AAHAR 2026 Concludes at Bharat Mandapam, Marking 40th Milestone Edition and Digital Shift
New Delhi, March 19: AAHAR 2026, the 40th edition of Asia's premier trade show for the food and hospitality sectors, concluded at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on a high note. Organised by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, and the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), in collaboration with apex industry bodies, the event served as a dynamic B2B platform for brand promotion, business generation, and networking.
Record-Breaking Scale and Visitor Response
The exhibition saw an impressive increase in space booking and visitor turnout, surpassing previous records. It attracted over 1.25 lakh business visitors from India and abroad, reinforcing its status as a leading marketplace in Asia for discovering and converting business opportunities in the food and hospitality industry.
Digital Transformation and Enhanced Experience
A key highlight of AAHAR 2026 was its shift towards a digitally enabled fair. The event's mobile app, downloaded over 17,000 times, facilitated 2,800 business meetings, showcasing a move from a purely on-ground platform to one supported by digital tools for structured discovery and engagement across various halls and categories.
International Participation and Awards
Italy participated as the Partner Country, with ITPO Chairman noting that this status would attract more countries in future editions like AAHAR 2027. The closing day featured the presentation of Awards for Excellence in Display, recognising exhibitors across segments such as processed food, equipment, hospitality solutions, and government pavilions, highlighting the event's growing professionalism.
Leadership Insights and Future Plans
Shri Jawed Ashraf (IFS Retd.), Chairman of ITPO, presented the awards and expressed confidence in the exhibition's future growth, including enhancements tied to Bharat Mandapam's redevelopment. He emphasised AAHAR's role in positioning India as a global hub for processed food by fostering innovation, supporting MSMEs, and generating employment.
AAHAR 2026 was held from March 10 to 14, 2026, with support from industry associations like APEDA and AIFPA, strengthening ecosystem participation and industry ownership.
