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Tallinn will become Estonia’s meeting point for food professionals this week as the Tallinn FoodFair returns to Unibet Arena on 23 and 24 September 2026. The two-day event is preparing to bring together producers, retailers, caterers, hospitality companies, equipment suppliers and other businesses connected to the food chain.
The fair is a professional event rather than a general public festival, but its programme offers a useful view of the ideas and products shaping Estonia’s food economy. Organiser Profexpo expects nearly 200 exhibitors and more than 5,000 trade visitors from Estonia and abroad. The event is now in its 33rd year, making it one of the country’s established platforms for food-sector networking and product discovery. ([profexpo.ee](https://www.profexpo.ee/foodfair/?lang=en&utm_source=openai))
A broad view of the food chain
FoodFair is designed to cover more than food products alone. Its exhibition categories include beverages, kitchen equipment, tableware, packaging, logistics, hygiene, restaurant and shop fittings, digital services and training. That breadth reflects how closely food production is linked to technology, design, hospitality and distribution.
For smaller Estonian producers, the fair offers a chance to present products directly to buyers and professional visitors. For larger companies, it provides a setting to develop partnerships and introduce new lines. The organiser also describes the event as a meeting place for domestic and international buyers looking for Estonian products and suppliers.
The fair’s trade-only format means access is limited to registered professional visitors and people working in food-related or supporting industries. The venue will be open from 10:00 to 18:00 on Wednesday, 23 September, and from 10:00 to 17:00 on Thursday, 24 September. ([profexpo.ee](https://www.profexpo.ee/foodfair/?lang=en&utm_source=openai))
Competitions put skills in the spotlight
Alongside the stands, the programme focuses on practical skills and professional exchange. The first day includes the Estonian Pizza Trophy, a competition for pizza makers, as well as the announcement of the Cookbook of the Year winners. A seminar on hospitality economics will examine what guests want and how businesses can respond to changing expectations.
The programme also includes a session devoted to round goby, an invasive fish species that has increasingly entered public discussions about Baltic food use. The seminar’s theme, “If You Can’t Beat Them, Eat Them!”, presents the subject through a culinary and resource-use lens rather than as a security or environmental alarm. It points to the wider question of how food businesses can find practical uses for available local ingredients.
The second day turns to food and beverage marketing, school catering, care-home catering and alcohol-free drinks. The 15th Estonian Bartenders’ Championship in alcohol-free cocktail making is among the programme’s featured competitions, highlighting the growing professional interest in non-alcoholic menus and hospitality experiences.
From seasonal products to future-facing services
FoodFair also looks toward the retail calendar. The “Best Christmas Product 2026” competition is intended to showcase products that Estonian producers and importers expect consumers to place on their festive tables. Categories include bakery products, mulled wine, Christmas beer and meat products.
That seasonal element sits alongside a more long-term business agenda. Seminars on marketing, catering and product development give participants an opportunity to compare approaches before the important autumn and winter sales period. For food companies, September is a natural moment to prepare new launches, refine packaging and build relationships with restaurants, shops and distributors.
Estonia’s food scene is often presented through restaurants, markets and regional festivals. A professional fair such as FoodFair shows another side of the same ecosystem: the producers, suppliers, designers, technologists and service providers who make everyday eating possible. It also gives international visitors a concentrated introduction to Estonia’s food-related businesses.
A trade event with a wider public relevance
Although the fair is not open to casual visitors, its outcomes may be felt beyond the exhibition hall. New supplier relationships can influence what appears on shop shelves and restaurant menus, while competitions and seminars can help spread practical ideas about baking, beverages, catering and hospitality.
For Tallinn, the event adds a focused business dimension to the city’s autumn cultural and lifestyle calendar. For Estonia’s food sector, it provides two days to exchange experience, test new concepts and strengthen connections between local producers and international markets.
The Tallinn FoodFair takes place at Unibet Arena, Paldiski mnt 104 B, on Wednesday and Thursday, 23–24 September 2026. Attendance is reserved for trade visitors and requires an invitation or registration through an exhibitor.
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