Eurasia’s largest and the world’s second-largest bakery and pastry fair is expanding, ready to welcome even more exhibitors and visitors.

IBAKTECH, the region’s most comprehensive trade fair for the bakery, pastry, ice cream, chocolate, and related technologies sectors, is gearing up to offer an even broader commercial platform for participants and visitors alike in 2026. Having hosted 92,482 visitors from 118 countries and featured 332 exhibitors in 2024, the fair has now reached a point where the interest and demand it garners can no longer be accommodated within its current square footage. In response, the organizers have decided to expand the event significantly. With the new arrangement, the fair, which will be held at the Istanbul Expo Centre between 14-17 October 2026, will be held in 7 halls and a total area of 80 thousand square metres.

Ufuk Altıntop

Ufuk Altıntop, General Manager of Messe Stuttgart Ares Fuarcılık, the company organizing the event, explained the reasons behind this strategic expansion: “IBAKTECH is one of the most important trade platforms supporting the rapid development and high potential of the industry by offering a wide array of investment opportunities. However, in recent years, our biggest challenge has been reaching full capacity at the current venue. We were unable to accommodate new companies or meet requests from existing participants seeking larger exhibition areas. This need prompted us to expand the fair by one additional hall. At the same time, we are enhancing our international visitor outreach, which already spans 118 countries, by initiating targeted efforts in Africa, Russia, and Central Asia.”

Altıntop also noted that preparations for the 2026 edition are ongoing on multiple fronts and that a significant change has been made to the event’s calendar. To better align with the industry’s investment planning cycle and meet sector expectations, IBAKTECH has been rescheduled to take place in October.