Fruit Attraction starts this Tuesday, October 6, its 18th edition at IFEMA Madrid with 2,500 exhibiting companies from 78 countries and an expected attendance of 121,000 professionals from more than 150 countries. The event, organized by IFEMA MADRID and FEPEX, will run until Thursday, October 8, and this year reaches the highest participation figures in its history.
The fair occupies 162,000 square meters distributed among pavilions 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 14 of the Madrid venue. Nearly 70% of the space is dedicated to Fresh Produce, the area focused on the offer of fruits and vegetables, while the rest is divided among areas such as Auxiliary Industry, Fresh Food Logistics, and Innova&Tech, related to services, logistics, technology, and solutions for the horticultural chain.
Of the total 2,500 exhibitors, 322 are participating for the first time. Spanish companies represent 51% of the exhibiting presence, with participation from all fruit and vegetable producing autonomous communities. The remaining 49% corresponds to international companies.
Among the countries joining this year’s fair are Australia, Finland, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Sweden. The organization also maintains the International Buyers Program, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, ICEX, and FEPEX, which includes the presence of 700 buyers, purchasing managers from the retail sector, importers, and wholesalers from 60 countries.
China and the United Arab Emirates are participating in this edition as invited importing countries, within the program aimed at fostering business contacts between producers, distributors, and international operators.
The official opening is scheduled for this Tuesday with the participation of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, Luis Planas. Representatives from various autonomous communities will also attend, including the Councilor for Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development of the Junta de Andalucía, Ramón Fernández-Pacheco; the Councilor for Water, Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries of the Region of Murcia, Joaquín Buendía; and the Councilor for Agriculture, Water, Livestock, and Fisheries of the Community of Valencia, Miguel Barrachina.
Also expected to participate is Narvay Quintero, Councilor for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food Sovereignty of the Government of the Canary Islands; Aránzazu Simón Pérez, Councilor for Agriculture, Livestock, and Food of the Government of Aragon; and Jose Mari Aierdi, Councilor for Rural Development and Environment of the Government of Navarra, as well as diplomatic representatives from several of the countries present at the fair.
Potatoes have a specific space in the programming of Fruit Attraction 2026 as a product selected by the organization for this edition. The day before the fair opened, it hosted the I International Potato Symposium, organized by FEPEX to address the situation of the sector in a context of reduced area and production in the European Union, as well as issues related to food security and collaboration among different operators.
The program also includes Organic Tour, a marked route within the venue aimed at identifying companies that present products with organic certification.
The area The Innovation Hub this year brings together 45 products related to business and technological innovations applied to the horticultural sector. This space will also host a new edition of the Innovation Hub Awards, structured in the categories Fresh Produce, F&V Industry, and Sustainability and Commitment Actions.
The professional agenda is complemented by conferences, workshops, and presentations distributed throughout various spaces of the fair. Fruit Forum by Timac Agro will host meetings such as Biotech Attraction, along with the Biofruit Congress and the scheduled presentations in the different Fruit Next forums. The program of activities began on October 5 with the Avocado Congress, focused on the situation and evolution of this market.
Fruit Attraction also maintains Chef Factory, a space dedicated to gastronomic demonstrations with fruits and vegetables. This year’s programming includes The MasterChef Challenge, scheduled for October 7 and 8.
The fair will also present the Best Stand Awards, sponsored by WAH, which include four categories: Most Original, Best Design, Most Sustainable, and Public's Favorite.
The 2026 edition is sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food and in collaboration with ICEX and Anove, in addition to the participation of various companies and entities linked to the agri-food sector.
Fruit Attraction will be open on October 6 and 7 from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM. The closing day, Thursday, October 8, will end at 4:00 PM.
