Less than nine months before opening, the event is already reporting a 20% increase in exhibitors and a 30% expansion in exhibition area compared with the same period before the 2023 edition. The international component is growing particularly strongly, with foreign exhibitors up by 48% and exhibition space dedicated to international companies increasing by 38%.
Building on the 2023 edition, which attracted more than 1,200 exhibitors from 30 countries and around 40,000 visitors from over 120 nations, organizers expect even higher attendance in 2026. The Top Buyers Program, organized with Agenzia ICE and supported by the Emilia-Romagna Region, will again target key markets and supply chains to strengthen international business opportunities.
New thematic areas will debut in 2026, including “Bakery? Yes, we tec!” and “Beverage? Yes, we tec!”, dedicated to innovative technologies across bakery and beverage production chains, from processing and automation to packaging and end-of-line solutions. Confirmed participants include companies such as GEA Group, Handtmann, Rheon, Krones, SIG, Sipa and Tetra Pak.
Alongside vertical sectors, Cibus Tec 2026 will showcase cross-industry technologies such as automation and robotics, digitalisation, traceability, energy efficiency, hygiene and food safety, packaging innovation and sustainable solutions across multiple food supply chains.
The event will also host World Pasta Day on 27–28 October, promoted by Unione Italiana Food and the International Pasta Organization, highlighting trends in consumer behaviour, sustainability and production efficiency.
In parallel, the second edition of Labotec will take place alongside Cibus Tec, focusing on laboratory, research and analysis technologies for manufacturing industries.
Cibus Tec is organised by Koeln Parma Exhibitions, a joint venture between Koelnmesse and Fiere di Parma. Entry to both fairs will be free of charge for professionals in 2026, aiming to broaden participation and increase knowledge exchange across the food technology sector.
