Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing industry is converging on Melbourne this July for foodpro 2026, the country’s leading trade event for processing, packaging and innovation. Event director, Louise Brooks, looks at what attendees can expect.
From 26-29 July, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, foodpro 2026 returns 20 per cent larger than its 2023 edition, with 400+ exhibitors, more than 9000 expected attendees and a program that stretches well beyond the show floor.
For professionals navigating rising energy costs, workforce pressures and growing sustainability obligations, foodpro 2026 arrives at a pivotal moment for the sector.
Food and beverage manufacturers are facing mounting pressure to reduce waste, improve efficiency and meet sustainability targets – all while managing rising energy costs and labour shortages. foodpro provides a platform for the industry to come together, explore practical solutions in processing and packaging innovation, and connect with the suppliers and technologies that can help them stay competitive.
A week of industry events
The 2026 edition brings together a series of co-located events that make the week a genuine must-attend for the food manufacturing calendar.
The Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST) Convention runs concurrently on 27-28 July, drawing food scientists, researchers, regulators and industry stakeholders for two days of peer-level scientific discussion alongside the broader exhibition.
The week opens on Sunday 26 July, with the Industry Connect Evening at Melbourne Public on the Yarra River – an informal networking night over drinks and canapés that gives exhibitors and visitors the chance to connect before the show floor opens.
Tuesday 28 July will see foodpro host the Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design (PIDA) Awards Gala Dinner for the first time – a milestone addition that celebrates the region’s most innovative packaging designs from Australia and New Zealand and serves as the exclusive gateway to the WorldStar Packaging Awards. Award finalists and winners will be displayed throughout the show floor across the four days.
We’re incredibly proud to welcome the AIP as an official Association Partner for foodpro 2026 – a partnership that reflects our shared commitment to driving innovation, excellence and collaboration across the entire food manufacturing and packaging supply chain. The addition of the PIDA Awards Gala Dinner to the foodpro program is a true milestone for the event. It not only celebrates the most ground-breaking packaging designs from Australia and New Zealand but also brings the industry’s brightest minds together under one roof.
On the show floor
Across 10 exhibitor segments – processing equipment, packaging solutions, ingredients and additives, beverage equipment, intelligent and digital factories, factory infrastructure, sustainability, government and business services, FMCG (new for 2026) and food science and technology – visitors can engage with 400+ suppliers through live equipment demonstrations, product launches and direct technical conversations.
New for 2026, the Innovation Stage brings live presentations directly to the show floor, with up to five sessions per day covering next-generation automation, sustainability breakthroughs and emerging manufacturing technologies. Free to attend for all registered visitors, it sits alongside the Australasian Institute of Packaging (AIP)’s mini training courses and seminars running throughout the event on packaging innovation, sustainability and regulatory compliance.
The Business Lounge offers a dedicated space for scheduled supplier meetings, while the Connected Lunch area provides live equipment demonstrations throughout show hours – showcasing slicing and portioning systems, packaging technology, baking and heating equipment and more in real-world operation.
This is more than a trade show – it’s where the future of food and packaging comes to life. From education and training to world-class innovation and networking, foodpro 2026 will be an unmissable experience for anyone serious about shaping what’s next in food manufacturing and processing.
foodpro 2026 runs 26–29 July at MCEC Melbourne. Visitor registration is free and now open at foodproexpo.com.
