Daegu to host 26th international food industry expo Wednesday through Saturday

Daegu city will host the 26th Daegu International Food Industry Expo, also known as K-FOOD EXPO 2026, at EXCO West Hall from Wednesday through Saturday, the city announced Tuesday. Billed as the largest comprehensive food industry exhibition outside the Seoul metropolitan area, the four-day event brings together the latest trends and technologies in the food sector.

The expo is designed to showcase cutting-edge developments across the food industry and help participating companies expand their domestic and overseas sales channels and boost exports.

This year's edition places particular emphasis on strengthening ties among exhibitions, academic programs and business activities. The Korean Society for Food Engineering will hold a concurrent academic conference, and business-to-business consultations involving overseas buyers and specialized trading firms will be expanded to support industry-academia-research exchanges and help participating companies enter foreign markets.

A total of 233 food and related companies will take part, operating 468 booths — the largest number in the expo's history.

Halls 1 and 2 of EXCO West Hall will feature products and technologies spanning the food industry, including processed foods, agricultural, fishery and livestock products, imported foods, alcoholic beverages and drinks, as well as food processing machinery, packaging equipment and catering devices.

The expo will also run a 30-booth international food pavilion featuring food companies from countries including Poland and India, along with a 20-booth Dalbit Alliance pavilion dedicated to exchange and cooperation between Daegu and the integrated special city of Gwangju and South Jeolla Province.

B2B consultations aimed at expanding domestic and overseas sales will also be strengthened.

From Wednesday through Thursday, the convention hall on the fifth floor of EXCO West Hall will host one-on-one export consultations between participating companies and about 80 overseas buyers from roughly 20 countries, including the United States, Canada and Australia.

The number of overseas buyers has been increased from 70 companies last year to 80 this year, broadening export opportunities for participating firms.

On Friday, the expo will hold a retail buyer purchasing consultation session involving 19 domestic buyers, as well as an export consultation session with 20 specialized trading firms invited in partnership with the Korea International Trade Association.

The expo is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and admission is free for visitors who register in advance online or on-site. Further details are available on the official K-FOOD EXPO 2026 website.

"I hope the Daegu International Food Industry Expo becomes a venue where domestic and international food companies can broaden their exchanges and cooperation and create new opportunities," Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho said. "We will continue to do our utmost to actively support food companies in opening new sales channels and expanding exports, and to ensure that their achievements translate into vitality for the local economy."