Expoalimentaria 2026 Opens in Lima’s Surco District

Expoalimentaria 2026, one of Latin America’s biggest food and beverage trade fairs, opens in Lima’s Surco district on September 23. Organizers expect more than 31,000 visitors and roughly 1,200 international buyers over three days.

A Three-Day Showcase for Peruvian Food

Expoalimentaria 2026 runs from September 23 through September 25 in Lima, Peru’s capital. The fair takes place at the Centro de Exposiciones Jockey, an exhibition center in the Surco district.

This year marks the fair’s 18th edition since it began. ADEX, Peru’s national exporters association, organizes the event every year.

How Big Is This Fair, Really?

Organizers project more than 31,000 visitors will pass through the venue over the three days. Around 1,200 international buyers are expected, representing companies from all five continents.

Registered buyers already come from countries as varied as the Netherlands, Japan, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Organizers also expect more than 3,000 individual business meetings between exporters and visiting buyers.

Why Peru Is Betting on Food Exports

ADEX president César Tello Ramírez says Peru’s farm exports could reach US$15.3 billion in 2026. That would mark another record, building on 2025’s total of roughly US$14.6 billion.

Expoalimentaria is where much of that international business actually gets negotiated. Last year’s edition reportedly generated expected business worth more than US$905 million over the following twelve months.

What’s Actually Inside the Fair

The fair includes a gastronomic zone called “Saborea,” built to showcase Peruvian food through taste and culture rather than trade booths alone. There’s also a new edition of an innovation contest, plus keynote talks and specialized conferences.

Exhibitors range from major agroexport companies to smaller producers chasing their first international buyer. That mix is part of why organizers call it one of Latin America’s leading fairs of its kind.

The innovation contest gives smaller food companies a spot alongside Peru’s largest agroexporters. That reflects a broader ADEX goal: helping producers of every size reach international markets, not just the biggest players.

The Catch: This Isn’t a Trade-Only Event

Unlike some purely business-to-business fairs, Expoalimentaria also sells tickets to the public. A single entry costs S/100 (about US$30), while a five-entry package runs S/400 (about US$119).

A replacement badge costs S/15 (about US$4) if you misplace your credential. Those conversions use the exchange rate of S/3.37 to the US dollar, quoted on September 15, 2026.

Surco: The Neighborhood Hosting the Fair

Santiago de Surco is a large, mostly residential district in southeastern Lima. The exhibition center sits near the intersection of Avenida Javier Prado Este and the Panamericana Sur highway.

That puts it close to the Hipódromo de Monterrico, Lima’s main horse-racing track. The area is easy to recognize even for visitors who have never been to Surco before.

That location is reasonably easy to reach from most of Lima by car or taxi. Business travelers staying in Lima’s Miraflores or San Isidro districts should expect a moderate ride across the city.

Why This Matters Beyond Peru

Expoalimentaria isn’t just a local trade show; it draws buyers from across Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. For investors watching Peru’s agroexport sector, the fair offers one of the clearest yearly snapshots of where that growth is heading.

Coffee, blueberries, avocados and grapes have driven much of Peru’s export boom in recent years. Buyers at this year’s fair will be watching whether growth keeps pace with 2025’s record numbers.

Peru competes for many of the same buyers as Chile, Colombia and Ecuador, its neighbors in the region’s fresh produce trade. Winning even a small share of new contracts at Expoalimentaria can matter for exporters over the following year.

Peru’s Food Export Boom, in Brief

Those exports now reach supermarket shelves across North America, Europe and parts of Asia, well beyond Peru’s traditional markets. Blueberries alone have gone from a minor crop to one of the country’s top agricultural exports within about a decade.

Expoalimentaria exists partly to keep that momentum going, connecting growers directly with the buyers who stock those shelves. It’s a rare chance for a mid-sized Peruvian exporter to meet a European supermarket buyer face to face.

If You’re Planning to Attend

Tickets and buyer registration are handled through the fair’s official website ahead of the September dates. Business travelers should register as buyers rather than general visitors to access the meeting and networking programs.

Given the fair’s size, arriving early on opening day is a reasonable way to beat the worst crowds. September 25 marks the final day, so plan any follow-up meetings accordingly.

More: Peru news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Expoalimentaria?
It’s Peru’s largest annual food and beverage trade fair, organized by exporters association ADEX to connect Peruvian producers with international buyers.

When and where does the 2026 edition take place?
It runs September 23 to 25, 2026, at the Centro de Exposiciones Jockey in Lima’s Surco district.

How much does a ticket cost?
General admission costs S/100 (about US$30) per entry, with a discounted five-entry package available for S/400 (about US$119).

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief