, described as the largest incoming buyer programme in the sector.
Africa featured prominently in the exhibition’s international activity. More than 300 professionals from 20 African countries attended, reflecting interest in Italian technologies. Their participation followed the Cibus Tec for Africa initiative, through which Italian companies and expertise reached five African markets during the year through trade missions and meetings with local stakeholders. The initiative is set to continue in 2027, with further activities intended to develop collaboration opportunities and promote the transfer of Italian technologies and expertise. One confirmed activity is an Italian exhibition pavilion at Anuga Select South Africa, scheduled to take place in Cape Town from 22 to 24 June 2027.
The 2026 programme also expanded into the Bakery sector for the first time, positioning the exhibition as Italy’s leading industrial trade fair platform for baking and bakery technologies. The sector accounts for 15.3% of the total value of Italian exports of food processing technologies. Through the Bakery? Yes, We Tec! project, the event provided a platform for discussions on innovation priorities, including new formulations, waste reduction, energy savings and digitalisation, while presenting technologies supporting a more interconnected and global supply chain.
Beverage technologies remained another central focus through the Beverage? Yes, We Tec! and Wine? Yes, We Tec! projects. An entire exhibition hall was dedicated to technologies for liquid food, water, soft drinks, wine, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Global industry players presented solutions spanning the technological chain and addressing changing consumer trends, sustainability requirements, energy efficiency and plant reliability. These areas reinforced Cibus Tec 2026’s position as a reference point for the beverage industry and the wine supply chain.
Organised by Koeln Parma Exhibitions (KPE), a joint venture between Koelnmesse GmbH and Fiere di Parma S.p.A., the exhibition combines the partners’ experience in international trade fairs and events for industry and the agri-food sector. The next edition will return to Parma from 23 to 26 October 2029.
