On May 20th, the 28th China International Baking Exhibition (Bakery China 2026), co-organized by the China Bakery and Confectionery Industry Association and Beijing Bakery Exhibition Service Co., Ltd., grandly opened at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai).

The four-day exhibition, themed "Innovation Without Borders, First Launches and Transformation, Connecting the Future," covers an area exceeding 330,000 square meters and attracted over 2,200 brands from more than 70 countries and regions worldwide, showcasing tens of thousands of products. The exhibition also features hundreds of events, including competitions, forums, markets, new product launches, and resource matching. On the first day, the number of overseas professional visitors exceeded that of the same period last year by 80%, and it is expected to attract nearly 400,000 professional visitors from more than 130 countries and regions.

Unprecedented Scale and Global Participation

This year's "Innovation Without Borders · Premier Launches Convergence · Linking the Future" theme was fulfilled with record numbers of metrics. The show covered a staggering 330,000 square meters and featured more than 2,200 leading brands from over 70 countries and regions. The international aspect of the event was further enhanced, with more than 20% of the exhibitors from overseas countries. The exhibition showcased a global approach through strong national pavilions, including from traditional baking nations and a specially-created “Belt and Road Baking Zone”. Over the four-day period, total overseas professional visitors are expected to be nearly 400,000, a figure that increased by 80% on the first day alone.

A Launchpad for Global Innovation and "Going Global"

As the industry's top launch pad, Bakery China 2026 was the platform for thousands of new product and technology launches throughout the supply chain. The expo went beyond showcasing products, actively fostering global connections. One of the most notable events was the official opening of the first-ever ASEAN International Baking Exhibition that takes place in Jakarta, Indonesia, in August 2026. Together with the first-ever “Bakery Industry Global Expansion Forum”, this initiative offered a systematic roadmap and a strategic lever for Chinese and international brands to take off for the expansion to Southeast Asian and global markets.

Core Exhibition Themes and Technological Frontiers

The exhibition was organized around some of the main themes that are shaping the evolution of the industry:

1. Smart Manufacturing and Industrial Baking:​ The latest innovations such as fully automated AI-driven baking lines, digital twin systems, and energy consumption monitoring using IoT were on display for the exhibitors. The parallel "Industrial Baking and Intelligent Manufacturing Forum" focused on the benefits these technologies bring to large-scale production, such as improved efficiency, consistency, and scalability.
2. Health and Wellness Take Center Stage:​ The "6th Healthy Baking Season" focused on the consumer demand for healthier options. Low-GI (Glycemic Index) products, high protein baked products, probiotics containing products and a high emphasis on the "Food as Medicine" feature, were key trends along with the creative use of traditional Chinese herbal ingredients in pastries and bread.
3. The Rise of Pre-prepared Baking:​ Reflecting the need for operational efficiency, the "12th Pre-prepared Baking Season" expanded significantly. The focus was on advanced technologies like flash-freezing for locking in freshness, par-baking solutions for easy finishing, and customized channel-specific products for retail, foodservice, and e-commerce.
4. Full-Chain Chocolate Showcase: For the first time, the exhibition allocated a special area for the entire chocolate industry chain--China Chocolate Industry Exhibition. It spanned all the way from sourcing cocoa beans to processing them into gourmet chocolate products, along with a detailed analysis of this thriving sector.
5. Thriving Retail and Supermarket Baking: The "Commercial Supermarket Baking" zone was one of the fastest-growing areas, and it is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 10.9% through 2019. A special forum unveiled the industry's inaugural "Commercial Supermarket Baking Health Trend White Paper" which studied consumer purchasing trends and successful business models for in-store bakeries.

A Career Pathway for Skills and Entrepreneurship

The exhibition was more than a trade show; it was a vibrant festival of skill and entrepreneurship. It was also the venue for the 26th National Baking Vocational Skills Competition, which, for the first time, introduced a formal ‘Barista Skills Competition' track, celebrating the close relationship between coffee culture and today's bakeries. The World Bakery Cup and the Youth Pastry Chefs Championship were other prestigious competitions that were won.

The exhibition was designed to accompany the next generation of industry leaders, with forums for young entrepreneurs and bakery "Proprietors". The 2nd Bakery Proprietor Entrepreneurship Competition provided a nod to the ecosystem's support of independent and boutique bakery concepts. The professional event was complemented by interactive activities, such as the “Bread & Coffee Festival” market, which brought a consumer perspective to the event.

The Central Hub for the Future of Baking

Bakery China 2026 has successfully played a comprehensive role, providing seven key functions for industry players: business matching, trend analysis, resource integration, skill development, brand exposure, policy information and global networking. It offered a full spectrum of the industry's past, present and future by combining an exhibition, conference program, competition and live demonstrations. This event highlighted the following development directions: Sustainable and healthy use of ingredients, intelligent and flexible production, full-chain integration of the industry and continuous global development of the baking industry. It was a clear-cut success, and it will act as the benchmark for the world of baking for the future, heading into 2026 and beyond!