• The most influential international fair dedicated to artisanal gelato, confectionery and chocolate, coffee, bakery and pizza reconfirms its status as a trailblazer for the foodservice sector.
The 2026 edition of SIGEP WORLD will take place from January 16 to 20 at the Rimini Expo Centre in Italy, maintaining the traditional format of five intense days – from Friday to Tuesday – to maximize business opportunities at the beginning of the year.
Organized by the Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) in collaboration with agencies such as the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the event represents a global hub where innovation and Italian hospitality perfectly intertwine. The strategic choice of the period immediately after the winter holidays makes SIGEP WORLD the first major platform where professionals discover the trends that will define the market in the coming year, from premium ingredients and advanced technologies to sustainable solutions and digital concepts.
On an exhibition area of approximately 138.000 square meters, divided into 30 pavilions, visitors will explore the entire industry chain: raw materials and semi-finished ingredients, production equipment and technologies, frozen and ready-made products, packaging solutions, furniture and services for HoReCa. The event attracts over 1.300 exhibitors from 35 countries, with 18% coming from abroad – countries such as Germany, Spain, France, China and Turkey being well represented. Statistics from the previous edition (2025) show a significant increase: 205.000 visitors from 160 countries, of which 23% international, and over 5.500 business meetings, with an increase of 28% compared to 2024.
An exceptional event for the industry
The rich program includes top conferences, live demonstrations, workshops and over 600 events held in eight thematic arenas, such as the Gelato Arena, Pastry Arena, Coffee Arena, Bakery Arena and Pizza Arena. The highlights will be the international competitions, including the Gelato World Cup (where teams from 12 countries compete in gelato, pastry, chocolate, ice sculpture and haute cuisine), the Juniores Pastry World Cup for young people under 26, the World Pizza Champion Games or the Gelato Festival World Masters. With around 250 speakers and world experts, the discussions will address key topics such as sustainability, artificial intelligence in production, product trends and digital transformation.
Special zones add value to the experience: the Sustainability District promotes green practices in coffee and cocoa supply chains, including a Micro Roaster Village and spaces for countries of origin such as Costa Rica or Ethiopia; the Digital District showcases software solutions for optimizing operations; and the Vision Plaza offers insights into the future of the industry through talks and awards such as the Lorenzo Cagnoni Award for innovative startups. New projects such as the Innovation Bar (combining automatic coffee machines with AI and products plant based) or Gelato Meets Chains (for integrating gelato into hotel chain menus), emphasize the focus on innovation and networking.
"SIGEP WORLD is the place where the future becomes reality, a vibrant space where gelato, pastry, coffee, bakery and pizza professionals share ideas and discover unexplored tastes", emphasize IEG representatives, highlighting the role of Rimini Expo as the epicenter of innovation in hospitality.
The event not only inspires, but also generates concrete business: 98% of visitors recommend participating, 96% declare themselves satisfied with the offer, and 98% believe they have achieved their objectives. With a diverse profile of participants – from manufacturers and distributors to HoReCa chains and international buyers – SIGEP WORLD facilitates global connections, expanding through the SIGEP Network to editions in Asia (Singapore, Shenzhen) and other regions.
For more details and to purchase tickets, visit the official event website: www.sigep.it.
Article written by Gabriela Dan, Editor-in-Chief Arta Albă
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