Six months, seven fairs that matter, and one rule: go to the fair where your buyers are, not the one that is closest or cheapest. Here is the calendar from October 2026 to March 2027 with dates, who buys there, and which Indian exporters should be in the room.

All dates below were checked against the organisers' listings in October 2026. Confirm on the fair's own site before booking travel, because halls and days do shift.

SIAL Paris, 17 to 21 October 2026

Paris Nord Villepinte. The big European food fair in an even year, with retail and foodservice buyers from across the EU, North Africa and the Middle East. Best for processed foods, ready-to-eat, snacks, spices, rice and ingredients with EU-compliant labelling. If you are not ready for EU labelling and residue limits, visit and learn; do not exhibit. This is also the fair to watch for how buyers are preparing for the India-EU trade agreement expected to take effect in early 2027.

IITF New Delhi, 14 to 27 November 2026

Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan. India's largest general trade fair, with state pavilions, a foreign participation section and over 7,000 exhibitors. Honest view: it is a domestic and consumer-facing fair, so it is weak for finding overseas buyers. Its real use for an exporter is different. It is the cheapest place to see what competitors from your state are doing, to meet the export promotion councils in person, and to check how your product and packaging look next to everyone else's.

Biofach Nuremberg, 16 to 19 February 2027

The world's organic food fair. If you hold organic certification recognised in the EU or the US, this is the single best fair for you, with importers who only buy certified organic and pay for it. Strong for organic spices, rice, pulses, oilseeds, tea, coffee, moringa, herbs and sweeteners. Without certification, do not go; every conversation starts with the certificate.

Natural Products Expo West, Anaheim, 2 to 5 March 2027

The US natural and organic products fair, driven by brands and retailers rather than commodity importers. Good for Indian exporters with a finished branded product, a US-compliant label and a plan for US distribution. Not the place for bulk commodities. Weigh the current US tariff uncertainty before spending on a US trip in 2027.

ProWein Dusseldorf, 7 to 9 March 2027

The international wine and spirits fair. Relevant only to Indian wine, spirits and craft beverage producers, and to bottling, cork and packaging suppliers. Listed here because it falls in the same week as Foodex and a combined Europe-Japan trip is possible for the few who need both.

Foodex Japan, Tokyo, 9 to 12 March 2027

Asia's largest food and beverage fair. Japanese importers are slow to decide, precise about quality and loyal for decades once they buy. Strong for tea, spices, sesame, cashew, frozen seafood, rice and health foods. Go only if you can meet Japanese residue and documentation standards and are prepared for a 12 to 18 month sales cycle.

Gulfood Dubai, 15 to 19 March 2027

Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Exhibition Centre, over 8,500 exhibitors from 195 countries. The most important fair of the six months for most Indian food exporters, because the Gulf is the closest large market, the buyers are used to Indian products, and the same importers serve Africa and Central Asia. We have written a separate month-by-month preparation guide for Gulfood 2027 on this blog. Read that before you book.

How to choose, and how to budget

Pick one fair, not three. A visitor trip to a single fair with 12 pre-booked meetings beats three trips with none. For a first-time exporter the order of priority is usually Gulfood, then Biofach if you are certified organic, then SIAL or Foodex depending on whether your product suits Europe or Japan. Budget for a visitor trip at roughly two to three lakh rupees including samples, and for a small stand at several times that.

Whatever you choose, the fair is only worth it if you arrive with a landed price, retail-ready samples and a meeting list, and leave with a follow-up plan. Everything else is tourism.

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Consultation, Rs 10,000 + GST: a 60-minute strategy call on your product, markets and next steps. Book at meeting.jbexperts.com/#/60min

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